3 Ways to Beat a Hangover
| by Alexandra Geppert | December 20, 2011
When a hangover sucker punches you right in the gut, here’s how to fight back.
At The Hooch Life, we believe in drinking better, not more. However, there are times when all of us overindulge. New Year’s Eve happens to be a night when people tend to reach for an extra cocktail or two (or more) before heading home. “It’s New Year’s Eve,” you say to yourself. “Tonight, I’m gonna have some fun.” Then, morning rolls around, and you wish you hadn’t said that.
The amusing ringtone you chose for your alarm is really not amusing this morning. You reach to turn it off, and that’s when the headache strikes. Falling back onto the pillow, you wonder who spiked the champagne last night. Yep, you’re hungover. Sometimes the night is as epic as the one depicted in the movie, The Hangover. And sometimes, you just have one too many. Most the time, you don’t set out to wreak havoc on your body. But when the music is playing, the company is superb, and you’re having fun, it’s hard to go home.
Lucky for you, bartender Josh Davis in Chicago has some time-tested remedies to cure a hangover — and to turn that gremlin you see in the mirror back into something more familiar.
Bloody Mary
“This classic has been curing hangovers since the beginning of time — well, at least the beginning of cocktailing. There are many variations to this drink, and they all work in their own way,” says Josh. You can make a Bloody Mary with vodka, gin, or tequila. It really depends on what you prefer. The classic recipe calls for vodka and is made with fresh ingredients instead of a pre-made mix. See our classic Bloody Mary recipe.
If you are going to use a mix, use one with fewer preservatives and artificial ingredients. Your drink will taste better. Josh likes Hoosier Momma Bloody Mary Mix and gin in his Bloody Mary, and he slings this recipe for his closest friends and bar guests:
Hoosier Momma Bloody Mary Mix
1-1/2 ounces Plymouth Gin
1/4 ounce Lemon Juice
Worcestershire Sauce to taste
Tabasco Sauce to taste
Celery stick and Lemon Wedge to Garnish
BeerMosa
Josh’s favorite recipe for a hangover is actually just something he drinks whether hungover or not. “Most people enjoy a Mimosa on Sundays, but I like a great wheat ale with some orange juice. This does the trick after a long night of drinking and is quite tasty as well.” Josh recommends 312 Urban Wheat Ale, brewed locally in Chicago.
Greasy Food
“And last but not least,” says Josh, “the perfect cure for a hangover is to kill it before you wake up with one. And the best way to do that is — drumroll please — greasy food!”
“I hail from the Southside of Chicago, and there is a plethora of late-night and 24-hour greasy spoons. You have Maxwell Street (my personal favorite order is a Polish and fries at 4 in the morning — makes waking up a little easier). Or any fish, chicken, taco, and breakfast spots that will help take the edge off of one too many cocktails.”