Brian Nagele
If you love whiskey and want to try something slightly different, honey whiskey could be right up your alley. Although every distiller is different, most honey whiskies have a touch of sweetness at the finish and a round, lovely flavor that makes them easy to drink.
Honey whiskey is excellent neat, over ice, or combined with other mixers for a fun seasonal drink. One of the best aspects of honey whiskey is drinking it during virtually any season. Light wildflower honey whiskey pairs perfectly with the summer months, as it invokes the bright flavors and smells of the season.
Deeper honey whiskies with fall or winter notes like cinnamon, apple, or cereal are excellent for those times when the mercury drops. As with the wildflower honey whiskies, you can drink them on the rocks or neat or mix them into a soothing cold-weather cocktail. Honey whiskey is even good heated up.
If you haven’t tried honey whiskey yet, you’re missing out. Pick up some of these best honey whiskeys today.
Jim Beam Honey Bourbon Whiskey
Jim Beam is one of the top legacy whiskey brands globally, and their Jim Beam Honey Bourbon Whiskey is undoubtedly no exception.
This whiskey is smooth, with a rich, lovely color that looks beautiful all on its own or over the rocks. It’s a winner with a standard whiskey bite and a sweet honey taste.
You’ll get a nice hit of honey, along with some corn flavor and a touch of deep malted barley. In my opinion, one of the things that shine with this whiskey is that you can definitely taste the natural honey coming through for sure.
Wild Turkey American Honey Whiskey
Wild Turkey American Honey Whiskey has a kick to it, although with a robust flavor profile that makes it totally drinkable with authentic honey flavor offsetting the whiskey.
Wild Turkey whiskeys have traditional corn and mash as a base, so the original product is already excellent. The honey just makes it that much better.
If you prefer a little spice along with your sweetness, Wild Turkey also makes a blend with honey and ghost pepper. It’s an exciting combination that tastes great over whiskey rocks or ice, and it’s the ultimate summertime sip.
Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey
Jack Daniels is the granddaddy of all great whiskeys. You can find this popular blend referenced throughout pop culture and in the liquor cabinets of people all over the world.
While their No. 7 whiskey is excellent, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey is also a delicious treat.
Jack Daniels adds pure honey to their grain, corn, and rye base for a smooth concoction that has just the right amount of spice and sweetness. You might even pick up a little bit of vanilla flavor lingering in there too. I loved that It’s balanced, not overly sweet, and a great drink to sip around the fireplace.
Bird Dog Jalapeno Honey Whiskey
Bird Dog is a fun, boutique whiskey producer known for its inventive flavors and interesting blends. They hit on a winner with Bird Dog Jalapeno Honey Whiskey.
This spirit hits the notes of honey and jalapeno just right, so you get the perfect amount of sweetness and spice in every single sip.
Bird Dog Jalapeno Honey Whiskey has a robust 40 percent ABV, so sip carefully. Each drink is packed with a jalapeno punch, plus a slight bit of vanilla and a bright burst of honey. If you are like me and like nuanced spirits, make sure to give this one a try.
Belle Meade Honey Cask Bourbon
Belle Meade Honey Cask Bourbon is a specialty bourbon proudly featured in the Nelson Green Brier’s Craftsman Cask Collection. It’s a taste of summer in a bottle.
Belle Meade Honey Cask Bourbon is cask-matured, so you get a lot of deep, rich flavors from the wood. Since every bottle is different, you’re guaranteed to have a unique experience every time.
The process is a bit lengthy, six months at least, so the flavors have plenty of time to mature. If you want to sip on something truly strong and memorable with a unique honey flavor, I recommend this whiskey, it is definitely the way to go.
Garrison Brothers Honey Dew
There’s a relatively light touch of the sweet stuff in Garrison Brothers Honey Dew. If you don’t want something overpowering but still want a slight honey flavor, it’s definitely the blend for you.
This whiskey is never heavy-handed and has a light clovery taste that tastes delicious all on its own or as part of a mixed drink.
The secret ingredient is wildflower honey, which gives the whiskey a flowery aroma and a bright taste. You’ll also get a little bit of apricot in the mix.
Dewar’s Highlander Honey
If you love whiskey, there’s a good chance that you already have a bottle of Dewar’s in your liquor cabinet. Consider investing in another one, specifically Dewar’s Highlander Honey.
This Scottish whisky blend has forty grains and malts and is full of nuanced flavor with just the right touch of honey.
You’ll get a lot of oaky flavors in this whiskey, plus a nice hit of citrus and smooth honey. I love sweets, and for that I appreciated Dewar’s Highlander Honey over ice or neat. If you want something a bit more subtle, consider using this spirit as part of a mixed drink.
Bluebird Honey Whiskey
Bluebird Honey Whiskey is a potent blend with just a handful of ingredients so that you can savor every one. It has rye, wheat, grain, and a touch of wildflower honey.
The honey has a subtle, nuanced flavor with a flowery aroma and a good finish. If you like straightforward spirits made with fine ingredients, Bluebird Honey Whiskey is the one for you.
In addition to the honey flavors, you’ll also get a touch of toffee and vanilla. This whiskey is a warm, tasty treat that pairs perfectly with a crisp fall afternoon or a chilly winter’s night by the fire.
Bushmills Irish Honey Whiskey
Bushmills Irish Honey Whiskey is the ideal balance of traditional Irish whiskey flavors and a nice hit of honey. It’s a smooth, drinkable whiskey that you can enjoy neat or on the rocks.
If you want to savor more of Bushmills Irish Honey Whiskey’s flavor without worrying about diluting it, consider investing in some whiskey rocks.
You’ll get a lot of honey and a touch of fruity flavor. I loved there was a lot of fall taste coming through in every sip, like cereal, pears, and apples. Bushmills Irish Honey Whiskey is an excellent spirit for people who like the traditional taste of whiskey but want something with a bit of edge.
What is Honey Flavored Whiskey?
At its core, honey-flavored whiskey is traditional whiskey with honey added in at the distiller’s discretion. Some honey-flavored whiskeys are very sweet, while others just have a slight hint of honey at the end. Distillers use different types of honey to create flavor profiles, and your experience will differ depending on which one they use.
Small, boutique distillers might use locally-sourced kinds of honey for their creations. Then, they either directly add the honey to their spirits or infuse the whiskey with honey-soaked wood cubes.
How should I drink honey whiskey?
If you like the traditional flavors of whiskey and honey, you can drink it neat or over ice. You can also use whiskey rocks so that the mixture doesn’t get diluted in your glass. Alternatively, you can make a whiskey mixed drink. An excellent fall-inspired option is Honey Whiskey Apple Cider.
- 12 ounces of apple cider
- 2-3 cinnamon sticks
- 10 cloves
- 2 tablespoons of honey
- 5 ounces of honey whiskey
Warm the apple cider, honey, cinnamon, and cloves in a saucepan. Add the honey whiskey near the end, and serve warm with a cinnamon stick garnish.
Final Thoughts
Honey flavored whiskeys are a great way to inject a little bit of extra flavor into your drinks. So whether you enjoy them neat or mixed into a yummy cocktail, honey whiskeys can elevate your drink game.
Plus, since every distillation process is different, all of the whiskeys on our list have unique tastes. Simply choose the best honey whiskey for you based on how sweet you like your drinks and what other flavors you want to taste.
For another fun flavored whiskey, check out our favorite cinnamon whiskeys!
