From our tried-and-true Honey Cider Cocktail to the smoky Penicillin drink, this list of 15 best honey cocktails will create a nice buzz around your next party!
Honey is a sweet, sticky substance produced primarily by honey bees.
Honey bees collect nectar from flowers and pack it in their colonies in hexagon-shaped beeswax cells.
It’s more complicated than it sounds, though–bees must visit two million flowers to produce a pound of honey.
Honey has earned the nickname “liquid gold” due to its many desirable qualities.
It’s a natural sweetener for many foods and beverages and can last almost forever when stored properly.
Honey is often described as sweet, but it’s more nuanced than that.
Like wine or cheese, honey can taste fruity, smoky, earthy, floral, nutty, and everything in between!
There are over 300 honey varieties from the United States alone, all thanks to the different types of flowers used by bees to collect nectar.
No matter the variety, honey has a place in many cocktail recipes.
It balances the bitterness and acidity of other components of your drink while jazzing things up with its complex flavor profile.
#11 honey cocktail, Penicillin is a modern whiskey mixed drink that hits the spot.
Booze up in the wintertime with a Honey Cider Cocktail.
Check out #15 for a cocktail with a surprising ingredient!
Let’s kick off this list with a refreshing mint cocktail!
Raw honey and water are heated over a med-high flame to create a cohesive simple syrup.
The syrup provides sweetness to balance the bright acidity of the lemon juice.
Blending the mint leaves allows for maximum extraction of its essential oils, giving the cocktail a wave of the freshness of menthol.
Vodka’s subtle flavor notes help highlight the subtle flavor notes of honey.
To make this recipe hassle-free, you can make both the minty lemonade and the vodka honey lemonade.
Whiskey Lemonade on ice, anyone?
You can whip up this drink using pantry staples: rosemary, honey, and lemon.
Rosemary is the unexpected star of this recipe.
A few sprigs of rosemary add woody, citrusy, and pepper flavors that complement the deep smokiness of the whiskey.
The lemon garnish combines with whiskey to create an inviting citrus and smoke aroma.
Soda has a crisp, bubbly mouthfeel that improves the cocktail experience.
If you’re out of rosemary, you can use tarragon or any strong-flavored herb instead.
This recipe is for you if you’re in the mood for a spicy cocktail night.
It takes half a teaspoon of red pepper flakes to give it enough heat.
The sweetness of the honey can reduce the spice level, so add a little more flakes if you want a real kick.
Bourbon has notes of caramel and vanilla that provide a lot of depth to the cocktail.
This drink is fantastic with maple bourbon candied bacon or other bourbon appetizers.
This Old Fashioned recipe contains honey, spice, and everything nice!
It uses cardamom, cinnamon, rosemary, and ginger to blend warm and earthy flavors.
Cinnamon has a sweet, woody, and earthy flavor that compliments the spicy punch of ginger.
Cardamom’s citrus notes work wonderfully with lemon and orange juice.
A few dashes of orange bitters make this a well-rounded cocktail.
This simple recipe is a great way to sharpen your bartending game!
It uses only five ingredients to make an absolutely delicious cocktail.
Pear juice gives the drink a subtle sweetness and a hint of apple flavor.
The citrusy touch of the triple sec helps tone down the bold taste of the tequila.
Resting the cocktail in the fridge after mixing allows it to chill without using ice, which can dilute the flavor.
Rimming the glass with a mix of salt, sugar, and cinnamon really helps the drink’s flavors pop.
You’ll have an elegant cocktail with just three ingredients for a romantic date night.
The gin’s assertive herbal citrus and juniper flavors complement the sweetness of the honey syrup.
You can make honey syrup by combining water and honey.
Using hot water is best to help incorporate the honey completely.
Lemon juice adds an acidic touch that brightens the entire drink.
Enjoy this drink with some baked escargot or other fancy dinners!
Stay cozy at home with this cold-weather smoky cocktail.
Mezcal, the close relative of the more popular tequila, is like a smoke bomb.
It can be overwhelming, but the bright and sweet peach puree mellows it down nicely.
Cointreau has a warm, citrusy, and bitter vibe that completes the balance of flavors of the drink.
A peach slice garnish adds a floral and tart crunch to the drink.
The salt rim provides a salty component that highlights all the flavors.
This next drink might be your next go-to drink for girl’s night!
Champagne gives it a luxurious feel that guarantees a fun time.
Bubbly also adds fruit-forward flavors that play well with the sweet crispness of the apple cider.
