🌐
Caring Senior Service
caringseniorservice.com › home › the hotty toddy: grandpa’s cure for the common cold
The Hotty Toddy: Grandpa's Cure for the Common Cold
October 7, 2025 - Robert Bentley Todd, an Irish doctor who prescribed patients a mix of hot brandy, water, cinnamon, and sugar. Another story suggests a Scottish pub served whiskey diluted with hot water to keep patrons warm. Regardless of its true origins, the hot toddy has remained a beloved warm drink for colds, especially during the winter months.
Discussions

Genuine question about a hot whiskey when sick
It'll depend on the ingredients. Plenty of lemon and cloves will help with congestion, and the honey (and the whiskey) will soothe your throat etc, but mostly for me it's an excuse... 🤭 More on reddit.com
🌐 r/ireland
110
70
December 27, 2022
IsItBullshit: Is whiskey good to drink if you have a cold?
Bullshit. Drinking alcohol does not help your body fight bacteria... and, given the fact that cold is a virus, that's really immaterial. If it does anything, it might help you sleep, or make you feel a bit better. But that's about it. More on reddit.com
🌐 r/IsItBullshit
8
2
January 3, 2019
Whiskey really does help a cold!!!

Yep. A nice lemon-honey-whiskey toddy will kick it right out of you. (And help you sleep, as a bonus :)

