12 Honey Syrup Cocktails that are Worth the Buzz

We love honey syrup cocktails because they come to the party with an interesting depth of flavour that isn’t always apparent in drinks made with other simple syrups. Whether it’s the notion of bees on the wing adding their zingy energy to the mix, or the wide variety of flavour notes that typify honey from different regions, there’s just something special about adding this springtime sweetness to a cocktail.  

Wondering how to make honey syrup for cocktails at home? It’s so easy! Simply add equal parts honey and water to a pot on the stovetop and whisk until it becomes syrup. You can also do it in the microwave using a microwave-safe container. The syrup stays good to use for up to two weeks when stored in a covered container in the fridge. 

Here are a few of our favourite honey simple syrup cocktails to try at home:  

1. Tequila Honey Bee cocktail

A bold yet balanced cocktail, this drink pairs Espolòn Reposado Tequila with honey syrup and lemon, finished with bitters and a smoky mezcal rinse.

Ingredients

• 60 ml Espolòn Reposado Tequila (opens in new window)

• 30 ml Honey syrup

• 20 ml Lemon juice (fresh)

• Dash or two Bitters

• Mezcal (opens in new window) (to rinse glass)

• Lemon twist (to garnish)

• Ice

Method

1. Rinse the inside of a glass with mezcal and set aside

2. Add tequila, honey syrup, and lemon juice to an ice-filled shaker

3. Shake until well chilled

4. Strain into the prepared glass

5. Add bitters on top

6. Garnish with a lemon twist

7. Serve

More tequila cocktails to try: Easy Tequila Summer Cocktails for Beginners  (opens in new window)

2. All Spice & Everything Nice cocktail

A glass that glows like autumn. Rich bourbon, spiced liqueur, and honey meet citrus and bitters for a cocktail that feels both cosy and bold.

Ingredients

• 60 ml Wild Turkey 101 Bourbon (opens in new window)

• 10 ml Allspice liqueur

• 20 ml Lemon juice (fresh)

• 15 ml Honey syrup

• 2 dashes Orange bitters

• Orange slice (to garnish)

• Ice

Method

1. Add bourbon, allspice liqueur, lemon juice, honey syrup, and bitters to an ice-filled shaker

2. Shake until well chilled

3. Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice

4. Garnish with an orange slice

5. Serve

3. Falling Leaves cocktail

Golden in the glass and crisp on the palate, this cocktail layers wine, pear, and honey for a sip that feels like autumn in liquid form.

Ingredients

• 60 ml Dry white wine (such as Riesling)

• 30 ml Pear brandy

• 10 ml Honey syrup

• 15 ml Grand Marnier (opens in new window)

• Dash Bitters

• Pear slice or citrus twist (to garnish)

• Ice (cracked)

Method

1. Add wine, brandy, honey syrup, Grand Marnier, and bitters to a mixing glass

2. Fill with cracked ice and stir for 20 seconds

3. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass

4. Garnish with a pear slice or citrus twist

5. Serve

4. Bee’s Knees

Apparently first poured by a bartender called Frank Meier at the Hotel Ritz Paris around 1920, honey simple syrup for cocktails was used in the Bee’s Knees cocktail to mask the taste of the questionable gin available at the time. These days, however, this ingredient highlights the beautiful herbaceous nature of the spirits like Bulldog Gin (opens in new window), which we are lucky enough to have at our disposal.    

5. Make It Count cocktail

Amber-tinged and vibrant, this cocktail nods to the classic Campari–orange pairing, sweetened with a touch of honey for a balanced finish.

Ingredients

• 60 ml Campari (opens in new window)

• 30 ml Soda water

• 30 ml Blood orange concentrate

• 15 ml Honey syrup

• Orange wheel (to garnish)

• Ice

Method

1. Fill a highball glass with ice

2. Add Campari, soda water, blood orange concentrate, and honey syrup

3. Stir gently to combine

4. Garnish with an orange wheel

5. Serve

6. Beer & Loathing cocktail

A cheeky nod in name and flavour, this cocktail brings Aperol, citrus, and honey together before topping with crisp pilsner for a bitter-sweet, bubbly finish.

