Whiskey Honey Lemon Cough Syrup is an old fashion homemade cough syrup recipe and natural remedy to help calm coughs using only three pantry ingredients.
When the cold and flu season hits, it is never convenient. It is not something you plan for. As an adult, we have work and the kids to care for. No one has time to be sick or lose sleep.
There is nothing worse than coughing, hacking, can’t sleep and then at 0200 (2 am) find out that you are fresh out of cough syrup. Don’t fret! You might have everything you need right in your pantry to get feeling better straight away.
Not only is our Whiskey Honey Lemon Cough Syrup recipe effective for reducing cough, but it is also delicious. Please don’t judge! Back in the day, our parents used to give us a dose before we went to bed when we had a bad cold or cough. We slept like a rock and our coughs subsided. Heck, it tasted so good, it was almost worth getting sick just to get a dose. (smiling)
3 Ingredients needed to make Whiskey Honey Lemon Cough Syrup
- Whiskey or bourbon
- Honey
- Lemon juice
History of Whiskey as a Medicinal Tonic
This Whiskey Honey Lemon Cough Syrup is a recipe that has been in our family for 100’s of years passed on from our great great grandparents. Back in the day, there were not fancy medicines to treat illnesses and the basic ones were not so easy to obtain. Local folks used what they had on hand to treat the symptoms. Heck, penicillin was not even invented into 1928. During the Prohibition, in the 1920’s, it was difficult to buy liquor, but it was sold as a tonic in drug stores as medicinal whiskey. It was said to cure everything from toothache to the flu.
Alcohol and Proof
Do you know that burning or warming sensation you experience down the back of your throat, esophagus and in your belly when you drink alcohol? You won’t necessarily notice this with beer or wine because it is so very low in alcohol content. Alcohol proof is a measure of how much alcohol (ethanol) is contained in an alcoholic beverage. For example, an 86-proof whiskey contains about 43% alcohol. Whereas, beer alcohol content is only usually between 3-12%. The more ethanol, the bigger the burn.
How does Whiskey help with a cold and cough?
So now you may be asking why that is a "good burn".
1) That burning warming feeling is happening because it is dilating your blood vessels. It will also dilate the blood vessels in your sinus region, and it may help your breath better during your cold.
2) In addition, whiskey was used as an antiseptic on the battlefields as medicine was hard to come by.
3) As you know, a little alcohol, in moderation can help you fall asleep faster. The word moderation is the key. If you drink in excess, you will be feeling even worse in the morning with a hangover. The goal is just to help you get some sleep so you can tackle your day.
Honey for Throat pain and Cough
Honey not only sweetens this little shot of deliciousness, but it also coats a scratchy throat, a natural antiseptic and help calms a cough. If you are looking for more natural ways to calm a cough, be sure to check out our recipe for Chinese Pear Dessert Soup. Delicious, cools your throat and helps with cough. .
As we are currently in unprecedented times, we used whatever kind of honey we could get our hands on. However, if you have organic raw honey go for it!
Lemon juice for a boost of Vitamin C
Fresh lemon juice is best for this recipe but in pinch you can use the kind of lemon juice in a squeeze bottle or even a little lemonade. After all, this is a pantry recipe and if it is 0200, use what you have on hand. Lemon juice provides a little extra dose of vitamin C and antioxidants and gives this little recipe the perfect balance between sweet and sour.
Standard dosage of Whiskey Honey Lemon Cough Syrup
These little shot glasses we have hold 3 teaspoons. Dosage is 1-2 tablespoon for adults every 4 – 6 hours or as needed. Equal amounts of Whiskey or bourbon, fresh lemon juice and honey. We like to just stir in up and drink it in a shot glass. However, if you are craving something a little warm you can add it in a cup of hot water or your favorite herbal tea and enjoy a steamy cup.
Kid Friendly Version of Homemade cough syrup
According to Evan Ashkin, MD and Anne Mounsey, MD, children under the age of 12 months, should not eat honey because Honey contains toxic bacteria that may cause infant botulism. This is a serious form of food poisoning. Older children and adults are immune to this bacterium.
However, for children older than 12 months of age if you mix a little honey, a little lemon juice (if no allergens) in a little warm water (please, skip the whiskey), this may help reduce their cough and sleep.
