M and I have a dinner date last weekend thanks to some gift cards we had won recently. We've both been busy with work and projects that time spent together seems a bit few and far between. Gift cards in hand, we ordered up a storm. I don't often order a mix drink. I'm usually a wine person with dinner (beer if it's pizza or a burger joint) or I'll order a good scotch (M's doing). However, when I looked at the drink menu, this simple mix of bourbon, honey, and lemon sounded delicious.
And let me tell you, it was.
So of course, I set out to recreate the drink at home. The key is to have a good bourbon and a mild-flavored honey (I've been on a local honey taste-testing rampage recently- all so good but different). This drink can also go two different ways: sweet or tangy. It really just depends on the amount of honey used.
A perfect drink to cheers the weekend!
PrintBourbon, Lemon, and Honey
This is a copy of a drink I had a restaurant. I use the honey measurement loosely because I could go either way. 1 tablespoon of honey gives you bite after the drink while two tablespoons makes it sweet with no bit. I suggest starting with 1 or 1 ½ tablespoons of honey and go from there.
- Yield: 1 1x
- Category: beverage
Ingredients
- 1 ½ ounces freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 ½ ounces good bourbon
- 1-2 tablespoons honey*
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a shaker and shake until combined. Serve over ice with a twist of lemon
Notes
* Be on the lookout for local honey. It's amazing what different seasons and different locations will have on the flavor of honey. While I think this drink works well with a mild, not too flowery honey. It's fun to experiment!
Amanda says
We budget for one new bottle of liquor a month and this month I bought cointreau for margaritas and fun stuff. But July, this might have to happen. It'd be nice to have a good bourbon around for some bourbon drinking friends anyway. I LOVE local honey (and okay, its not vegan and I just said I was going vegan but I think it's okay to fudge on this 😉 )
OBW says
My parents used to make this when I was growing up as a salve for a sore throat. Equal parts bourbon, honey & lemon juice with ice in the blender. Now I don't have to use the excuse of getting sick to enjoy it!
Eileen says
This sounds like one of the best drinks out there--it's like a hot toddy for summer. LOVE.
nessa says
Mmmm...
Laura says
Yes, this is a go-to in the summertime for me too. But swap in maple syrup for the honey because of the whole Canadian thing. Such a good late evening sipper 🙂
Leila @ The Milk Truck says
mmmmmmmm!!!! Maker's 46 is my FAVORITE. I would literally drink it straight, Mad-Men-style, if I thought I could handle it. This cocktail sounds delicious though. Definitely making this as a dock sipper this weekend while I'm home for the holiday 😉
Megan K says
I love this drink! I was inspired to make it at home from a restaurant too! I found that using honey simple syrup makes the honey mix more easily in the drink. YUM!
Nancy Bellegarde says
Stupid question. Do you put it in the shaker with ice?
Erin Alderson says
I wouldn't- the ice makes the honey seize and it's harder to blend all the ingredients together!
Martha says
I had a very similar drink at a restaurant (some place named after a dessert and a manufacturing facility 😄). They made it with orange blossom honey, & a sprig of thyme gave it a subtle herbal touch. I'm experimenting with this tonight.