Home Our Community

7 SWEET HONEY WHISKY DRINKS TO MIX UP AT HOME

Honey. It’s soothing, sweet and seriously syrupy. And it pairs wonderfully with whisky. The floral sweetness of our favourite golden nectar goes hand in hand with whisky’s smooth, spiced notes. And together, they both have a range of individual characteristics and complementary flavours that can make for endless delicious drinks.

Honey is used in various cocktails to add a little natural sweetness but it also brings out other natural ingredients from sharp citrus fruits to fresh herbs.

Here we share our favourite honey and whisky drinks that you can create at home again and again.

 

Valley of the Bees

This scotch honey cocktail is reminiscent of Scottish summers spent in purple heather fields among buzzing honey bees. The same bees pollinate our fields of barley at The Glenlivet distillery, adding to the sweetness of our single malt whisky. 

Honouring the bees, this drink celebrates their nectar in the form of a heather honey syrup, infused with fresh flowers. It’s a beautiful cocktail that looks as satisfying as each sip.

the glenlivet 15 year old valley of the bees whisky cocktail drink

Valley of the Bees

COCKTAIL RECIPE
FOR
1
SERVE

INGREDIENTS

ml oz
Ingredients Unit
The Glenlivet 15 Year Old
50 ml
Heather Honey Syrup
7.5 ml
Aromatic Bitters
1 dash(es)
Lemon
Orange
Heather Flowers (for the Syrup)
20 g
Heather Honey (for the Syrup)
300 ml

METHOD

  1. Add all the ingredients to a mixing glass with ice and stir until chilled.
  2. Strain over a large ice ball into a glass.
  3. Twist the oils of lemon and orange peel to finish.

Honey Old Fashioned

The old fashioned is a traditionally spiced cocktail that highlights the smoky, smooth flavour of scotch whisky with a dash of Angostura bitters. But if you fancy a bit of extra sweetness, try your old fashioned with honey

Our recipe calls for just one teaspoon of nature’s nectar, stirred in with The Glenlivet 12 Year Old, our signature malt with a fruity, sophisticated finish.

Honey Old Fashioned

COCKTAIL RECIPE
FOR
1
SERVE

INGREDIENTS

ml oz
Ingredients Unit
The Glenlivet 12 Year Old
50 ml
Honey
1 teaspoon
Angostura Bitters
2 dashes
Salt
1 pinch

METHOD

  1. Add ingredients to mixing glass.
  2. Stir down over ice, serve over ice in a rocks glass.
  3. Garnish with a twist of lemon.

Hot Toddy

A hot toddy is the original honey whisky cocktail, traditionally made with hot water, lemon juice and a few spiced garnishes. The centuries-old recipe is beloved for its comforting properties, guaranteed to warm you up on a winter’s evening and add an extra level of cosiness to nights by the fire.

Our hot toddy recipe features whisky and honey with the addition of apple cider for a boost of tangy sweetness. Discover more hot toddy variations and get creative.

the glenlivet founders reserve bonfire hot toddy whisky cocktail

Hot Toddy

COCKTAIL RECIPE
FOR
1
SERVE

INGREDIENTS

ml oz
Ingredients Unit
The Glenlivet 12 Year Old
40 ml
Lemon Juice
15 ml
Honey
15 ml
Apple Cider
80 ml
Grated Cinnamon, Cayenne, and Lemon Wheel (for Garnish)

METHOD

  1. Combine all ingredients in a mug.
  2. Serve hot or chilled.
  3. Garnish with grated cinnamon, dusting of cayenne, lemon wheel.

The Glenlivet Royale

Many cocktails swap sugar for honey for a more natural sweetness. A whisky royale does just that, mixing honey water with whisky and lemon juice to create a soothing base for this champagne topped cocktail. 

Its smooth and balanced flavour matches the crispness of sparkling wine for a seriously elegant drink, perfect for summer or festive occasions.

The Glenlivet Royale

COCKTAIL RECIPE
FOR
1
SERVE

INGREDIENTS

ml oz
Ingredients Unit
The Glenlivet 12 Year Old
35 ml
Lemon Juice
15 ml
Honey Water
15 ml
Champagne
80 ml
Lemon Twist

METHOD

  1. Pour The Glenlivet 12, lemon juice and honey water into a chilled flute.
  2. Top with champagne, stir and garnish with a lemon twist.

Honey Whisky Sour

A whisky sour is as classic as it gets. The simple mix of lemon juice, whisky and simple syrup makes for a classic party pleaser that’s easy to drink and easy to customise. 

Add honey to our whisky sour recipe to put your own twist on this popular cocktail. And why stop there? Berries, herbs and other citrus fruits make a wonderful addition whilst still complimenting those honey notes. Why not put a honey twist on our marmalade whisky sour? The sticky orange spread will go perfectly.

the glenlivet whisky sour cocktail

Whisky Sour

COCKTAIL RECIPE
FOR
1
SERVE

INGREDIENTS

ml oz
Ingredients Unit
The Glenlivet 12 Year Old
50 ml
Lemon Juice
25 ml
Maple Syrup
15 ml
Egg White/20ml Aquafaba (Optional)
1

METHOD

  1. Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker with Cubed Ice.
  2. Shake.
  3. Double Strain into Rocks Glass over Cubed Ice OR a Chilled Coupe without ice.
  4. Garnish with a Zest of Lemon.
  5. Serve.

Honey Whisky Iced Tea

Iced tea is the ultimate summer drink, but also makes for a seriously good cocktail when mixed with scotch whisky. You typically want one part whisky to three parts tea. But when it comes to the brew, the choice is yours.

Go classic with a breakfast blend or keep it light with a green tea mix. Sweeten to your taste with runny honey and serve with plenty of ice. Get inspired with our favourite whisky and tea pairings.

Honey And Mint Whisky Smash

Honey goes with most flavours. And in this whisky cocktail, it pairs with the fresh cooling flavour of mint. Our mint smash is all about shaking and muddling those delicious flavours together before pouring over ice for a refresher you’ll want more of. Seriously – get a batch on the go before it runs out!

the glenlivet founders reserve mint lime smash whisky cocktail

Mint Lime Smash

COCKTAIL RECIPE
FOR
1
SERVE

INGREDIENTS

ml oz
Ingredients Unit
The Glenlivet Founder’s Reserve
40 ml
Lime Wedges
3
Chilled Double Strong Mint Tea
30 ml
Honey Syrup
10 ml

METHOD

  1. Combine honey syrup and lime within shaker. Muddle.
  2. Add whisky and ice. Shake. Pour into glass.
  3. Top with chilled double strong mint tea.
  4. Garnish with a lime wedge and mint.

Looking for more drink inspiration? Discover our collection of whisky cocktails to get started or check out our favourite warm whisky drinks, sweet whiskey drinks or the best whisky drinks to order at a bar.