Good Evening, friends.

Cutting right to the chase here tonight. My whole house is sick. Wife. Kids. Me. Even my fellow Cocktail Novice, Bill, is down with the sickness (although not in my house).

In honor of my home becoming a sick ward, tonight’s Hump Day Happy Hour is a time-tested cure-all: The Hot Toddy.

I remember back in my formative (drinking) years, my dear friend Brian White would come out to the bar, sick as all hell, and order a hot toddy. And dammit, if he wouldn’t be back in tip-top shape (relatively speaking) by the end of the night.

Hopefully, this magical elixir works those same wonders on me.

Here’s how we’re making ’em:

The Hot Toddy

• 2 oz. Rittenhouse Rye Whisky
• 4 oz. Boiling Water
• 1 cube of sugar
• 1 lemon twist

Add rye and sugar cube to a coffee mug and twist/squeeze the lemon twist to release its enzymes (or whatever you call those). Drop the twist in the mug and add the boiling water. Stir to dissolve the sugar cube. Feel better.

I have to say this guy comes on pretty strong at first sip so I almost thought to drop the rye down to 1.5 oz. But after a few sips, it mellows itself out and is quite delicious.

These are perfect for your standard sick day, snow day or just plain old bad day.

Like they say: “When It Pains, It Roars.” Or something like that.