Life is strange and weird things can happen. If you ever find yourself in a sticky situation, then having all the necessities can be the difference between life and death. Through the ages, whisky has been a drink of choice for many travellers. Whether you are a rare whisky enthusiast or do not drink it at all; keep reading to find out why you should bring out your inner Ron Swanson and carry whisky with you everywhere you go.
Antiseptic
One benefit of whisky is that, due to the alcohol it contains, it can be a pretty powerful antiseptic. Whisky can be used on a whole manner of minor cuts, scrapes and even mosquito and bug bites. You need to be careful though, as leaving alcohol on an open wound can be dangerous as it can also kill exposed tissue. But if it’s the only thing you have it can be used, just ensure you only use a little amount and rinse with clean or flowing water afterwards. Whisky can also be used to disinfect utensils and equipment.
Hydration
No, whisky can’t be used as an effective method of hydration. It can, however, be added to water that may not be clean. The alcohol in whisky has the capacity to keep, or at least calm down some of the nasty bugs that may be lurking in the water, reducing your risk of water-borne illnesses. Simply put a shot of whisky in the water and let it sit for around 20 minutes to allow it to kill bacteria. This method should only be used if you do not have another way of purifying water.
Warmth
If you’ve ever tried rare whisky, or any type of whisky, you’ll know the initial burn you get is enough to warm anyone up. You can feel it going from your chest all the way to your fingers and toes. This is because it opens up your blood vessels and increases circulation. This is a great method if you are still at a decent body temperature and have some other source of heat, such as a fire. This method is not so great if you’re on the verge of hypothermia and have no source of heat as this can cause the cold blood from your extremities to rush into your core, bringing down your core temperature even further.
Fire
If you find yourself with very little means to build and make a fire, then whisky can be a great fire starter. Pouring a little whisky onto firewood that won’t light will slightly increase your chances of making that happen. It can also be used when kindling and other fire starting material is hard to come by, simply fill a small can and light it up.
Rare Whisky for Medication
As well as everything listed above, whisky can also be used as medication. Studies have suggested that a small drink of alcohol every now and then can actually help boost your immune system and help fight infection. Infact, one of the properties that drinking rare whisky has is improving functions of the mucus membranes, which improves your chances of fighting infection significantly. As mentioned above, it can also be used to help treat mosquito and bug bites, as well as treatment for poison ivy stings.
For these tips, it doesn’t really matter what type of whisky you use but for antiseptic and medical purposes a whisky with a high alcohol percentage is key. At least this gives you a good excuse to stock up on some rare whisky.
