Honey – Lemon Spritz

For this recipe use raw and natural honey from Sweet Drop Apiary. Slap the verbena leaves lightly between your palms before you garnish to release essential oils.

Ingredients:

• ¼ cup honey
•  ¼ cup boiling water
•  20 lemon verbena or basil leaves
•  2 cups Lillet Blanc wine
•  ¾ cup of vodka
•  ½ cup fresh lemon juice
•  5 fresh thyme sprigs
•  1 ½ cups club soda, chilled
•  1 lemon, thinly sliced

Instructions:

• Combine honey, 1/4 cup boiling water, and 12 torn verbena leaves in a bowl, stir to dissolve honey. Cool honey mixture completely – about 20 minutes.
• Strain mixture into a pitcher, discard verbena leaves. Add Lillet Blanc wine, vodka, and lemon juice. Add thyme sprigs up to 1 hour before serving. Add club soda just before serving.
• Serve in wineglasses over ice. Garnish with lemon slices and verbena leaves.