No matter what season it is, having a cold is the worst. You’re just sick enough that everything feels like an insurmountable task, but not sick enough to actually shuck your adult duties. It’s a terrible catch 22 that can only be cured with alcohol. Well, kind of. While we can’t factually prove that that these drinks will actually eliminate your illness, they will provide you temporary relief. Think of them as better tasting NyQuil.
1. Hot Toddy
The Hot Toddy has been tried, true, and drunk aunt-approved. Simply add 2 ounces of bourbon to a cup of piping hot tea. Add a spoonful of honey, a twist of lemon, stir, and enjoy. Garnish with a cinnamon stick and a lemon wedge. Tip: inhale the steam coming from the tea. Your nostrils will thank you.
2. Shot Of Tequila Blanco & Salt
When you’re sick, tequila might be the last thing on your mind. However, the raw bite of this unaged tequila will make your eyes water and your nose run – which is a good thing! You want to flush out all of that nasal buildup. If that doesn’t work, at least the salt and bitterness will shock some clarity back into you. Lemon optional.
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Some people say dairy can make your cold worse. While there’s no clear answer for this, the general consensus is that the relationship between milk and phlegm is tentative at best. So I say, have the comfort of creamy hot chocolate with a twist of mint to keep you smiling. To make this perfect hot chocolate, just tip an ounce of mint liqueur (such as Branca Menta) into your cocoa. The warmth will soothe you while the mint will take away that “sick” breath you have. Garnish with mint leaves.
4. Sangria
And here you thought the most obvious choice would be mulled wine. Look, I’ll acknowledge that mulled wine is also great for when you’re diseased. But if you’re feverish and fluey, you might be hot and cold at the same time, which makes sangria is the perfect option. The red wine will heat you up from the inside out, but with the chilliness of the ice, you won’t be overwhelmed by an onslaught of temperature. Plus, the fruit will load you up on antioxidants, right?
5. White Whiskey & Orange Juice
Whenever I’m sick, I chug orange juice like it’s nobody’s business. Regardless of whether or not the Vitamin C is actually helping me or a placebo effect is taking place, I automatically feel better. The tartness of the juice is a great complement to white whiskey, which has the same sinus-clearing powers of tequila blanco with a smidge of added sweetness. Garnish with an orange wedge, ice optional.
Remember, if you’re feeling a little under the weather, rest and fluids are your best bet. But there’s no reason you can’t make being cold-afflicted a bit more fun. Get well soon.
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