Black Tea Hot Toddy Recipe With Rum, Whiskey or Brandy Recipe

Opinions differ about the origin of the name "toddy." Some believe the name derives from Indian languages: Hindu, Marathi and even Sanskrit. Others believe in a Scottish toddy enthusiast named "Tod."

Whatever its origins—and, really, no one knows with any certainty—it's widely agreed that Hot Toddies are warming wintertime drinks that people often sip as a remedy for colds, coughs, sore throats and the flu. At other times, of course, toddy enthusiasts imbibe simply because it's a pleasingly sweet and aromatic wintertime drink. 

The drink can be prepared with hot water, apple cider or, as in the recipe below, with tea, which imparts an added flavor and aids in lessening the symptoms and duration of the common cold. While there's no medical evidence for this, there's no better evidence for anything else helping to cure a cold either. Among possibly useless remedies, the Hot Toddy is at least pleasant.