How to store your Homemade Cough Syrup
As a food photographer, we must pick the prime time for lighting reasons to get the best shot. Our window of time for best lighting is between 9 am and 10am. So, what is one to do with a delicious Whiskey Honey Lemon Cough Syrup shot at 0900? We could drink it, but this recipe stays fresh in the refrigerator with fresh lemon in a sealed container for up to 3 days.
Stay Well and Take Care
Some of the most basic things that mom told us are true to get us back to health.
- Sleep as much as you can. Naps are fabulous.
- Hydrate as it helps to thin your secretions and helps replace the insensible loss due to fever. Warm liquids like our Nourishing Slow Simmered Beef Bone Broth and our Tranquil Lemon Ginger Tea helps to thin your secretions.
- Use a humidifier as it helps to moisturize your nasal, throat, and lung passages, making it easier for air to pass through.
- Immune Boosting Chicken and Rice Soup and Golden Spiced Noodle Soup are warm and therapeutic cozy cold and flu fighting bowls of deliciousness.
- If your condition does not improve, you have a high fever or difficulty breathing get seen by a medical professional.
Exclusions
This recipe does have alcohol in it, and it is NOT recommended for children or those with liver disease. We have also included a kid friendly version of homemade cough syrup for children older than 12 months of age and have no other allergens in our recipe card below.
As always, before starting any new home therapy, you must discuss this homemade cough syrup idea with your primary care physician before initiating self-treatment. You need to make sure this is okay for your condition, any pre-conditions you may have and to make sure that it does not react with any medications that you are currently taking. (okay, the nurse is now stepping down from her soap box). We love you guys and we just want you to be safe!
Disclaimer: The contents of this website are for informational purposes only and do not constitute medical advice. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.
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Whiskey Honey Lemon Cough Syrup
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon whiskey
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice fresh or lemon concentrate
- 1 cup warm water or herbal tea optional
Instructions
Adult Homemade Cough Syrup
- Mix whiskey, honey and lemon juice together and stir well.
- Dosage for adults is 1 -2 tablespoons every 4-6 hours or as needed for cough. We like to drink it straight up. However, if you desire, you can place ingredients in either a cup of warm water or herbal tea, mix and sip on it. If you like it sweeter, add a little more honey to the mix.
Children older than 12 months old Homemade Cough Syrup
- Mix 1 teaspoon of honey and 1 teaspoon lemon juice together. DO NOT ADD Whiskey. Mix together and can be taken straight up or mix in a little warm water. Do not give honey to children less than 12 months of age.
fuzz says
To bad most remedies for common ailments aren't this simple. Well, actually, there are a lot of simple home remedies that get discarded in favor of the "latest and greatest" pharma cure. This is my go to remedy for a nagging cough and/or scratchy throat. You can't go wrong using this oldie, but definitely, and I mean goodie.
HWC Magazine says
Hope you are feeling okay and could not agree more. It's the height of the cold, flu, and pneumonia season. This old tried and true recipe sure comes in handy when you are feeling under the weather. Feel better soon and take care
Marcia Jablonski says
My brother as a child had a bad cough that the doctor didn't want order the narcotic cough medication. He suggest trying whiskey znd honey except he was allergic to bees. So they mixed whiskey with Karo syrup. You could also use agave or Maple syrup. You just loose the healthy benefits of honey!
HWC Magazine says
That is a great idea, Marcia. Thanks so much for sharing.
Kevin says
Perfect for the scratchy throat season - and way better than all those chemicals
HWC Magazine says
You bet. We know exactly what it feels like to wake up in the middle of the night to realize that you are fresh out of cough syrup. This homemade version works great and it tastes so good, way better than medicinal over the counter cough medicine.
Barb says
We had a similar remedy as a girl
HWC Magazine says
Hi there Barb! This old fashion cough remedy does bring back a lot of childhood memories, doesn't it? Stay well and take good care of yourself.
JENNIFER STEWART says
Greatly reduced my husbands cough which can be so annoying during cold season! This is now a staple in our house!
HWC Magazine says
Jennifer, we are so happy to hear that our Whiskey Honey Lemon Cough Syrup helped. Hoping your husband is feeling better soon. Stay well and Take Care
Ken says
Reminds me of the home made remedies as a child
Carla says
I guess enough of this medicine and we all sleep very well...