More on reddit.com
🌐 r/exmormon
17
12
January 16, 2016
Drink whiskey while sick?
I make hot toddies. Some kind of tea plus honey, lemon, and cheap scotch or bourbon. I've been using J&B. More on reddit.com
🌐 r/bourbon
26
22
April 3, 2014
🌐
Healthline
healthline.com › health › cold-and-flu › will-whiskey-help-with-a-cold
Will Whiskey Help a Cold? Myths and Facts for Cold Remedies
July 14, 2022 - Due to alcohol’s immunosuppressive and dehydrating effects, it’s not recommended as a remedy for the common cold. A hot toddy is a rumored cold remedy that contains hot water, lemon juice, honey, and alcohol — such as brandy, rum, or whiskey.
🌐
Angel's Envy
angelsenvy.com › us › en › guide › whiskey-content › cold-comfort-can-whiskey-help-with-the-common-cold
Cold Comfort: Can Whiskey Help with the Common Cold? | Angel's Envy US
January 15, 2025 - While it’s true that there’s no cure for the common cold, new studies (and centuries of practical wisdom) show that whiskey can help mitigate some of the symptoms.
🌐
Verywell Health
verywellhealth.com › does-whiskey-help-a-cold-11684222
Why Whiskey Won’t Help Ease Your Cold Symptoms
March 14, 2025 - Whiskey is not recommended for treating a cold because it can suppress your immune system.
🌐
BBC Good Food
bbcgoodfood.com › home › recipes › hot toddy
Classic hot toddy recipe | Good Food
Hot toddy is a warming drink combining water, whiskey, honey and lemon juice. It is often drunken as a nightcap and traditionally taken as a remedy to help ease the symptoms of colds and flu.
Published   January 31, 2025
🌐
The Guardian
theguardian.com › wellness › 2025 › dec › 09 › is-hot-toddy-whiskey-remedy-good-when-sick
Is it a good idea to have a hot toddy when you’re sick? | Well actually | The Guardian
December 9, 2025 - The hot toddy has a reputation as a folk remedy for illness. And if you’re sick, a steaming cup of whisky, honey, lemon, and water can sound like a lot more fun than crackers and broth. But what about the alcohol? Here’s what experts say about hot toddies and colds.
Find elsewhere
🌐
The Cookie Rookie®
thecookierookie.com › home › recipes › cocktails › hot toddy recipe (soothe your cold & cough)
Hot Toddy Recipe (Soothe Your Cold & Cough)
September 13, 2024 - 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.
Time   05:00
Calories   242
🌐
Dartmoorwhiskydistillery
dartmoorwhiskydistillery.co.uk › home › will whisky help a sore throat?
Will Whisky Help a Sore Throat? - Dartmoor Whisky Distillery Shop
August 10, 2023 - An experiment in 2016 conducted ... that alcohol is an effective painkiller Having a shot or two of whisky can relieve you of sore throat and headaches caused by a cold....
🌐
VinePair
vinepair.com › wine-blog › drunk-aunt-right-hot-toddy-cure-common-cold
Your Aunt Was Right: The Hot Toddy Is the Cure for the Common Cold | VinePair
July 13, 2022 - The steam from the hot water might also help to clear congestion. Whiskey might also cause drowsiness, helping you to get more rest. For decades (or maybe even centuries) people have used the Hot Toddy as a natural remedy for easing all those aches and pains that are associated with the common cold.
🌐
Cookie and Kate
cookieandkate.com › recipes › drinks › cocktail › classic hot toddy
Classic Hot Toddy
August 1, 2024 - Hot toddies are reported to help reduce cold symptoms, although you really don’t want to overdo it on the whiskey. Your body needs to heal, and the simple combination of warm water, honey and lemon combined can work wonders. Alcohol doesn’t mix well with over-the-counter and prescription medications. So, no hot toddies for you if you’re taking medicine!
4.9 ​ (134)
Time   10:00
Calories   149
🌐
Quora
quora.com › Is-whiskey-and-lemon-juice-good-against-colds
Is whiskey and lemon juice good against colds? - Quora
The folklore goes that a hot toddy – the alcoholic drink composed of hot water, lemon juice, honey and whiskey or rum or brandy – can soothe your sore throat or clear your winter cold-induced congestion.
🌐
Food.com
food.com › recipe › dr-pats-hot-toddy-cold-remedy-234344
Dr. Pat's Hot Toddy Cold Remedy Recipe - Food.com
"Okay, so our family doctor suggested this instead of prescription cough syrup for relieving the cold symptoms of the ADULTS in our family (he of course, did NOT suggest it as a CURE). He says the whisky helps you sleep while the honey and lemon soothe your throat.
5.0 ​ (89)
Time   05:00
Calories   206
🌐
Binwise
home.binwise.com › blog › whiskey-for-a-cold
Is Whiskey Good For a Cold? | Does Alcohol Help a Cold?
April 8, 2024 - But, what kinds of drinks are best when you’re ill? Does alcohol really help a cold, and if so, how much is too much? Keep reading this blog post to find out. Yes, whiskey can be good for a cold because it’s a decongestant.
🌐
Wikihow
wikihow.com › health › alternative health › home remedies › 4 ways to use alcohol to treat a cold - wikihow
4 Ways to Use Alcohol to Treat a Cold - wikiHow
April 17, 2025 - Make a hot toddy. A hot toddy is a popular cold remedy. Pour 1 ounce (30 milliliters) of whiskey and 1 to 2 tablespoons of honey into a mug, then squeeze in the juice of 3 lemon wedges. Add 8 ounces (240 milliliters) of boiling water and stir to mix.
🌐
Instagram
instagram.com › whiskeybonded › reel › CmaxURMAJOF
Cold and Flu Season Sucks!! This Hot Toddy Recipe ...
33K Followers, 2,014 Following, 1,849 Posts - Conrad Dodd (@whiskeybonded) on Instagram: "Reviews, news, or just plain boozy shenanigans, you've found the place! 21+ Contact me: Inquire@whiskeybonded.com"
🌐
Just Easy Recipes
justeasyrecipes.com › home › how to make a hot toddy for colds and flu
How to Make a Hot Toddy for Colds and Flu - Just Easy Recipes
March 7, 2025 - A classic Hot Toddy Recipe for Colds and Flu made with just a handful of ingredients. ... In a large heatproof glass or ceramic mug, add the hot water. Then add the whiskey, honey and lemon juice and give it a swirl to mix everything together.* (See Note)
Time   10:00