A Hot Toddy is great on any cold night, but I especially love this tasty cocktail recipe to soothe a cold. This warm hot toddy recipe is my go-to recipe when I’m under the weather with a nasty cough. It’s a homemade cure for a common cold that’s easy to make and much tastier than cough syrup!
Hot Toddy Recipe
This classic winter drink recipe is the perfect warm sip to soothe a sore throat, cough, or cold. Forget the usual hot lemon water–this drink adds whiskey, honey, and ginger into the mix for a cocktail you can enjoy on sick days. I love sitting with this cocktail under a cozy blanket on a chilly night.
- Easy. Just heat up your liquids, mix in the other ingredients, and you’ll have a warm drink ready to sip. 5 ingredients, 5 minutes, and a microwave are all you need!
- Soothing. Whiskey is a great decongestant, honey has antimicrobial properties, lemon juice boosts immunity, and ginger reduces inflammation.
- Tasty. This adult bevvy is a little sweet, a little zesty, and a whole lot delicious.
Variations on a Hot Toddy
If I don’t have any whiskey on hand, or want to make this tasty cold remedy for someone under 21, I still love to make a version of this drink without alcohol. I simply leave it out, and combine the rest of the ingredients as directed.
A nice glass of hot lemon honey water will still do wonders when you’re feeling under the weather. You can also try using hot tea in place of the whiskey, which many readers have recommended!
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How to Store
This recipe is for one hot toddy, but if you don’t finish the whole glass, you can store leftovers in the fridge. Just be sure to heat it up and give it a good stir before drinking the rest.
Serving Suggestions
If you need some other recipes to help you get through your sick day, I’ve got you covered. I’m known to make a pot of chicken noodle soup, turkey noodle soup, chicken broth, or a delicious bowl of ramen. If you prefer a different drink, try this detox lemonade for more health benefits.
A classic hot toddy is a warm drink made with whiskey, along with other ingredients like honey, water, and lemon. It’s commonly served as a cold remedy to help relieve symptoms, like coughs, congestion, sore or scratchy throats, and inflammation.
It’s the best (non-medical) cold remedy I know! The warmth of the drink plus the health benefits of the ingredients (as listed above) can really soothe your sore throat & cough symptoms. There is some research that says hot drinks help the common cold or flu by increasing air flow.
More Hot Toddy Recipes to Try
Pro tip: We do not claim that this cold remedy hot toddy is in any way actual medicine for a cold. It can be comforting, but always see a doctor if you are sick in order to get medical advice. I find that it’s a great supplement to traditional meds when I’m feeling under the weather.
5-Star Review
“The tastiest, easiest and most effective hot toddy yet!” – Tracy
Hot Toddy Recipe for a Cold
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Ingredients
- 2 ounces whiskey or bourbon Get some pretty good quality. You’re sick! You deserve the best!
- 1½ tablespoons honey
- 4 ounces water
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- 1 cube crystallized ginger optional
- 1 slice fresh lemon for garnish
Instructions
- Mix together whiskey, water, and lemon juice in a microwave-safe bowl.2 ounces whiskey or bourbon, 4 ounces water, 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- Microwave for 1 minute, or until it's piping hot.
- Stir in the honey, and drop in the ginger if using.1½ tablespoons honey, 1 cube crystallized ginger
- Garnish with a lemon slice and enjoy–you and your cold deserve it!1 slice fresh lemon
Last step! Don’t forget to show me a pic of what you made! Upload an image or tag me @thecookierookie on Instagram!
Nutrition Information
How to Make A Hot Toddy Step by Step
Make the Drink: Mix together 2 ounces of whiskey or bourbon, 4 ounces of water, and 2 teaspoons of lemon juice in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for 1 minute, or until it’s piping hot.
Garnish the Drink: Stir in 1½ tablespoons of honey, and drop in 1 cube of crystallized ginger if using. Garnish with a lemon slice and enjoy– you and your cold deserve it!
The tastiest, easiest and most effective hot toddy yet!
Thanks for stopping by, Tracy!
There are measurements with the ingredients!
Battling a post covid cough that won’t leave! This has already soothed my throat! Not too strong, and easy to make. Can’t wait to see how I sleep tonight!
Wishing you good health!
Made this recipe and it was very simple and delicious thank you so very much this definitely helped my cold
Happy to hear! Feel better soon!
Where did you get these mugs??
I wish I could remember, but my collection is quite large it’s hard to remember!
They look like Chambord’s coffee glasses!
If you go to the recipe card, all the measurements are listed!
Hoping this helps!
Wishing you good health!
my BF is sick with a nasty cold coughing sore throat the whole nine yards, ive been looking around to see what i can do for him aside from the usual stuff came across this i will make this for him later hope it works
Wishing you and your boyfriend good health!
I am 77 and have used this for some time. At times it works well but when the situation is really bad the toddy does not prove to be of exceptional benefit. Despite that, I still use it as there is some level of comfort. Some sites argue that the toddy is bad for you, especially the alcohol. My guess is they have never really given it a try. For me, it works nicely on a cough but not for long. I find I must keep drinking the mix throughout the day to keep the cough a bay.
Wishing you great health!
I don’t have a slice ofemon or ginger but I do have honey, lemon juice and a very nice bottle if 12yrs old anCnoc single malt to try this with,thanks for the recipe 😊
Thanks for stopping by, William!