Cocktail of the Week: Sweeten Up Your Bar with Honey

If you’re looking for a light, sweet and sun-kissed drink in time for summer, simply head to your kitchen cabinet. Honey, a natural sweetener with flavors that range from delectably mild to richly bold, is the key ingredient to creating some of the most delicious cocktails of the season. Not only does pure honey accentuate the tastes of mixed drinks, but it also can satisfy anyone’s sweet tooth without packing on the pounds. So how can you perfect your next cocktail with this heavenly, rich, golden liquid? The National Honey Board recently collaborated with leading Latin mixologists Pablo Moix, Junior “The Liquid Chef” Merino and Gabriel Orta to create honey-based drinks that’ll keep your lips smacking until the final drop. Sweet!

Top Honey Cocktail: Jamie Molido
Be the toast of the town with a Jamie Molido, a sensual and elegant cocktail made in honor of Moix’s father and a favorite among New York City’s glitterati. This tart, yet wonderfully refreshing creation can be savored during steamy hot days or on cold rainy nights when all you want is to awaken your spirit. The luscious blackberry jam slowly blends with honey syrup and vodka, making mouths happy anytime. Ladies, who needs a man when you could have this handsome companion that doesn’t forget to bring you flowers?

Ingredients:
3/4 oz. homemade clover honey syrup (2 parts clover honey and 1 part water)
2 oz. honey vodka
3 blackberries
3/4 oz. freshly squeezed lemon juice
Blackberry jam (3 blackberries & 1/2 oz. honey)
1 orchid

Preparation:
In a pint glass, add all spirits and mixers. Then add ice and shake vigorously for six seconds. Strain in a Collins glass filled halfway with cubed ice. Top off with crushed ice. Finally, crown drink with the handmade jam and add orchid for garnish.

Top Honey Cocktail: Mari Mercedes
To complement the Jamie Molido, Moix created Mari Merecdes, a drink inspired by his mother—who happens to also be sweet and spicy by nature. The key to this hot number is elderflower liqueur, which comes from a small white flower with a flavor that’s often compared to pears and grapefruit. The result is a smooth concoction that goes down easy, ending with a surprising hint of chili that’s sure to heat up any setting.

Ingredients:

1/2 oz. homemade clover honey syrup (2 parts clover honey and 1 part water)
2¼ slices of serrano chile
2 oz. 100 percent agave tequila
¾ oz. elderflower liqueur
¾ oz. freshly squeezed lime juice
¼ oz. freshly squeezed orange juice
Serrano chile slice (for garnish)

Preparation:
In a pint glass, crack 2¼ serrano chile slices. Add all spirits and mixers. Then, add ice and shake vigorously for six seconds. Strain into a super-fine sugar-rimmed cocktail glass and garnish with an additional slice of chile.

Go here for more great honey drink ideas!