It's flu season. It's also wet and cold. What do you do when you're sick and you want something that both soothes your throat, makes you feel better, and packs a kick that will help you rest? Back in simpler days my solution was to quaff a shot of Everclear, but that's really not safe for anyone who is no longer invincible (males under the age of 25 in general). My mother would have recommended garlic soup but I'm having trouble polishing that recipe into something I could call a cocktail.

Fear not! I have a solution, so pull your blankets up and ring that little bell by the bed because help is on the way...

Tim Ferriss Blog

Follow up:

Now I'm not going to make any health claims about this concoction, but it's a modified version of Ferriss' and when you consider the ingredients, it clearly has medicinal value. In fact, 94% of people who try it find it provides relief within 4 hours. There is an added benefit and that's because the ingredients are boiled, so it creates a wonderful aroma reminiscent of potpourri to cover up all the unhealthy odors that accompany the flu. Finally, it's pretty simple to make even when you are bleary eyed and tired.

The Shark Gallbladder Cocktail:

• Boil 16 oz water and remove from heat.
• Chop up a thumb of ginger and toss it in the hot water. Wait 20 minutes.
• While waiting, peel an orange, save the peel and eat the rest.
• After 20 minutes, add the orange peel to the hot water.
• Get yourself a shot of brandy and drink it.
• After the peel has been steeping for about 10 minutes, stir in 2 tablespoons of honey.
• Pour the contents of your pot into a cocktail shaker and strain, discarding the solids.
• In a pre-warmed coffee mug, add 1.5 oz Captain Morgan Spiced Rum and top with your warm, freshly brewed orange ginger tea.

Garnish with a mint leaf skewered through an orange slice.

Let me know how it works and get well soon!


Editor's note: Jack made up the 94% statistic.