A dangerously smooth, sweet-heat lemon cocktail that tastes like summer got in a fight with a chili pepper…and everyone won.
Ingredients (Makes 1 Cocktail)
- 2 oz good vodka (Tito’s, Ketel One, or your favorite)
- ¾ oz fresh-squeezed lemon juice (about ½ large lemon)
- ¾ oz Bee Dolce Hot Honey simple syrup (recipe below)*
- 2–3 oz chilled club soda or sparkling lemon water
- Ice (lots)
-
Garnish: long lemon twist + thin wheel of fresh jalapeño or red chili (optional but sexy)
*Bee Dolce Hot Honey Simple Syrup - ½ cup Bee Dolce Hot Honey (or Mike’s, etc.)
-
½ cup hot water
Stir until fully dissolved. Cool → bottle it. That’s it.
Instructions
- Chill your glass (rocks glass, highball, or coupe — all work).
- In a cocktail shaker, add:
- Plenty of ice
- Vodka
- Fresh lemon juice
- Hot honey simple syrup
- Shake hard for 12–15 seconds (you want it ice-cold and a little foamy).
- Strain into ice-filled rocks glass OR straight up into a coupe if you’re feeling fancy.
- Top with chilled club soda (gentle stir).
- Express a long lemon peel over the top (twist it hard so the oils mist the surface), then drop it in.
- Float a paper-thin chili wheel or jalapeño slice on top for looks and extra slow burn.
Perfect Pairings
- Spicy margarita vibe → swap vodka for reposado tequila + salted rim
- Gin lovers → swap vodka for London dry gin (becomes a spicy Bee’s Knees)
- Zero proof → skip alcohol, double the hot honey syrup and soda → still slaps
- Food matches: hot honey fried chicken, Nashville hot chicken sandwiches, pizza night, literally anything off the grill
- Pro move: Keep the Bee Dolce bottle on the table. Everyone will want one more drizzle in their second round.
- One sip and you’ll understand why the bee is smiling on the bottle.
