Gin + Honey Meyer Lemonade

An Original Recipe by ME
A part of the Nostalgic Cocktail Series
Inspired by Disney‘s Winnie The Pooh

Winnie the Pooh is one of my favorite Disney Characters of all time. His simple nature and pure heart mixed with his loyalty and silly comments…I just can’t get enough. And since I’ve branched out my Nostalgic Cocktail Series from more than just drinks/snacks enjoyed by most kids that grew up in the 90s/early 2000s to also some of the best movies/books/shows from that time, I knew I wanted to make a Winnie the Pooh one for awhile.

This is not my photo, but I can totally relate!

So far, I’ve make the Neverland Cocktail, inspired by Peter Pan, and The Hakuna Ma’Vodka, inspired by the Lion King. Today, I present to you The Hundred Acre Wood, inspired by The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh.

Who doesn’t wanna escape to the Hundred Acre Wood? I personally want to see how high tigger can really bounce. I’d definitely wanna at least try to cheer up Eeyore. I wanna do some gardening with Rabbit. I really want to track down some Heffalumps! But most of all, I would love to spend some time with Winnie the Pooh and his sweet and timid bestie, Piglet?

Well, this cocktail will instantly transport you there. One sip of this colorful and refreshing mixed drink will make you feel like you’re sitting at a picnic table with Christopher Robin and the gang on beautiful Summer Day. However, you might have to hide your honey rim from that silly ol’ bear. If you look away, he might not be able to help himself!

This recipe starts with a simple but delicious, homemade Honey Meyer Lemonade. Here’s what you need and how to make it:

Ingredients:
2 cups slightly warm (or room temp) water
1/2 cup freshly squeezed Meyer Lemon juice
1/4 cup honey

Directions:
Combine ingredients in a pitcher and stir until honey is completely dissolved

(If the water is cold, you will have a harder time dissolving the honey. In the event that happens, pour the mixture into a pot over low heat until you’re able to dissolve the honey.)

This, in my opinion is a better way to enjoy lemonade. It’s still sweet, thanks to the honey, but it’s not full of cups of refined sugar. This can also easily become a Keto Lemonade by substituting regular honey for sugar free honey.

Store the lemonade in the fridge to chill while you prepare the rest of the cocktail.

Okay, let’s talk about the presentation of this drink real quick, if you don’t mind. First, you should know where I’m coming from: Even though Moscow Mules can be enjoyed in any container/glass…we all just seem to enjoy them more when they’re in a copper mug, right? Right. So for some reason, the same illogical need for a particular glass pertains to this glass as well. In my opinion, this cocktail is best served in a mason jar with crushed ice. And yes, the ice here matters too. Just like when you order an old fashioned from a nice bar. They don’t serve it to you in a martini glass with regular ice, do they? No, they serve it in a rocks glass with an ice sphere or cube. There’s something about having this refreshing drink served in a mason jar with crushed ice that just really makes it the Hundred Acre Wood cocktail.

Okay, so once you’ve grabbed your mason jar and crushed ice, here’s what you do next:

Pour 3 oz of the Honey Meyer Lemonade
Slowly pour 1.5 oz of Empress Gin (it will create a floater affect, see picture below, so you can take an Instagram Worthy pic…and tag me in it of course!)

Then give in a nice stir (and enjoy the beautiful color transformation)
And last but not least, line the rim of your glass with honey. Having just a little taste of sweet honey on your tongue will perfectly compliment the floral notes of the Empress 1908 Gin and also go well with the tartness of the lemonade.

When the time comes again that we can have groups of friends over for Sunday barbecues and you wanna wow them with this simple but incredible cocktail, here are a few garnish suggestions:

-Thin sliced Meyer lemons
-Whole honey comb chunks (on skewers)
-A sprig of rosemary
-Fresh mint leaves

And to decorate your mason jars with a rustic vibe that I feel you’d find while in the Hundred Acre Woods:

-Tie a bow around the jars with twine
-Type out (“Oh bother” one of Pooh’s most common sayings) in typewriter font on your computer, print them out, cut into a whimsical shape, and attach to it to the twine with a mini clothespin
-Use mini clothespins to attach lemon slices to the side of the jars

I hope you enjoy this 3 ingredient cocktail inspired by one of America’s most beloved bears. Cheers to you and the whole Hundred Acre Woods Crew. Below you will see a recipe card you can save straight to your device. Feel free to share it with another Disney (or gin) loving friend. Who doesn’t love a socially distant, virtual drinking party with friends?

Please let me know if you make this drink, and what you think. Nothing makes me happier than when someone takes a picture of them enjoying it and tags me on social media! As always, though, please drink responsibly and this is only intended for those about the legal drinking age.

All my love,
Dani, a big tid

P.S. What was your favorite movie as a tid. I need more inspiration for future Nostalgic Cocktails! Let me know in the comments.