Expert reveals how Sheffielders could add a natural sweetness boost to their favourite drink recipes
A honey expert has shared cocktail and mocktail recipes for hosts to try, revealing how to enhance sweetness without adding refined sugar
Experts at the handmade honey goods company, Bee Inspired, shared cocktails and mocktails that would be perfect for a get-together, with spring on the horizon.
Recipe #1: Pink Lady Mocktail (Non-Alcoholic)
This alcohol-free take on the classic Pink Lady cocktail would be perfect for an evening with friends, with an aesthetic appeal that is great for sharing on social media.
To make this beverage, combine apple juice with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice and a splash of grenadine in a cocktail shaker. To create a foam top and a velvety texture, add in egg white or aquafaba and ice, then shake vigorously before pouring into a stemmed glass. Finish with soda and, for extra flair, garnish with maraschino cherries.
Recipe #2: Pomegranate Shandy
A refreshing option to try that only requires three ingredients is a sweet-and-tangy Pomegranate Shandy. This simple recipe involves mixing a ¼ cup of pomegranate juice with ½ tablespoon of honey until it has dissolved (or use homemade honey syrup). Then, share equal measures of the mixture into two glasses, and top each with half a beer of your choice.
Recipe #3: Sparkling Strawberry Lemonade (Non-Alcoholic)
A refreshing Sparkling Strawberry Lemonade is sure to be a crowd-pleaser. For the base of the drink, when creating a sugar syrup or honey syrup, add some lemon peel and ginger root whilst the mixture is heated in a saucepan. Then, add strawberries and bring to a boil until the fruit softens.
Once the strawberry ginger syrup has cooled, muddle the mixture to ensure you get the maximum amount of flavour out of the strawberries, add lemon juice, and then strain into a pitcher. Add ice and top the pitcher with soda, and stir.
Recipe #4: French 75
A sophisticated cocktail to enjoy with friends is a French 75, which also makes for a perfect celebratory drink. This classic cocktail combines gin, fresh lemon juice, and simple syrup, topped off with champagne or your favourite sparkling wine. However, honey syrup makes a great alternative for simple syrup, adding another depth of flavour and a slight twist to this iconic drink.
Founder of Bee Inspired, Kara Brook Brown , commented, “When drinks call for simple syrup, a homemade honey syrup can be used instead, which can add floral notes unlike refined sugar.
“To make a honey syrup, combine equal parts honey and warm water and stir until the honey dissolves. Once this is cooled, it can be stored and used as an alternative in your favourite cocktails.”