In dire circumstances like this, there's nothing to do but make the best of it. And that means hot toddies all around. For the uninitiated, a hot toddy is a homeopathic cold remedy that harkens back to auld Ireland itself, where it is also known as hot whiskey.
There are several variations of the hot toddy, just like there are several ways to spell it (tottie, totty), and several occasions to drink it (let's just say, you don't have to be sick). My favorite consists of hot tea, Scotch whisky, honey and lemon. Simply put on a kettle, boil some water and add: 1 decaffeinated black tea bag, an ample amount of Scotch, an overflowing tablespoon of honey (more to taste), and the juice from a quarter of a lemon. Stir this piping hot concoction until the honey is fully dissolved, then remove the teabag before it gets too strong. Now drink up, and watch your sinus woes, sore throat and body aches disappear. For hot toddies, you don't want to use an expensive Scotch. That's why Trader Joe's Blended Scotch Whisky is my go-to. On it's own, TJ's isn't the worst whisky I've had, but it isn't good either. Let's just say that it gets the job done. For roughly the same price as a standard size bottle of Vick's cough syrup, TJ's provides a liter of homeopathic liquid gold cold remedy.Unfortunately, it's only available in eight states at the moment (CA, WA, MA, NM, IL, KY, NJ and NV). |
Trader Joe's Blended Scotch Whisky
Nose: Honey, tequila, turpentine, peat, rubber
Taste: Honey and peat linger on the tongue, battling for significance against an overwhelming bitterness.
Recommendation: At $9.99 for a liter, it's hard to pass up, especially when you're sick.
Have you tried this whisky? How does it compare to other budget brands? Do you have your own recipe for hot toddies? Leave a comment and let me know!