I've been thinking a lot about cocktail history and cold remedies lately, so it's only natural that the two lines of curious thought would coincide at some point. After all, mankind's relationship with distilled spirits was born from the tinkering of alchemists motivated to discover a potion to prolong life and deter disease, and through their work, aqua vitae was wrought by steam and condensation and trial and error. Why should I deny their tedious research just because Walgreens has seven kinds of Robitussin?
The Finns are fond of saying that if an affliction cannot be cured by booze or the sauna, it's probably fatal. This week I've made good use of my gym's sauna, but I'm afraid my cough and sore throat are still with me. Employing my newly-adopted Finnish logic, I’m now pinning my hopes for survival on a butter-based rye concoction. Luckily, my friend Mr. Boston is here to help.
Let’s make one – it couldn’t be simpler. Seeking a pearl of wisdom from the 1946 edition of Old Mr. Boston's De Luxe Official Bartender's Guide , I present to you the Hot Brick Toddy:
Into Hot Whiskey glass, put:
1 Teaspoon Butter
1 Teaspoon Powdered Sugar
3 Pinches Cinnamon
1 oz. Hot Water, and dissolve thoroughly. Then add:
1 1/2 Old Mr. Boston Rye or Bourbon Whiskey
Fill with boiling Water and stir.
While the kettle boils
My adaptations for this blustery evening's remedy is Sazerac rye in place of the extinct spirits suggested, and an appropriately insulated teacup for the serving vessel. (Hot drinks served in glass are a special kind of hand-loathing evil, so there'll be none of that in my house.)
Take a good deep breath over the steaming cup of buttery medicine, and take a sip. The scant bit of butterfat is just enough to soften what would otherwise be a hot cup of whiskey, and the spices smooth the flavor into a delightfully festive restorative. If it doesn't cure you, and you've tried the sauna, then maybe you should try two or three more.
Who's the Fisherman's Friend now?
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