National Hot Toddy Day

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By Diane Forrest

The University of Mississippi is a major university in our state.  They have a chant at football games that says,

Hotty Toddy Gosh Almighty

Who in the hell are we??

Flim Flam Bim Bam

Ole Miss by damn!

I think of this chant every time I see the words hot toddy.  However, this hot toddy is not a football chant, but a drink.  A Hot Toddy is made with honey, lemon, hot water and a choice of rum, whiskey or scotch.  You can also include coffee, tea or cocoa too.  A hot toddy is a favorite drink of those who have cold weather and signs of a cold or sore throat.

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According to punchbowl.com, hot toddies originated in Scotland sometime during the 18th century. While the exact details are unknown, historians believe that the recipe was developed to make the taste of Scotch whiskey more palatable. (Apparently the women of the day didn’t care for the smoky, peat flavor.) One theory suggests that the word “toddy” evolved from “Tod’s well” (also known as Todian Spring), the water supply for Edinburgh.

(Google Image)

So today, on National Hot Toddy day, try a favorite warm drink to knock off the winter chill, and get rid of those nasty cold bugs!

U.S.S. Constitution

[another enjoyable email on our history]

The U. S. S. Constitution (Old Ironsides), as a combat vessel, carried 48,600 gallons of fresh water for her crew of 475 officers and men. This was sufficient to last six months of sustained operations at sea. She carried no evaporators (i.e. fresh water distillers). 

However, let it be noted that according to her ship's log, "On July 27, 1798, the U.S.S. Constitution sailed from Boston with a full complement of 475 officers and men, 48,600 gallons of fresh water, 7,400 cannon shot, 11,600 pounds of black powder and 79,400 gallons of rum .."

Her mission: "To destroy and harass English shipping." 

Making Jamaica on 6 October, she took on 826 pounds of flour and 68,300 gallons of rum. 

Then she headed for the Azores, arriving there 12 November.. She provisioned with 550 pounds of beef and 64,300 gallons of Portuguese wine. 

On 18 November, she set sail for England. In the ensuing days she defeated five British men-of-war and captured and scuttled 12 English merchant ships, salvaging only the rum aboard each. 

By 26 January, her powder and shot were exhausted. Nevertheless, although unarmed she made a night raid up the Firth of Clyde in Scotland. Her landing party captured a whisky distillery and transferred 40,000 gallons of single malt Scotch aboard by dawn. Then she headed home. 

The U S. S. Constitution arrived in Boston on 20 February 1799, with no cannon shot, no food, no powder, no rum, no wine, no whisky, and 38,600 gallons of water .

Yo Ho Ho And A Bottle Of "Rum"