Barr Hill Raw Honey

Barr Hill Raw Honey is an unheated, unprocessed-style honey, so expect a thick, slow-pouring texture that may crystallize or turn creamy over time. That is normal for raw honey. The specific floral source and flavor profile aren't listed here, so treat these notes as typical of raw honey: a fragrant, floral and slightly waxy nose, a rounder and more layered sweetness than standard clear honey, and a lingering finish. Honey is a bar staple, and this is where a jar like this pays off. Raw honey is too thick to stir into a cold drink, so make a honey syrup first. Combine equal parts honey and warm water, stir until fully dissolved, and cool. The syrup keeps in the refrigerator for a couple of weeks. It is the base for a Bee's Knees (gin, lemon, honey syrup), where a floral honey sits well against juniper and citrus. It also works in a Gold Rush (bourbon, lemon, honey syrup), a Penicillin (blended Scotch, ginger, lemon, honey, with a smoky Islay float), and a hot toddy, where a spoonful dissolves directly into hot water and whiskey. Serve it at room temperature. Chilling thickens it further and mutes its aroma. If it has crystallized, set the jar in a bowl of warm, not boiling, water for a few minutes. Use a dry spoon or honey dipper so moisture stays out of the jar. For glassware, shake or stir honey cocktails in a tin or mixing glass. Serve a Bee's Knees up in a chilled coupe or Nick & Nora glass. Serve a Gold Rush over a large cube in a rocks glass, and a toddy in a heatproof mug or stemmed Irish coffee glass. As a snack, drizzle it over aged cheeses, sharp blue cheese, or ricotta on toast, and pair it with sliced apple, figs, or salted nuts. It also works for sweetening plain yogurt or tea.