(Photo: Four Roses Bourbon)
The flavored honey market has taken off like wildfire over the past few years, thanks in large part to the Instagram-worthy hot honey/pepperoni pizza combo popping up at trendy hideaways across the country. But what if, hypothetically, you replaced that spice with a splash of Southern spirit influence?
On Monday, Kentucky's Four Roses Distillery announced an unexpected collaboration with Ooni Pizza Ovens taking a stab at the concept. Made in partnership with the Bohman Bee Company, the brand's new Bourbon Barrel Aged Honey is aged in barrels previously used to age the distiller's Small Batch bourbon. Four Roses says it only used freshly dumped and unrinsed barrels to finish the amber-tinted honey, said to imbue flavors of ripened red berries and dried spices.
"I like offering different ways to enjoy bourbon, outside of its traditional expectation," Four Roses Brand Ambassador and Mixologist Abby Martinie said in a news release. "Four Roses is such an iconic brand, so it was fun to incorporate a fresh twist by infusing Small Batch's delightful fruit and spice notes into a new product."
Four Roses and Ooni say the honey is a perfect addition to cocktails and pizza creations alike. Perhaps with a side of beer as well; in addition to its flagship bourbon range, Four Roses frequently teams up with Brooklyn Brewing and New Belgium Brewing to release barrel-aged stouts.
Ooni, meanwhile, is best known for its distinctly angular outdoor pizza ovens. Founded by husband-and-wife team Kristian Tapaninaho and Darina Garland, the brand has quickly established itself as a mainstay in high-end tech reviews and Father's Day gift roundups.
"At Ooni, we make high-quality, premium products that are both accessible and versatile, so creating a product with a like-minded brand such as Four Roses was an easy decision. It doesn't get much better than pizza and cocktails with your friends and family,” says Ooni Pizza Ovens founder and co-CEO Kristian Tapaninaho. “We love working with brands that think a little differently and we're super excited to see how creative our community can get with this complex, bourbon barrel-aged honey - both on their bakes and in their cocktail shakers!
If you're interested in stirring up a concoction for yourself, find the Four Roses Small Batch Bourbon and barrel-aged honey bundle here at $51.99. Feel free to check out a signature cocktail recipe while you're at it:
Pineapple Bourbon Iced Tea
[caption id="attachment_73233" align="aligncenter" width="600"] (Photo: Four Roses)[/caption]
Ingredients
1 1/2 oz Four Roses Small Batch Bourbon
2 oz Iced Tea
3/4 oz Ooni & Four Roses Bourbon Barrel Aged Honey
3/4 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
3-4 Pineapple Juice
Garnish: Pineapple
Directions
: Muddle pineapple in a mixing tin then combine all ingredients (except iced tea) in the mixing tin. Add ice.
Shake for fifteen seconds or until the cocktail is properly diluted and well chilled. Add iced tea.
Double strain into a glass over fresh ice. Garnish with a pineapple wedge.
(Photo: Four Roses)[/caption]