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RecipesMixesDon’s Gardenia Mix

DIY mixer

Don’s Gardenia Mix

Honey-butter spice paste for Pearl Diver–style drinks. Small jar; soften before you measure.

About 2 oz — enough for several ½ oz pours

Ingredients

  • 1 oz Honey (for syrup)Buy
  • 1 oz Unsalted butter
  • 1 tsp Cinnamon syrupBuy
  • ½ tsp Vanilla syrupBuy
  • ½ tsp Allspice dram (liquor store)

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Method

  1. Let the butter soften at room temperature until it stirs easily.
  2. Warm the honey just enough to loosen it (a few seconds in hot water is fine). Do not boil.
  3. Whip or stir honey, butter, cinnamon syrup, vanilla syrup, and allspice dram until smooth and even.
  4. Spoon into a small jar. Refrigerate up to about a week. Soften a spoonful before measuring into a drink.
  5. Butter can firm up in cold drinks; blend Pearl Divers, or soften the mix first.

Modern emulsified (Garrett Richard / Tropical Standard)

Larger honey-forward batch with a gum arabic + xanthan emulsifier so it stays pourable cold. Scale down if you only need a few drinks.

About 300+ ml — bar batch

Ingredients

  • 57.5 g Unsalted butter
  • 250 g Honey (for syrup)Buy
  • 26 ml (cassia bark syrup if you have it) Cinnamon syrupBuy
  • 13 ml Allspice dram (liquor store)
  • 13 ml (vanilla–sandalwood if you have it) Vanilla syrupBuy

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Method

  1. Warm butter and honey together until fluid; do not scorch.
  2. Stir in cinnamon syrup, allspice dram, and vanilla syrup.
  3. While still warm, blend in about 2 g compound emulsifier (9:1 gum arabic / acacia to xanthan) until smooth.
  4. Cool, bottle, refrigerate. Shake before use.

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