5 Tips To Craft Honey-Infused Summer Cocktails And Mocktails For Beginners

With summer around the corner, it is that time of the year when drinks are crafted using citrus fruits and sweeteners that ripen during this season. One of the ingredients often utilised in the making of such summertime drinks is honey.  

While this sweetener is added to a lot of different cocktails and mocktails because of its versatility and silky, smooth texture, it is also a tricky element to work with. Too much honey might make a drink too sweet and sticky and too little might give a blend a diluted feel. So, adding just the right amount of honey to drinks becomes critical for mixing cocktails and mocktails during summer. As a novice into the world of mixology, one might find adding this summer ingredient to drinks a tad overwhelming.  

Read on below to know more about some of the tips that can be used by mixology beginners to make cocktails and mocktails infused with honey during summer weather: 

Use Honey Syrup  

One of the reasons honey syrup works during summers is because it integrates well with ingredients such as fruit chunks and lots of ice added to blends in this season. Mix two parts honey with one part of water to craft a simple honey syrup that can be incorporated in a number of alcoholic and non-alcoholic blends. For a more flavourful sweetener, infuse honey with herbs like rosemary and thyme that will build more taste and aroma. Using syrup also lends drinks a silky texture that builds into their overall composition. 

Use Citruses For Flavour Balance  

When adding honey to cocktails like a tropical rum slush or a bee’s knees, make sure it is contrasted with a dash of citruses, either in the form of bitters or in the form of fresh fruit chunks or fruit juices. The acidity in citrus fruits counteracts some of the sweetness in honey to prevent its tastes from becoming too overpowering. As well, citruses also mix well in cocktail and mocktail blends so their sour flavours become unified with sweet honey leading to a well-balanced drink. 

Choose The Right Honey  

One of the more significant tips involved in using honey in summer drinks is to choose the right variety. During summers, different drinks containing crisp, light notes are prepared to suit the weather. At such times, floral, light honeys with mildly citrus qualities can be used to lace drinks with their subtle sweetness. These vanilla-like and fresh notes extracted from syrupy honey not only build sweetness but also give drinks much density. 

Pair Honey With Sparkling Drinks  

Another handy tip for honey infusions in drinks is to pair them with sparkling mixers. The carbonated fizz in sparkling water or even a good quality champagne or prosecco ensures that the flavours of honey spread through a cocktail, to lend it a uniform taste. Honey can also be mixed with sparkling soda water containing a lot of bubbles to craft a honey and lime mocktail, particularly during summer. 

Use Honey In Iced Drinks  

One of the reasons honey is often added to summertime cocktails and mocktails is because it acquires a velvety and smooth quality when it is blended with ice. Use good quality, light and floral honey to make different iced cocktails such as an iced mango rum slush and mocktails such as a honey and vanilla infused berry icy. Honey can also be added to drinks like iced tea to lend them a smoother texture.  

Also Read: 5 Summer Cocktails And Mocktails That Pair Perfectly With Spicy Indian Foods