Honey, It's Hot Outside

It has been a sweltering weekend in the cement metropolis, and I'm hiding out in my cave-like apartment with the AC set responsibly on "energy saver" at 75 degrees. This weather is imperfect for so many activities, but it was quite suitable for yesterday's honey-themed NY Cocktail Club meeting hosted by LP.

Honey adds a wonderful, earthy depth to cocktails and can complement floral elements in other ingredients. LP developed a menu with both classics and new inventions using a variety of base liquors including gin, vodka, rye, tequila, Pisco, and Lillet. Honey was added in the form of syrup or liqueur. Most drinks also had a citrus element and some were garnished with fresh herbs, such as thyme and basil, which added a summery garden aroma.

If you are mixing with honey, it's helpful to know that you need to transform it into a syrup first. Straight honey doesn't mix well and much of it will be left on the bottom of the shaker after you strain the drink. It's so easy!

Honey Syrup
1 part filtered or bottled water heated
1 part honey
Stir together until combined

LP used wild black sage honey. It's worth considering carefully which type of honey might go best with your other ingredients. If you aren't sure, start with clover honey. According to the National Honey Board (NHB), the flavor and color of clover honey is what most folks think of as typical.

Just know that there are many other possibilities. The NHB notes that there are more than 300 varieties of honey available in the United States. Visit their website to read about and search for specific Honey Varietals.

The drink recipes are below. We made four of the seven cocktails on the menu plus a variation of Piglet's Punch with St. Germain's elderflower liqueur instead of honey. It was a delicious deviation from the theme, but one, I'm sure, the bees would appreciate. 

I was particularly fond of the Honey Spritzer with rye (instead of vodka) garnished with mint (also easy!).

LP's table held a wonderful feast, as always, with fresh homemade whole wheat baguette, hummus, veggies, baked brie and apples, lentil salad, watermelon and feta salad, and a wheat-free tabouli. VS added a plate with raw honeycomb, goat cheese, and oat-walnut crackers. The honeycomb might sound like a waxy affair but it spreads delightfully on crackers.

Before I leave you, ladies and g's, please note that July's cause of the month is WIN (Women in Need). WIN provides housing and other services to New York City women and their families who are homeless or otherwise disadvantaged. This is critical at all times, but something that happened earlier this week made it seem particularly relevant.

Until next time... and in the between, mix yourself a nice cool cocktail, honey...

Honey It's Hot Outside
Cocktail Club Menu by LP