RECIPE: THE HONEY B COCKTAIL (B STANDS FOR BOURBON)

This cocktail is perfect for almost any occasion and any season. It's simple enough for an impromptu get-together at home, a tailgate party or even elegant enough for a wedding. In fact, I made this cocktail for the wedding of my sweet friends Jenna and John way back in 2014. The couple gifted their guests with small bottles of John’s family’s prized honey as a wedding favor. The secret to this cocktail is the beautiful local honey. If you can't get exquisite local honey like this, any honey will work but may not yield the glorious rich taste or color.

THE HONEY B

Makes 2-3 cocktails

INGREDIENTS

4 ounces Four Roses Yellow Label Bourbon, room temperature

4 tablespoons local honey

1/2 cup lemon juice

1 cup unsweetened tea

Dash of orange bitters (find at most good grocery stores in the "adult beverage" aisle)

DIRECTIONS:

In a cocktail shaker or pitcher, add the bourbon and the honey, one tablespoon at a time. Stir or shake well to dissolve the honey before you add the next tablespoon so it all dissolves. If you do this with chilled liquid, the honey will seize up and make it difficult to dissolve.

You may also heat the lemon juice slightly and dissolve the honey in that before mixing everything together.

Add the remaining ingredients. Serve over ice. You may also add a bit more of the tea and serve this as a warm cocktail.

RECIPE: THE OAKS LILY COCKTAIL

The Kentucky Derby is more than one horse race and more than one signature cocktail. Everyone knows that Mint Juleps are served on Derby Day but you may not know that on Friday before the Derby, the fillies race in The Oaks Derby. Everything is fluffy and pink to match the blanket made from Stargazer lilies that is draped over the winner… including the signature cocktail, the Oaks Lily. It is similar to a Cosmopolitan but served over ice.

THE OAKS LILY COCKTAIL

INGREDIENTS

3 ounces cranberry juice

1 1/2 ounces vodka

1 ounce sweet and sour mix

1/2 ounce Triple Sec

Blackberry

Lemon wedge

DIRECTIONS:

Add all ingredients to a glass and stir to combine. Pour over crushed ice and garnish with a blackberry and a lemon wedge.

RECIPE: MAKE A PIMM'S CUP THE PERFECT WARM WEATHER COCKTAIL

PIMM’S CUP COCKTAIL
A Pimm’s Cup is my absolute favorite warm weather cocktail. I have a lot of memories tied to it too. I spent some summers in England.and there were always Pimm’s Cups served at British summer sporting events like polo, racing, and Wimbledon. Pimm’s Cup #1 is a gin based spirit with some fruity undertones which is why it makes the perfect light, summery drink.

Here’s my recipe for summer’s most refreshing cocktail:

Makes 1

INGREDIENTS
In a highball glass add:
2 ounces Pimm's No. 1 Cup liqueur to the good ice ( Sonic sells it by the bag if you don’t have a crushed ice maker)
Top with 3-4 ounces lemon lime soda (sometimes I use ginger ale)

Garnish with:
1 cucumber slice
1 lemon wedge
2 sprigs mint