The Beekeeper’s Balm Cocktail

When I read the title of this recipe, I knew this is something I would love to try!  I made this last week when our daughter was here.

It was a hit with her family.  I feel it would be good as a non alcohol cocktail by leaving out the rum.




https://www.thekitchn.com/garden-recipe-the-beekeepers-balm-cocktail-the-10-minute-happy-hour-177826

other:  https://www.thekitchn.com/recipe-roundup-cocktails-with-119132

Out came the lemon balm from the kitchen and some rum from the bar, and mixed with his creamed honey we had a hit. We portioned out the drinks into individual Ball jars ahead of time and left them on the bar next to an ice bucket. This frees up the host from making cocktails on demand. I always prefer to make a batch of self-serve cocktails, individual or big batches in pitchers, and fill an ice bucket on the side. By not adding the ice ahead of time we avoid watered down drinks.

And the bonus is that the morning after I awoke to a scratch-free throat and less shaky voice. Apparently this mixture was just the balm my vocal chords needed, thus an appropriately named cocktail: The Beekeeper’s Balm.

The Beekeeper’s Balm Cocktail

Ingredients

   6 tablespoons honey
   1/4 cup very warm or hot water
   2 cups white rum
   3/4 cup freshly squeezed, lemon juice, strained
   1 cup fresh lemon balm leaves, loosely packed
   Club soda to top off, optional
   Lemon slices, for garnish



Instructions

   Stir honey and water in a pitcher until honey is dissolved. Add the rum and lemon juice.

   Add the lemon balm and muddle with a wooden spoon.

   Fill 8 to 10 canning jars with ice cubes. Divide the cocktail evenly among the glasses. Top with club soda if desired. Garnish with lemon slices and serve.



More about lemon Balm:

https://permies.com/t/141755/kitchen/Lemon-Balm-Simple-Syrup
https://permies.com/t/67553/kitchen/Lemon-Balm-favorite
https://permies.com/t/131700/kitchen/Cook-Lemon-Balm
https://permies.com/t/788/Lemon-Balm-Popsicles
https://permies.com/t/128302/pep-natural-medicine/PEP-BB-medicine-sand-drylemonbalm

very nice. I think I would want something bitter in there, too. especially if the rum was left out. some kind of bitter citrus might go well with the other flavors. rhubarb root?

You are right!  Maybe replace the rum with lemon juice.  I was thinking tonic water instead of club soda because I don't like the flavor of club soda.  Tonic water has a flavor that I like.

It was good with the rum as a social drink.

tonic water would do it, though it's often pretty sweet so you might want to ease up on the honey. I think bark from Remijia species is most often used to flavor tonic water. not sure how easy that is to get hold of.