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!
PrintThis 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 1/2 tablespoons of honey and go from there.
* 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!
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 😉 )
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!
This sounds like one of the best drinks out there--it's like a hot toddy for summer. LOVE.
Mmmm...
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 🙂
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 😉
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!
Stupid question. Do you put it in the shaker with ice?
I wouldn't- the ice makes the honey seize and it's harder to blend all the ingredients together!
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.