Make your own honey syrup

So you know that cocktails that date back to the Prohibition era are all the rage right now, right? If it was served at a speakeasy, you'll probably find it on the cocktail menu of the swankiest bars until the next big thing comes along.

I'm a gin girl, so I'm actually quite fond of a lot of the cocktails I've discovered since the Prohibition-era cocktail craze has emerged. Many of them originally called for bathtub gin. I don't make my own gin in the bathtub; my gin of choice is Bluecoat American Dry Gin.

One ingredient you'll find in many of these cocktails from the 1920s and '30s: honey syrup. Honey syrup is very simple to make (much like simple syrup), and it will keep in your refrigerator for a very long time once it is made. If you're hosting a holiday party this season, and you want a well-stocked bar, boil up a batch of honey syrup the day before.

Ingredients

• One part honey (use a flavorful, local honey — not the bland stuff in the bear bottle from the grocery store)
• One part water

1. Put equal parts of honey and water in a small saucepan. Boil, then turn down to a simmer and stir until the honey is completely dissolved.
2. Cool.
3. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.