Honey Bourbon Toddy: Cough Syrup for Grown Ups

I came down with the cold of the century early this year. I was miserable and wanted to sip on something with healing properties that would also help me go to sleep. My cure was this seasonal mixture of booze, water, honey, citrus and spices, otherwise known as the Hot Toddy. It soothes, coddles, and makes everything right in your world - the equivalent of Mom.

In a microwavable mug I measure out 4 oz Water and 1-2 Tablespoons of fresh squeezed lemon. Microwave for one minute to get piping hot. Then I stir in in 1-2 Tablespoons of local honey and 2 oz of Bourbon (like Bulleit or TX Bourbon). I use a loose tea steeper to drop in 6 cloves and then stir with a cinnamon stick.

The warm adult beverage does the trick to calm my cough and help me sleep. Well, it's actually the honey that does the trick, I think. But the bourbon sure doesn't hurt.  Taking a full spoonful of honey has been shown to be very effective at calming nighttime coughs but it is not as fun as this adult cough remedy.

Thanks to the cold, I started liking bourbon and now I'm a whiskey girl. Who would have thought?!?!