National Honey Bee Day Gets All Aberfeldy in the ATX

No, citizen, you don’t have to be a little under the weather. You don’t need a sore-throat-soothing hot toddy of whiskey and lemon and honey to understand that whiskey and honey – with or without lemon – is a brilliant combination of flavors and mouthfeel.

After all, no one knows precisely how the first cocktail came into existence. It could very well have been a mixture of Scotland’s distilled pride and the culinary by-products of Apis mellifera, right?

In any case, listen: Aberfeldy Scotch Whiskey has partnered with eight bars in Austin to conjure up some new cocktails in honor of National Honey Bee Day, thus bringing attention to the world’s depleting bee population and supporting local beekeepers. Well, and bringing attention to and supporting their brand, too, of course. But that’s how this media business works, yes, and we’re always partial to those companies whose products taste as good as the single-malt expressions of Aberfeldy’s – especially since Aberfeldy will also be donating 12 bees (to hives at local bee conservancies) for every drink purchased.

See, now – that’s some good corporate citizenship right there, n’est-ce pas?

We’ll drink to that, as they say … and we’ll be drinking these drinks – fancy, honey-infused cocktails made with Aberfeldy’s 12-year-old goodness – at these places on Saturday, August 17, and whenever else they’re available:

CONTIGO
Specialty Cocktail: Hive Minded ($10)
Key Ingredients: Aberfeldy 12, chamomile-infused honey, lemon, soda, Angostura bitters
Availability: Aug. 12-17

CU29 COCKTAIL BAR
Specialty Cocktail: Honey! I’m A Pink Lady! ($12)
Key Ingredients: Aberfeldy 12, local honey syrup, lemon juice
Availability: Through Sept. 16

DRINK.WELL
Specialty Cocktail: Golden Dram ($12)
Key Ingredients: Aberfeldy 12, honey, Angostura bitters
Availability: Wed, Aug. 14

HALF STEP
Specialty Cocktail: Bee Keeper ($10)
Key Ingredients: Aberfeldy, Angostura bitters, absinthe, honey, lemon twist
Availability: Aug. 14-18

NICKEL CITY
Specialty Cocktail: Bees in the Trap ($10)
Key Ingredients: Aberfeldy, chamomile tea, lemon, honey
Availability: Aug. 14-17

ODD DUCK
Specialty Cocktail: Summertime Blues ($13)
Key Ingredients: Aberfeldy 12, blueberry honey, lemon, amaro abano
Availability: Aug. 12-18

ROARING FORK DOWNTOWN
Specialty Cocktail: Blues Bee
Key Ingredients: Aberfeldy, local honey syrup, blueberry simple, lemon juice
Availability: Through Aug. 3

SEVEN GRAND
Specialty Cocktail: Queen Bee Collins ($12)
Key Ingredients: Aberfeldy 12, honey, lemon, hopped grapefruit bitters
Availability: Aug. 17-Sept. 17