Unique, Refreshing Drinks with Honey Simple Syrup!

Basil Lime Honey Spritzer

The combinations are endless, the drinks are amazing and (at the risk of stating the obvious)  nothing could be simpler when you make a simple syrup with honey and water, infuse it with some herbs and add it to seltzer water!  You can strengthen that drink if you'd like with some rum (mint or basil-infused simple syrup makes a great mojito!); vodka (lavender-infused honey vodka tonic, anyone?); or even white wine for a wine spritzer.  These drinks don't need alcohol to make them special, though.  (And keep reading to the end for a bonus recipe:  honey ice cubes!)

Honey Simple Syrup Basic Recipe
Like the name suggests, the recipe itself is very simple.  The ratio is 1:1 honey and water.  Simply (ha!) mix the honey and water together in a sauce pan and bring it just to a simmer then turn off the heat and let the mixture cool.  Use this as you would use a simple syrup for mixed drinks--about 2 or 3 tablespoons added to a basic cocktail.  Keeps in the fridge for, oh, no more than a month.

Variations
If you want to get a bit more fancy, add about 1/2 cup of herbs or aromatic roots (basil, mint, ginger, lavender, lemon balm, fragrant rose blossoms--even rosemary would make an interesting addition).  Add the herbs right to the saucepan and simmer.  Let them steep in the syrup for about 30 minutes after you remove the pan from the heat.  Strain out the herbs and decant the syrup into a jar or bottle.  You can also add some fresh lemon, lime or orange juice along with the rind from the citrus fruit (try to avoid including the white pith with the rind, as that will add a bitter note).

Here are some combinations I made recently:  ginger, lavender and basil-lime!

BONUS RECIPE: HONEY ICE CUBES!

Blend 1/2 cup of honey with 2 cups hot (not boiling) water and 2 tablespoons lemon (or lime or orange) juice.  Freeze in ice cube tray until solid.  Use in your fancy spritzers, iced tea or splash some single malt scotch on 'em babies and start sipping!