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14 June 2011

Succumbed to the dreaded lurgy? Knock back this soothing elixir to ease your aches and pains.

It’s that time of the year, the time when you’re only a stranger’s sneeze away from coming down with a nasty cold. It’s a fact of life, a right of passage to summer of sorts that’s not easily avoided. And, while it’s not the best experience, there are ways to make the most of your situation, such as indulging in the medicinal benefits of a classic hot toddy.

The steamy combination of whiskey, cloves, cinnamon, lemon juice and honey make for the perfect answer to your woes, and present a more dignified and palatable option than those nasty over-the-counter concoctions.

Ingredients:
1 teaspoon of honey. I prefer creamed honey as it has a more subtle and less over-bearing flavour.
1 measure of scotch whiskey. I recommend Lagavulin, in times like these you deserve quality Scotch whiskey.
two cloves
half a cinnamon stick
one lemon
boiling water

Method:
Put whiskey and honey in a glass. Leave the teaspoon in the glass as this will prevent the glass cracking from the boiling water. Add the cloves and cinnamon stick. Squeeze in the juice from one lemon and pour boiling water to the top. Add a slice of lemon to garnish.

Drink while steaming hot for best effect.

It’s easy to fall deeply for these heartwarming elixirs, but be careful not to combine them with your regular cold medicine as it’s likely to bring on unwanted dehydration (basically a hangover), which you could probably do without under the circumstances.

Likewise I recommend no more than two at a time…for similar reasons.