Getting Buzzed on Honey Cocktails

Discover the buzz for yourself with these bee-witching libations

With a provenance older than the cocktail itself, honey has been a beloved natural sweetener for centuries. With its floral notes and viscous texture, honey adds depth and complexity to recipes and fosters unique enzymes, vitamins, and minerals that bestow a slew of health benefits. From classic sips like the Hot Toddy to modern favorites such as Penicillin, there is a rich history around honey cocktails. Discover the buzz for yourself with these bee-witching libations.

Hive Five

This classic old-fashioned is reimagined with the essence of the hive. The richness of honey is infused with seductive notes of rose and the earthiness of pollen, which coats the rim of this sophisticated sip.

Ingredients: 

⎠ 2 oz. bourbon

⎠ ¾ oz. rose honey syrup (recipe to the right)

⎠ 2 dashes apple bitters

⎠ Honey and pollen to rim glass

⎠ Orange peel to garnish (optional)

Instructions:

Rim a glass with honey and pollen, and set aside. In a mixing glass, stir together the bourbon, rose honey syrup, and apple bitters. Pour into the rimmed glass and garnish with a classic twist of orange.

Rose
Honey
Syrup 

Ingredients:

⎠ ½ cup water

⎠ ½ cup honey

⎠ 1 tbsp. dried rosebuds 

Instructions:

Combine all ingredients in a saucepan and bring to a low simmer. Remove from heat, let steep, and then strain. Store in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

The Sweetest Sting

The combination of spicy ginger and exotic citrus notes gives this bright, effervescent drink a lively punch of flavor, while the golden nectar offers subtle sweetness like no other. Garnish with a cube of honeycomb, allowing it to drip playfully into your glass.

Ingredients: 

⎠ 2-3 fresh ginger slices 

⎠ ½ oz. lemon juice

⎠ ¼ oz. chamomile honey syrup (recipe below)

⎠ ½ oz. dry vermouth

⎠ 1 oz. Amaro Nonino

⎠ 1 bottle Fever Tree Sparkling Lime and Yuzu Soda

⎠ An assortment of citrus wheels to garnish

Instructions:

Muddle the slices of fresh ginger in a shaker, then add all other ingredients except the soda. Shake vigorously with ice and strain into a wine glass filled with fresh ice. Top with sparkling soda. Garnish with an assortment of citrus wheels and enjoy the sweetness of the sting.

Chamomile Honey Syrup

Ingredients:

⎠ ½ cup orange blossom honey

⎠ ½ cup water

⎠ 2 tbsp. dried chamomile flowers or 4 tea bags

Instructions:

Combine all ingredients in a saucepan, and bring to a low simmer. Remove from heat, let steep, and then strain. Store in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

Buy Local

Support your local beekeepers in their hard work to spread the benefits of honey and provide the best quality products in the state. Nestled in the Red Hills Region of Tallahassee, Orchard Pond is an organic, family-owned farm that produces its own raw, unfiltered honey. In addition to specialty honeys, Orchard Pond offers three standard varieties: tupelo, gallberry, and wildflower. orchardpond.com

Buzz Worthy

This exotic blend of mezcal, mango, and passion fruit, complemented with a touch of honey, will transport your taste buds to a tropical paradise. For an elevated experience, coat the rim with lightly toasted black sesame seeds, adding aroma and drama to the glass. 

Ingredients: 

⎠ 1 ½ oz. mezcal

⎠ ½ oz. lemon juice

⎠ ½ oz. salted honey sesame orgeat
(recipe below)

⎠ ½ oz. passion fruit puree

⎠ ½ oz. mango juice 

⎠ Honey and toasted black sesame seeds to rim glass

Instructions:

Rim the glass with honey and sesame seeds, and set aside. Add all ingredients to a mixing tin with ice and shake well. Strain into your rimmed glass with a large ice cube.

Salted Honey Sesame Orgeat

Ingredients: 

⎠ 1 ½ cups sesame seeds

⎠ 1 ½ cups water 

⎠ 1 cup honey

⎠ Pinch Maldon Salt

⎠ ½ tsp. orange blossom water

Instructions:

In a food processor, finely grind the sesame seeds. Combine the remaining ingredients (except the orange blossom water) in a small pot and bring to a boil. Add the ground sesame seeds and simmer for about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool. Add the orange blossom water and transfer to the refrigerator to chill for at least 12 hours. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve or cheesecloth, and store in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. 

Hangover Cure? 

Sure, honey is a sweet and tasty superfood with antibacterial and antiviral properties that can boost your immune system and fight sickness, but did you know it could also prevent your next hangover? The natural sugars in honey help the alcohol metabolize in the body and prevent sudden changes in blood sugar levels. A tablespoon before bed and again in the morning can help seal the deal.