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Hot Toddy Day
Jan 11
Other Scottish Country Dances for this Day
Today's Musings, History & Folklore
"Whisky (or Whiskey), lemon juice, spices, honey - It's good for what ails you!"
~ Traditional
Feel a bit of cold or flu coming on? Ward it off with something traditional, or jig those germs away with this namesake classic remedy cure dance! And whisky is recommended! The Hot Toddy, a classic remedy for winter colds and flu, has origins shrouded in mystery. By the 1700s, however, it had become a beloved drink in Scotland. Some trace its name to Allan Ramsay's 1781 poem The Morning Interview, which references Edinburgh's Todian Spring, also known as Tod’s Well. Another theory suggests the cocktail was inspired by toddy, a fermented palm sap drink from India, reimagined by British traders upon their return to Scotland as a mix of tea, Scotch, and sweetener. A third possibility links the name to 19th-century British physician Richard Bentley Todd, who advocated the drink for its medicinal benefits. Whatever its origins, the Hot Toddy endures as a comforting elixir. Even modern doctors acknowledge its potential health benefits, thanks to its soothing blend of honey, lemon, spices, and whisky. Notably, whisky contains ellagic acid, an antioxidant with antiviral and antibacterial properties. Cheers to a timeless cure that warms both body and soul! 🥃 🍋 🍯 🐝
A Hot Toddy
A hot toddy, also known as a hot totty, hot tottie, or hot whisky, is typically a mixed drink made of liquor and water with honey (or, in some recipes, sugar), herbs or spices (such as tea, cinnamon, cloves, anise or other spices) and served hot.
Hot toddy recipes vary and are traditionally imbibed before retiring for the night, or in wet or cold weather.
Some believe the drink relieves (or makes you forget) the symptoms of the cold and flu.
Theories about as to the origin of the name. One contender is Dublin-born physician, Robert Bentley Todd (1809–1860), known for his prescription of a hot drink of brandy, canella (white cinnamon), sugar syrup and water, gave the "hot toddy" its name.
Other Scottish-origin theories attribute the name to Allan Ramsay's 1781 poem, “The Morning Interview”, which mentions Todian Spring, also called Tod’s Well. This well was the main water supply to Edinburgh, Scotland. Yet another theory suggests that the cocktail may have been named for toddy, an Indian drink made from fermented palm tree sap, reimagined by British traders on their return to Scotland, who replicated the drink with scotch and sugar or honey (for the palm tree syrup).
Whatever the case, even doctors concede that the ingredients may both help you feel better have medicinal value in the honey, lemon, spices, and even the whisky, which contains the antioxidant ellagic acid, which studies suggest may help treat viral and bacterial infections!
For a list of hot toddy recipes to chase away that winter cold or blues, click the toddy graphic below.
Click the dance cribs or description below to link to a printable version of the dance!
