Honey Bourbon Cocktail with Sage

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This honey bourbon cocktail is made with a homemade honey sage syrup and a good squeeze of fresh orange, and it’s my go-to welcome drink for fall parties. It’s just as nice on a chilly night when you’re cozied up with someone special in front of the fire.

A honey bourbon cocktail with a second drink in background.

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Ingredients Needed
A Welcome Drink for Fall Gatherings
Does the Ice Matter?
Pam’s Expert Tips
Storage Information
Recipe FAQs
📖 Recipe
Cocktails

If you’re planning a drink menu, this one goes right along with our Honey Bourbon Lemonade and our Blood Orange Bourbon Cocktail with Rosemary.

The idea for this sage cocktail came from my herb garden. This year I finally grew a pot of sage that did well right alongside my usual herbs, and as it kept going strong into late summer, my mind turned to fall food and drinks. A drink with sage and our beloved bourbon just came naturally.

Honey was on my mind too, because I had just finished interviewing a beekeeper for our local farmers market. Did you know that when too many hives are kept in one location, there isn’t enough natural nectar for the bees and their feed has to be supplemented? The beekeeper explained that this leads to honey that isn’t as pure and doesn’t taste as good. By spreading their hives out over several locations, they end up with pure, natural honey.

Of course, I came home with a couple of bottles. That conversation is a big reason we buy local honey whenever we can. You’re supporting a beekeeper in your own community, and the flavor reflects whatever is blooming near you.

Bourbon, citrus, and honey are all beloved Southern flavors. If you’d like to read more about where our favorite flavors come from, take a look at Southern Food Then and Now.

Two women holding cocktail glasses with one pouring bourbon.

Ingredients Needed

Honey - I used local honey from our farmers market, and I recommend buying local any time you can. Use the best quality honey you can find since it’s one of only three main flavors in the drink.
Water - This thins the honey into a syrup that mixes easily into a cold drink.
Fresh Sage - I used sage straight from my herb pot. Stick with fresh leaves here. Dried sage won’t give you the same clean flavor.
Bourbon - I used Knob Creek, which we love. It’s good quality but still affordable. Use the best bourbon your budget allows and you’ll be happy with the result.
Orange - Cut a fresh orange into wedges about an inch wide. You’ll squeeze the juice right into the shaker.

For our two cocktails, I poured them into simple 9-ounce glasses.

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A bourbon honey cocktail with two ice cubs, an orange twist, and a sage leaf laying nearby.

A Welcome Drink for Fall Gatherings

When I’m entertaining in the evening, I like to greet everyone with a special cocktail that fits the theme, the menu, or the season. This one works for any fall or winter gathering, and since there’s nothing sparkling in it, you don’t have to worry about it going flat.

If you’re serving a crowd, stir up the drinks ahead of time and keep them in the fridge in a pretty cocktail pitcher. Set out a bowl of orange curls and sage leaves for garnish, and meet your guests at the door with a drink in hand.

Does the Ice Matter?

Ask anyone who’s serious about their bourbon and you’ll get a resounding “Yes!” You want larger ice cubes because they chill the drink with less dilution. We love these silicone ice trays that make big, square cubes, and you’ll find more of our favorites in the Ultimate Bourbon Lovers Gift Guide.

Pam’s Expert Tips

Don’t be shy with the orange. When I first tested this recipe, the orange was barely noticeable, so I made the wedges larger and gave them a good, firm squeeze. That did the trick.
Adjust the sage to your taste. Sage has a strong, earthy flavor. If you’d like more of it, let the leaves steep in the syrup a little longer as it cools. If you’d like less, pull them out sooner.
We shake this one instead of stirring it because of the fresh orange juice. Shaking mixes the citrus in well and chills the drink quickly.
You’ll have extra syrup. The recipe makes more than you need for two drinks, so you’ll be ready for another round. If you enjoy making your own cocktail syrups, try your hand at making simple syrups with jam. It’s the easiest way to have a variety of flavors on hand in just minutes.

A sage cocktail with bourbon and honey on a dark background.

Storage Information

Store the honey sage syrup in an airtight jar in the refrigerator for 5 to 7 days. The cocktails themselves are best mixed and served right away, but if you’re making a pitcher, keep it in the fridge until well chilled and pour over ice just before serving.

Recipe FAQs

Can I use plain honey instead of making syrup?

I don’t recommend it. Straight honey gets thick when it hits cold bourbon and ice, so it won’t mix in evenly. Turning it into a syrup first solves that problem.

Can I use lemon instead of orange?

Sure! Bourbon, lemon, and honey is the base of a classic Gold Rush cocktail, and sage works well with it too. Your drink will just be a little more tart.

Can I use dried sage?

Fresh sage is really the way to go. It gives the syrup a clean herbal flavor, while dried sage tends to taste dusty.

What’s the best honey for this cocktail?

Whatever good quality local honey you can get your hands on. Every local honey tastes a little different depending on what the bees fed on, which makes your cocktail one of a kind.

A honey bourbon cocktail in a cocktail glass with an orange twist, a sage leaf, and a bottle of bourbon in the background.

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