How to Make The Beekeeper’s Sour | Summer Bourbon Cocktail

Welcome to Episode 73 of Thirsty Thursday Cocktails with Rebecca on Your Bourbon Journey! We are kicking off the summer season with a whiskey sour!

If you usually avoid honey-flavored whiskey because it’s overly sweet or syrupy, this recipe is for you. Tonight, we are making The Beekeeper’s Sour—a sophisticated, bourbon-forward whiskey sour variant that completely rethinks the honey-whiskey category. By pulling back on the sugar, adjusting the fresh lemon juice, and building a unique split-bitter backbone, we let the 92-proof Kentucky straight bourbon truly shine.

We’re also diving into advanced cocktail textures using gum syrup for a silky mouthfeel and Fee Foam for that perfect, frothy sour head without using egg whites. Plus, you’ll learn how a complex blend of Cardamom bitters and classic Angostura bitters grounds the wildflower honey notes for a crisp, balanced, and refreshing patio sipper.

If you enjoy craft cocktail recipes, bourbon reviews, and learning how to balance home bar drinks, make sure to like, comment, and subscribe for more whiskey journeys!

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📋 The Beekeeper’s Sour Recipe

  • 2 oz Green River Honey Bourbon
  • 0.50 oz Fresh Lemon Juice (Adjust up to 0.75 oz if your lemons are less tart!)
  • 0.25 oz Gum Syrup
  • 3 dashes Fee Foam (or egg white)
  • 2 dashes Fee Brothers Cardamom Bitters
  • 1 dash Angostura Bitters Original
  • Garnish: Dehydrated lemon wheel

🍸 Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. Combine the Green River Honey Bourbon, fresh lemon juice, gum syrup, Fee Foam, and both styles of bitters into a cocktail shaker.
  2. Add ice to the shaker and shake vigorously for 10–12 seconds to achieve perfect chill, heavy aeration, and dilution.
  3. Strain into a chilled coupe glass. (Tip: Use a double-strainer if you didn’t pre-strain your fresh lemon juice!)
  4. Garnish with a dehydrated lemon wheel placed flat on top of the beautiful foam layer. Cheers!

🚨REMEMBER TO ALWAYS DRINK RESPONSIBLY🚨

NOTE:  The spirit featured in this recipe was provided to us as a media sample by the producer for review purposes. We were not compensated for this video, and our opinions remain entirely our own. All other items in this video were purchased by us. 

#WhiskeySour #GreenRiverBourbon #HoneyBourbon #CocktailRecipe #BourbonSour #SummerCocktails #ThirstyThursday #HomeBartender #WhiskeyJourney #CraftCocktails #BourbonWhiskey #CardamomBitters #FeeFoam #DrinkResponsibly #CocktailHour

Opulent Bourbon Cocktails: The Golden Jubilee Recipe

Celebrate with me! 🥂 In honor of my birthday and Episode 68 of Thirsty Thursday, I’m dipping into the “Library” for a truly opulent pour. Meet The Golden Jubilee—a luxury Old Fashioned designed for milestones and high-proof treasures.

Tonight we are featuring the incredible Wenzel’s Packard Proof, a 16-year-old Kentucky single barrel (affectionately known as a “BuffTurkey” pour) sitting at a massive 126 proof. This bourbon is a total cherry bomb, and we’re elevating it with velvet textures and exotic spices to create a “Chewy” foundation that feels like a high-end dessert in a glass.

We’re swapping standard simple syrup for Gum Syrup to achieve that signature silky mouthfeel and adding Bluegrass 5-Spice Orange Bitters for a complex layer of star anise, clove, and cinnamon. To top it all off, we’re adding Edible Gold Glitter for a shimmering visual toast to the journey ahead!

In this video:

  • How to use Gum Syrup for a velvety cocktail texture.
  • Reviewing the 16-year Wenzel’s Packard Proof.
  • Tips for working with 5-spice bitters and edible luster dust.
  • A sneak peek at next week’s Mother’s Day cocktail: The Dandelion Crown!

📋 THE RECIPE: THE GOLDEN JUBILEE

Ingredients:

  • 2.5 oz Wenzel’s Packard Proof Bourbon (or your favorite 16yr+ Library Pour)
  • 0.25 oz Gum Syrup (for that velvety mouthfeel)
  • 1 Bar Spoon Demerara Syrup
  • 10 Drops Bluegrass 5-Spice Orange Bitters
  • 1 Pinch Edible Gold Glitter
  • Garnish: Gold-dusted Luxardo Cherry

Instructions:

  1. Add Gum Syrup, Demerara, and 5-spice bitters to a mixing glass.
  2. Pour in your luxury bourbon.
  3. Add a generous pinch of gold edible glitter.
  4. Fill with ice and stir thoroughly for about 25 seconds to chill and suspend the shimmer.
  5. Strain into a crystal rocks glass over a clear ice sphere.
  6. Garnish with a gold-luster Luxardo cherry and enjoy!

🛒 Featured Cocktail Ingredients & Tools

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Check out the links below!

Connect With Us & Support The Journey! 

🚨REMEMBER TO ALWAYS DRINK RESPONSIBLY🚨

NOTE: The spirits and items in this review were purchased by us. We were not compensated by the producers for this review. Please drink responsibly.

#Bourbon #OldFashioned #LuxuryCocktails #WenzelsBourbon #WhiskeyTube #CocktailRecipe #BirthdayDrink #BourbonJourney #Mixology #GoldCocktail #ThirstyThursday #BourbonReview #SingleBarrel #HomeBartender #LuxuryLifestyle