My grandfather used to drink Cognac when he got a cold. Theoretically, the strong vapours help liberating yoru nose, plus the effect of alcohol relaxing you and reducing your sensitivity to pain helps. My wife mixes a bit of cognac with milk and an aspirine
and it hasn't killed her (yet), it's another old remedy.
I asked my grandfather long ago wether the remedy was effective and he replied: "Well, it doesn't take the cold away but helps you forget about it. And if I drink enough I even forget your grandmother, which is another positive side-effect"