The honey-like sweetness of ripe figs is highlighted by boiling them with honey.
As a cocktail garnish, fig slices and thyme bring a blend of fruity and herby aromas to the drink.
Here’s a quick and easy crowd-pleaser for your next party!
This pitcher cocktail makes eight servings, so scale it up if you’re serving more people.
Grapefruit juice is tangy with sweet undertones.
Tequila feels right at home in this Mexican cocktail, giving the drink sweet and fruity vibes.
The refreshing lime juice contrasts the strength of the tequila.
You can make this drink ahead of time, but hold the sparkling water so it won’t go flat.
This following recipe brings the heat!
It’s made with hot honey, a mixture of honey, cayenne pepper, and hot sauce.
The glass is rimmed with a salt and chili blend, giving the drink even more spice.
Silver tequila is often described as harsh, but honey and lime tone it down just right in this recipe.
Orange liqueur adds notes of citrus and herbs to the cocktail.
If you’re out of cayenne, paprika or other alternatives will work fine.
11. Penicillin
Ginger and honey turn this smoky drink into a refreshing sipper.
Blended scotch serves as the cocktail’s base, providing deep notes of smoke, chocolate, and maple syrup.
Single malt scotch layered on top of the drink ensures that you get its smokiness from the first sip.
The candied ginger garnish gives a fresh aroma and a sweet-spicy bite.
You can also use dehydrated kiwi for an additional burst of sweet-tart flavor.
Now that’s a drink that’ll fit right in your Instagram feed!
The cocktail’s gorgeous cherry blossom-like color gradient matches its Japanese feel.
Sake is a Japanese rice liquor desired for its mildly sweet flavor and floral undertones.
The grapefruit juice’s tartness pairs well with the sake’s softness, creating a pleasant balance of flavor.
Large ice cubes are the way to go because they chill the cocktail without adding as much water.
Irish whiskey, honey, and lemon join forces to create a dangerously drinkable cocktail.
Irish whiskey provides a light and fruity taste that makes it approachable even if you’re not a whiskey drinker.
It also has a dark amber color that matches the cocktail’s fall theme.
Apple cider offers a blend of rich, crisp, sweet flavors that make the drink pop.
The apple slices add a mellow sweet-tart bite to refresh your palate after every sip.
The cinnamon sugar rim brings out the drink’s sweetness and adds a touch of warmth.
14. Honey Bee Spritz
Enjoy the feeling of a warm island breeze right at home with this recipe.
Rum, coconut, mango, citrus, and orange flavors transform this drink into a tropical treat.
White rum’s bold, sweet flavor makes this drink a must-try if you have a sweet tooth.
Honey adds richness and a nuanced palate to the cocktail.
This sweet cocktail is lovely paired with salty and savory anchovy appetizers.
15. Indian Winter
This winter drink features the amazingly complex flavors of cardamom.
The spice gives the cocktail a breath of menthol, pine, and fruit that work excellently with honey.
Star anise adds a rich sweet flavor and a warm aroma.
Angostura bitters round out the flavor profile of this cocktail.
A few fennel seeds or other substitutes will do the trick if you’re out of star anise.
The bottom line
Honey is a bee’s specialty, but we all get to share since they make so much.
It’s a fantastic ingredient with a lot of depth and nuance.
As a cocktail sweetener, honey works best as a supporting ingredient for fruity, acidic, and bitter flavors.
Its distinct taste holds its own even when paired with the strong flavor of liquors.
Honey is found almost anywhere, so you can instantly start using it in your creative mixers at home.
Feel free to revisit our list if you need inspiration.
15 Best Honey Cocktails
From our tried-and-true Honey Cider Cocktail to the smoky Penicillin drink, this list of 15 best honey cocktails will create a nice buzz around your next party!
Ingredients
- Vodka Honey Lemonade
- Whiskey Lemonade
- Fiery Honey Badger
- Spiced Honey Bourbon Old Fashioned
- Honey Pear Margarita
- Bee’s Knees Cocktail
- Honey Peach Mezcal Margarita
- Sparkling Fig & Honey Cocktail
- Pitcher Paloma
- Hot Honey Margarita
- Penicillin
- Grapefruit Honey Sake Cocktail
- Honey Cider Cocktail
- Honey Bee Spritz
- Indian Winter
Instructions
- Pick one or more options from our list of Honey Cocktails here!
- Start mixing your new favorite honey cocktail.
- Share and comment! Did you make any changes to make it even better?