HWC Magazine says
Yes, indeed Carla and it tastes so much better than the over the counter syrup too!
Ian says
I've had similar with molasses and I did not like it at all. This recipe looks much better. Happy to find it in the health section.
HWC Magazine says
Hi Ian, maybe that was golden syrup from the UK...? Yes golden syrup does not have that same therapeutic effect of honey. Give this Whiskey honey lemon cough syrup a go and hope you are feeling better soon. Take Care
Raymund says
Now this is my cough syrup!
HWC Magazine says
Thanks Raymund! Hope you are staying well.
Hannah says
Now we're talking here; a shot of whiskey is my idea of good medicine! Ha! Way to think on your feet and make the most of natural remedies.
HWC Magazine says
Thank you Hannah! The absolute last place we would want to hang out nowadays is down the cold and flu isle at the pharmacy. Thank goodness for old fashion remedies. Stay well and take care.
John / Kitchen Riffs says
This is my kind of cough and cold remedy! It's almost worth getting a cold just to take this "medicine." 🙂
HWC Magazine says
Thank you John! Hope you and Mrs. Riff are staying well and at home. Take Care
Liz says
Love this old fashioned home remedy! We have everything on-hand, just hope we won't need it!!! Stay well, Bobbi!! xo
HWC Magazine says
Thank you Liz! We hope you never need it either. However, keep this recipe in your back pocket, just in case. Stay well and take care.
priya says
Amazing recipe bobbi 🙂 and I love the new look of your site. Well organized. So impressed. Well done dear.
Take care!
HWC Magazine says
Thank you Priya! We are delighted you like the new layout. We were way overdue for a positive change. Please stay well and take care.
Eha says
You HAVE brought a smile upon my face with this 'oldie but a goodie' but I hope you won't mind if the amount of the whisky in my glass is upped a little. I DO appreciate what you are saying re children's consumption of such . . . but. at the time I was growing up tonics were BIG for kids and, let's face it, they were almost pure alcohol in very measured doses !! OK - in NE Europe where I was born, each well'brought-up child had his/her daily dose of 'gogel-mogel' = raw egg yolk beaten up with a tablespoon of cognac ! as regularly handed out as washing one's teeth ! funny . . . most of us have lived thru' far worse troubles than corona virus into our 90s and past the 100 mark !! True tale !
HWC Magazine says
Eha, now you are making us giggle. Maybe dosage should be 1 shot per hour or until you pass out... LOL Totally know what you mean. When we were kids, the same thing with the tonics. This special tonic was so delicious, it was almost worth getting sick just so we could have a dose.. Have not yet tried a daily dose of ‘gogel-mogel’. That is sure to grow a little hair on your chest. (smiling) Please take good care of yourself dear. You are Always in my thoughts.
Eha says
Hoping I can make you and . . .laugh once more. When I was tiny and got a cold, measles, whooping cough and all the other nasties ;
1 I was put to bed accompanied by all my teddies (did not like dolls)
2 Given your tonic
3 And some aspirin
and THEN I was read a continuous file of Grimm's fairy tales ! (Enough to make you wish you were not there!) Death and destruction way past the virus !!!
In my case
5 my grandmother in the country saved me from the horrors by killing a pig, draining the blood, making black puddings and a blood pancake batter and sending the farm truck to bring the medicine !I Loved IT and her to bits . . . hmm . . .strange, is it not ?
HWC Magazine says
The giggles continue.... #5 is slightly odd but heck we lived in Hong Kong. Your grandma probably knew something maybe we still have not figured out. Take Care and Stay Well.
mjskitchen says
Growing up my parents used to call this a hot toddy. 🙂 I like to set it in a little hot water and warm it up before drinking it. It is so good and yes, it does wonders to help you get through a common cold. Great recipe and thanks for the reminder. I haven't had to make one in a while, and one sounds good right now with my allergies making it hard to breathe.
HWC Magazine says
Thank you MJ. A little Hot Toddy quite hits the spot on these cool Spring evenings and with these high pollen levels with everything in bloom. Hope your allergies are better soon dear MJ. Take Care