Honey Refreshers from the National Honey Board

Refreshing Summer Cocktails 

June, 2011

School is out, grills are sizzling, sprinklers are running full tilt and gardens are in full bloom. Ah yes, the sights and sounds of summer! Often during these hot summer months, we find ourselves parched, but sometimes we are at a loss for creative, delicious summertime drinks to quench our thirst.

Well, look no further! If you’re having a summer party and need to find some refreshing beverages to put on the menu, you’ve come to the right place. Here we have a slew of tasty concoctions fit for any warm-weather bash. From sweet and fruity to punchy and savory, these hand-picked refreshing summer cocktails are easy to make and doubly easy to enjoy!
*Find more cocktails and non-alcoholic beverages at www.honey.com. 

Bee's Knees Cocktail
From Chef Ricardo Zárate (makes 1 drink)

• 1 Tablespoon honey
• 1/2 jigger gin
• 1 Tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1 Tablespoon freshly squeezed orange juice

Note: The orange juice is optional. Bars in Los Angeles and New York that serve the Bee’s Knees omit it.

Combine all the ingredients and shake well with ice. Strain into a glass.

Note: When made as directed, the honey often forms into a giant ball in the middle of the shaker. To avoid this, combine three parts honey to one part hot water and stir together until completely mixed, then continue with the recipe.

Honey Mango Margarita
(makes 1 beverage)

• 1-1/4 oz. gold tequila
• 2 oz. margarita mix
• 1/2 fresh ripe mango**
• 2 oz. Honey Simple Syrup
• 1 scoop crushed ice

Sugar rim glass. Combine ingredients in blender and blend until smooth. **1 oz. Monin Mango Syrup can be substituted for fresh mango

Honey Simple Syrup: Mix 4 parts honey to 1 part hot water in a store n pour*. *Or alternatively use a covered container that is convenient to pour from

Honey Mint Juleps
(makes 14 servings)
 

• 1 cup water
• 1-1/2 cups mint leaves
• 1 cup honey
• 3-1/2 cups bourbon
• Crushed ice
• Mint sprigs, for garnish

In small saucepan, bring water to a boil. Remove from heat. Add mint leaves; stir until wilted. Add honey; stir until dissolved. Let mixture stand until cool; strain and discard mint. For each julep, combine 1/4 cup bourbon with 2 Tbsp. honey mint syrup. Pour bourbon mixture over crushed ice in frosted tumbler or tall glass. Garnish with mint sprigs.

Mandarin Blossom(makes 1 beverage)

• 1 oz. Honey Simple Syrup
• 3 oz. fresh sour
• 1-1/2 oz. Absolut mandarin
• 2 Tablespoons egg white, for froth

Shake all ingredients with ice. Strain into a cinnamon-sugar rimmed martini glass. Garnish with an orange twist. Cinnamon sugar is a blend of super fine sugar and just enough cinnamon to give a light brown color.

Honey Simple Syrup: Mix 4 parts honey to 1 part hot water in a store n pour*. *Or alternatively use a covered container that is convenient to pour from.

I hope you'll try one of these and if you don't like honey, it would probably work with corn syrup. I may be off line for a couple of days. We're having a big Apartment Inspection coming up tomorrow and Friday and that always wears me out!

Have a great week!