Ingredients

• 20 ml Aperol (opens in new window)

• 15 ml Grapefruit juice

• 15 ml Lemon juice

• 15 ml Honey syrup

• 2 dashes Grapefruit bitters

• Pilsner beer (to top)

• Grapefruit twist (to garnish)

• Ice cubes and crushed ice

Method

1. Fill a glass with ice cubes and crushed ice

2. Add Aperol, grapefruit juice, lemon juice, honey syrup, and bitters to an ice-filled shaker

3. Shake well until chilled

4. Strain into the prepared glass

5. Top with Pilsner

6. Garnish with a grapefruit twist

7. Serve

 7. Honey Kumquat Caipirinha cocktail

A lively twist on Brazil’s world-famous Caipirinha, this version swaps in kumquats, falernum, and honey syrup for a cocktail that’s bright, zesty, and full of character.

Ingredients

• 45 ml Cachaça

• 15 ml Falernum

• 30 ml Honey syrup

• 5 Kumquats

• Half a lime (cut into pieces)

• Ice

Method

1. Add kumquats and lime pieces to a shaker and muddle well

2. Add cachaça, falernum, honey syrup, and ice

3. Shake lightly until chilled

4. Pour unstrained into a rocks glass

5. Serve

8. Derby cocktail

This honey syrup recipe for cocktails is for vintage drink lovers. The old-school Derby cocktail is a classic combination of grapefruit juice, bourbon and honey syrup. The result is a sweet and tart sipper that’s sure to be a frontrunner at your next event.  

9. Bear With Me Honey cocktail

Silky and citrussy with a subtle savoury edge, this gin-based cocktail shakes up honey syrup, verjus, and a touch of saline for a layered, modern serve.

Ingredients

• 45 ml Bulldog Gin

• 1 Egg white

• 20 ml Verjus

• 15 ml Honey syrup

• 10 ml Grand Marnier

• 2 dashes Saline solution (1:5 ratio salt to water)

• Ice

Method

1. Add gin, egg white, verjus, honey syrup, Grand Marnier, and saline solution to a shaker

2. Dry shake (no ice) until frothy

3. Add ice and shake again until well chilled

4. Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice

5. Serve

Tangy and zesty:  Orange Liqueur Cocktails That Zest the Best (opens in new window)

10. Honey-Kissed Cosmopolitan cocktail

A herbal spin on the ever-stylish Cosmopolitan, this version muddles rosemary and honey syrup with vodka and cranberry for a cocktail that’s elegant with a twist.

Ingredients

• 45 ml SKYY Vodka (opens in new window)

• 45 ml Cranberry juice

• 30 ml Honey syrup

• 1 Lime wedge

• 1 Rosemary sprig

• Lime wheel or rosemary sprig (to garnish)

• Ice

Method

1. Muddle lime wedge, rosemary sprig, and honey syrup in a shaker

2. Add vodka, cranberry juice, and ice

3. Shake until well chilled

4. Strain into a cocktail glass

5. Garnish with a lime wheel or rosemary sprig

6. Serve

11. Gold Rush cocktail

First invented in New York before prohibition, the Gold Rush cocktail is similar to a Bee’s Knees but replaces gin with Wild Turkey 101 Bourbon. Straightforward, sophisticated, and refreshing, it’s the perfect pre-dinner serve for your next summer party. 

12. Penicillin cocktail

If the idea of a honey ginger syrup cocktail is right up your alley, may we please introduce you to the Penicillin cocktail?  This zesty whiskey cocktail with its soothing notes of ginger and lemon will definitely warm you up from the inside out. It’s pretty much a cool version of the iconic Hot Toddy, and we’re here for this contemporary spin on the ultimate feel-better classic.   

Comfort drinks: Hot Christmas Cocktails for and Extra Festive Holiday (opens in new window)

There you go, besties! A short and sweet list of honey syrup cocktails. For more inspiration, sign up for our newsletter, crafted with care to bring you the tastiest news from around the cocktail web.