Although this year has been far from golden (yes, coronavirus, explosions, protests, bushfires, earthquakes, locusts and elections, we’re looking at all of you) with any luck that could all change next month.
In case you weren’t already aware, September is National Honey Month and Aberfeldy (or as we like to call it, the Golden Dram) is raising awareness about the plight of the humble honey bee.
The ‘Gardening Giveback Project’ is being run in collaboration with Bee Informed Partnership (BIP), a national, non-profit organization dedicated to working with beekeepers across the United States to improve honey bee colony health and increase colony survivorship.
‘What do honey bees have to do with Whisky?’ I hear you ask. Well, as Aleco Azqueta, Brand Director Single Malts at Bacardi points out, much of Aberfeldy’s story is rooted in its honeyed richness, making honey itself a perfect ingredient for many of their cocktails.
“We created the Barrels and Bees program to help support local beekeepers and protect these tiny creatures who do so much for our environment, especially given recent data showing some of the highest mortality rates on record.
“We’re proud to be able to introduce the Gardening Giveback Project this year, as it provides Aberfeldy with another opportunity to drive awareness for this cause we are so passionate about.”
And there’s a lot of which you need to be aware. Over the last decade, 1 in 3 managed honey bee colonies has been lost each year as a result of stressors like pests, pathogens, pesticides and poor nutrition due in part to habitat loss.
Although dedicated beekeepers have been able to stabilize the U.S. honey bee population by splitting healthy colonies to make up for the continued losses, mortality rates remain high. In order to keep the U.S. honey bee population stable, it is crucial that everyone does their part in giving back to the bees and the professionals who care for them.
“As the single most important pollinator to agriculture, honey bees are a vital component in ensuring we have access to high quality, nutritious fruits, vegetables, and nuts,” Says Geoff Williams, President of Bee Informed Partnership. “We definitely appreciate Aberfeldy supporting our mission and are really excited to help bring the Gardening Giveback Project to life.”
Through the Gardening Giveback Project, Aberfeldy and BIP are empowering beekeepers and bartenders across eight cities in the United States (Austin, Texas; Boston, Massachusetts; Chicago, Illinois; Dallas, Texas; Miami, Florida; Los Angeles, California; New York, New York; San Francisco, California) to plant and maintain community garden-style bee sanctuaries by growing flowers, herbs and vegetables in dual purpose: to foster a healthy environment for bees while also cultivating ingredients that can be used in cocktails.
For consumers who want to support the cause but aren’t located in one of the eight regions, Aberfeldy is offering a limited-edition, farmer’s market-style cocktail crate on ReserveBar.com that is comprised of the ingredients needed to create the Herbed Honey Smash at home.
Customers will receive a bottle of Aberfeldy 12, seeds to plant their own garnishes that can double as forage, honey bear glassware, tasting spoons, a tasting tray and three different flavours of honey harvested by “The Native Guy” Nick Bofill, who maintains hives on top of Bacardi’s North American headquarters in Miami and is a participating beekeeper in the project.
Additionally, customers who purchase the cocktail crate will be provided with exclusive access to a virtual whisky and honey pairing hosted by Bacardi North American Malts Ambassador Holly Seidewand and Bofill on Thursday, September 17th.
The limited-edition cocktail crate will be available for purchase on ReserveBar.com in time for National Honey Bee Day and lasting throughout National Honey Month this September for $45.
For more information on the Aberfeldy 12 Year-Old Herbed Honey Smash Cocktail Kit, go to reservebar.com
Herbed Honey Smash Cocktail Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 oz Aberfeldy 12 Single Malt Scotch
- 1.5 oz Lemon juice (or about half a lemon squeezed)
- 1 oz honey syrup (*Honey Syrup: 100g of honey and 64g water, stir and leave to chill. Note: syrup will only last 3 days)
- 4-6 leaves of soft herb (basil, mint, tarragon, etc.)
Instructions
Add all ingredients to a shaker tin with ice. Shake vigorously and strain using a fine-mesh strainer into a small rocks glass filled with ice. Garnish with your choice of fresh herbs.
