Hot honey — honey infused with chili — went from a Brooklyn pizza topping to one of the defining flavors of the 2020s. It showed up on chicken sandwiches, pizzas, pastries and, eventually, in cocktails. The Hot Honey Old Fashioned is one of the best results.
The Hot Honey Boom
Chili-infused honey isn’t new; cooks in many countries have made it for a long time. In the US, the story starts with Mike Kurtz. He worked at Paulie Gee’s, a Brooklyn pizzeria, where he put chili honey on a pizza. It became so popular that he started bottling it, and Mike’s Hot Honey went on sale in 2010.
Through the late 2010s and into the 2020s, hot honey went mainstream. Chain restaurants added it to their menus, grocery stores stocked several brands, and it became a major TikTok trend, with people drizzling it on everything.
How the Cocktail Went Viral
As hot honey spread, bartenders and home cocktail creators started using it in place of sugar. The Old Fashioned was a natural choice: it’s just whiskey, sweetener and bitters, so swapping the sugar for hot honey changes the drink in an obvious, appealing way. Hot honey Old Fashioneds, margaritas and whiskey sours became common on TikTok and Instagram and on fall and winter cocktail menus in the 2020s. There’s no single creator or viral moment to credit.
Why It Works
Honey has a floral, rich sweetness that goes well with bourbon’s caramel and vanilla. The chili gives a slow warmth that builds as you drink. Angostura bitters add spice and balance, and the orange peel adds a bright aroma.
Why Many Versions Miss
- Using honey straight. Thick honey seizes on contact with ice and stays at the bottom. Thin it with warm water first.
- Too much heat. Hot honey brands vary a lot. Taste first.
- Too much honey. A quarter-ounce of syrup is enough. More makes it cloying.
- Not enough stirring. Like any Old Fashioned, it needs about 30 seconds of stirring to get the right dilution.
The Key Technique: Make a Syrup
Mix equal parts hot honey and warm water. The thinner syrup mixes easily into cold bourbon and makes it easy to measure. It keeps for a couple of weeks in the fridge.
If you want more control over the heat, make your own hot honey (see notes). Gently warm honey with red pepper flakes or fresh chilis and a splash of vinegar, then strain.
For a Party
Spirit-forward drinks batch well. Combine bourbon, hot honey syrup, bitters and water in a bottle and keep it cold. Pour over large cubes and garnish each with an orange peel and a chili.
The Mocktail: Sweet Heat
Hot honey does much of the work here, since the chili gives warmth. Use a zero-proof whiskey alternative or strong black tea for body. Angostura bitters contain alcohol, so a few drops of apple cider vinegar take their place, adding sharpness.
Other Hot Honey Cocktails
Hot honey syrup works in many cocktails, not just the Old Fashioned:
- Hot Honey Margarita: Use hot honey syrup instead of agave in a classic margarita.
- Hot Honey Whiskey Sour: 2 oz bourbon, ¾ oz lemon juice, ¾ oz hot honey syrup, shaken.
- Hot Honey Bee’s Knees: Gin, lemon and hot honey syrup, shaken.
- Hot Honey Paloma: Tequila, grapefruit, lime and hot honey syrup, topped with soda.
The syrup also works in iced tea and lemonade for a non-alcoholic option. Whatever the drink, start with less hot honey than you think you need: the chili’s heat builds as you sip, and a drink that seems mild on the first taste can feel quite hot by the bottom of the glass.
Enjoy responsibly — must be 21+.
