The Honey-Do List

All stories have a beginning. The same is true for making the sweet decadent honey we all know and love. The process is studied by many chemists around the world and some dedicate their entire lives to perfecting the craft of honey-making.

The process is complicated, a true science. First, bees are attracted to the sweet nectaries of a flower (all depending on the amount of sugar in each plant). When the honey production process first starts out, it is in its nectar form. Nectar is chemically different than the end product of honey. It is made up of about 80% water and it is not as sweet! Through the use of chemistry, bees are actually able to produce an enzyme and take the nectar and make simple sugars out of the product. By doing this, the honey gets sweeter and sweeter every time there is simple sugar added through a process called hydrolysis.

Sweet as honey, smooth as glass, our Glass Nectar honey-infused vodka is smooth as can bee. Made with hand-gathered honey, this award winning vodka is a sweet sensation fit for any cocktail. Our honey is hand-gathered from a local beekeeper, Danny Sullivan from Ballard, Washington. Glass Distillery believes in the power of  sourcing local, and in return, our vodka has sweet notes and an extravagant floral finish from the nectar.

Glass Vodka is one of the few distilleries world-wide to tackle a honey vodka. Why did our founder, Ian Macneil decide to incorporate honey as one of his infused vodka lines? The answer is supplied through our relationship with Salish Resort & Spa located East of Seattle who asked our founder Ian MacNeil if he could make something with the honey the resort makes. Ian agreed and Glass Nectar was born. Ian wanted to pair his delicious flagship vodka, Glass with a sweet note that would be able be so good, you can drink it on the rocks. The sweet and elegant notes of the nectar leave a sweet, but subtle taste in your mouth.

So next time you go to pour honey in your tea, on your toast, or simply straight into your mouth, thank the little guys who make the whole thing possible and check out these artisan craft cocktails made with Glass Nectar!

Glass Nectar Recipes

The Glass Slipper

Created by bartender and served by Dan Roberts of Loulay Restaurant, Seattle, WA

1 ½ oz Glass Nectar vodka

½ oz Aperol

Dash of Vermouth

Citrus Twist

Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake vigorously for 15 seconds and serve up in a martini glass with a citrus twist.

 

Glass French Twist

1½ oz Glass Nectar vodka

½ oz St Germaine

2 oz grapefruit juice

¼ oz lemon juice

¼ oz simple syrup

Mint leaf for garnish

Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake vigorously for 15 seconds and serve up in a coupe glass and garnish with mint leaf.

 

French 76

1½ oz Glass Nectar vodka

3 oz Champagne

¼ oz Lemon Juice

Shake Nectar and lemon juice over ice and strain into coupe or flute. Top off with champagne. Garnish with two or three pomegranate arils.

 

El Dorado

2 oz. Glass Nectar vodka

½ oz lime juice

1 oz pomegranate juice

1 oz pineapple juice

2 small slices of jalapeño

Slices of jalapeño (garnish)

Salt to taste (garnish)

Muddle two slices of jalapeño in a cocktail shaker. Shake the remaining ingredients, with the exception of the garnish, with ice until chilled. Pour into a martini glass with a salted rim and garnish with a slice of jalapeño.

Additional reading:

https://www.buzzaboutbees.net/how-do-bees-make-honey.html

https://www.salishlodge.com/salish-beekeeper.php