Smoky Honey Habanero Yuzu Highball with Spicy Honey Rim

Chef Cynthia

Servings

1

Prep Time

15 minutes

Category

Drink

A tall, bubbly yuzu cocktail with a sweet-heat secret. Yuzu juice and a touch of honey syrup bring bright citrus, club soda keeps it crisp, and a half rim of Spiceology Smoky Honey Habanero Seasoning adds smoke, sweetness, and slow-building heat. You choose how much by choosing which side of the glass to sip from. The same blend glazes our Smoky Honey Habanero Crispy Baked Wings, so this yuzu highball is the obvious pairing. A zero-proof version is below.

Smoky Honey Habanero Yuzu Highball with Spicy Honey Rim

Ingredients

    Spicy Honey Syrup (makes about ½ cup, enough for about 8 drinks)

    • ¼ cup honey
    • ¼ cup hot water, just off the boil
    • 1 tsp Spiceology Smoky Honey Habanero Seasoning

    Rim

    • 1 Tbsp Spiceology Smoky Honey Habanero Seasoning, spread on a small flat plate
    • 1 lime wedge, for wetting the rim

    Highball (per drink)

    • 1 cup large ice cubes, to fill a 12 oz highball glass
    • 2 fl oz vodka, chilled (yuzu-flavored or plain)
    • 1 fl oz bottled yuzu juice, shaken before measuring
    • ½ fl oz spicy honey syrup
    • 3 to 4 fl oz club soda, very cold and freshly opened
    • 1 pineapple wedge, for garnish (a lime wheel works too)

    Directions

    1. Make the syrup. Stir the honey and hot water together until the honey is fully dissolved, then stir in 1 tsp Smoky Honey Habanero Seasoning. Cool to room temperature, about 10 minutes. Refrigerate any extra in an airtight container and shake before each use, since the spices settle.

    2. Chill a 12 oz highball glass while the syrup cools.

    3. Rim half the glass right before building the drink. Run the lime wedge along the outside edge of half the rim, roll that edge in the Smoky Honey Habanero Seasoning on the plate, then tap off the excess. Rim the outside edge only so the granules stay out of the drink.

    4. Fill the glass to the top with ice. Add the vodka, yuzu juice, and spicy honey syrup. Stir for 5 to 10 seconds to chill.

    5. Slowly pour the club soda down the side of the glass. Give it one gentle lift with a bar spoon to combine without losing the bubbles.

    6. Add the pineapple wedge and serve right away, alongside the wings.
    Recipe Products
    The blend that started it all
    Blend

    Smoky Honey Habanero Seasoning

    Key Ingredients

    Honey Granules, Paprika, Habanero Powder, Brownulated Sugar