Having children is a bit like bringing home a petrie dish for all kinds of germs and sicknesses to fester and grow before eventually attacking your immune system. But rather than spend money on expensive cold and flu tablets, why not try the age old method of drinking alcohol to help you feel better?

The Hot Totty is a combination of whiskey and tea, brewed with lemon, honey and cloves, that when combine deliver an amazing sense of relief from the symptoms of a headcold. Sure, it might not actually do anything to fight the cold, but if you’re battling a viral infection, the only thing that will really help you is plenty of rest.

Over the years, I’ve perfected my own recipe for a Hot Totty, and it’s currently working wonders at relieving the tensions in my sinus as I battle my own viral monster. If you have an alternate recipe for a cold-battling Hot Totty, let us know in the comments section below.

Ingredients:
30mL Irish Whiskey
1 Slice of lemon
4 Cloves
1 tsp honey
1 teabag
Boiling water

Method:

Pour the shot of whiskey into a coffee cup or irish coffee glass. Add the honey. Insert cloves into flesh of sliced lemon, then add to the glass. Insert teabag, then fill glass with the boiling water. Wait a few minutes for the tea to brew, then remove teabag. Stir, and enjoy.