This is a cocktail that, quite unlike most of those I post is a “new” cocktail. Created in the middle of the first decade this century it combines the concept of two cocktails, the whiskey sour which I posted last week, and the bee’s knees, which I will post soon. While it is probable that it has been done before, it is surprising to me that it has not become a staple cocktail, especially in the whiskey sour category of cocktails. This combines bourbon, lemon and honey syrup, making it similar to a whiskey sour, but since it uses honey which is much more flavourful than simple syrup, it is much, much more delicate than the normal whiskey sour. The flavour of the honey syrup, which depends on the honey you use, makes the cocktail harder to balance. You would not want too much honey, because then the flavour and sweetness would overpower the whiskey. Too little and it would be unbalanced in the whiskey direction. However, this is a cocktail I would highly recommend to anybody, showing how one simple change, simple syrup to honey syrup, can create an immense increase in complexity with a minor change.
Like I always say with these recipes, unless I specify a certain ingredient, you should use what you like. For this use a quality bourbon you like, if you would be happy with being served the bourbon neat or over the rock, then you’re allowed to use it. The same goes for honey when you are making the honey syrup, choose honey you like. With ingredients that are of a more varying sort, like honey, it is important to find one that you really like and use that one. Tea infusions follow the same logic, use a tea that you like. When you make a cocktail on your the most important thing is that you like it.
My Recipe
- 2 oz (6 cl) Bourbon
- 1 oz (3 cl) Lemon Juice
- 75 oz (2.25 cl) Honey Syrup
Add the ingredients to a shaker, shake with ice and strain into a chilled coupe glass or a double old-fashioned glass with ice.
Honey Syrup
- 2 parts Honey of your choice
- 1 part Cold Water
Add the ingredients to a container you would like to use, a bottle or something similar. Shake or stir the ingredients in the container until the honey is dissolved, then it can be stored up to a week.