Toddy Time

Several years ago, I learned how to make hot toddies from a friend who swore by a formula of Bushmill’s Irish whiskey, ginger tea, honey, lemon, cloves and cayenne pepper to see him through cold season. I was never quite clear on whether the idea was that this potent combo would knock the cold out of you, or simply calm your symptoms and let you temporarily forget about your stuffy nose. In any case, it offered an excuse to get out of my pajamas and join my friends at a party or bar, and in my experience, laughing and having a good time is as good a remedy as any. I love that even now, in a modern world with an endless selection of over-the-counter cold meds, hot toddies as a folk tradition still persist. Everyone has a favorite recipe, with ingredients ranging from basic to fancy to bizarre. What toddy recipe do you swear by? —Shoshanna Cohen