This fig and honey cocktail recipe is super versatile so you can dress it up or down in any way you like. Since figs are usually only available during the early fall when temperatures are still relatively warm, they pair best with a light, dry champagne and a smidge of raw honey for sweetness.
My love of figs is borderline obsessive at times, but it’s for good reason. Not only are figs skin-soothing, accelerators of hair growth, anti-aging miracle workers, but they also make the perfect addition to a flavor-packed, fizzy fall cocktail that doubles as a skin-clearing elixir.
Ingredients
Figs —Loaded with antioxidants and beneficial nutrients like B vitamins, calcium and potassium, figs are nutritional powerhouses. Their high vitamin B5 content, also known as panthethonic acid, also happens to be amazing for skin.
Studies have shown that Vitamin B5 causes the body to create more coenzyme-A, which in turn encourages skin cells to reduce oil production. Less oil means fewer clogged pores and less acne.
Honey— While most cocktails are sweetened with sugar syrup, we find the warm, nutty flavor of honey to the be the perfect fit in this drink. It surely doesn't hurt that it's an anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant powerhouse often used for its beauty-boosting properties.
Instructions
Bring honey, water and figs to a simmer over low heat, whisking until honey is dissolved and figs soften. Add thyme and let simmer for 10 minutes.
Remove thyme from mixture. Blend honey and figs into a smooth syrup. Combine alcohols in a pitcher and add 2 tablespoon of honey fig syrup. Pour into glasses and garnish.
Hint: Make sure to choose the ripest, juiciest figs you can find. The juice is what helps give your cocktail flavor, and those cold, hard figs often found at your local grocery store don't really cut it.
Substitutions
- Figs have a somewhat woody flavor that pairs really well with hearty herbs, so feel free to swap out the thyme for rosemary or sage if you have it on hand.
- Replace champagne with cava or prosecco if needed.
- If you don't have apple cider on hand, you can substitute for good quality apple juice to preserve the flavor profile.
Variations
- Care for an alcohol-free version of this drink? Use plain soda water instead of champage and orange liquor for a tasty fall mocktail.
Top tip
If you live in Texas, Utah or Oregon, head to a local farmer's market and talk to your neighborhood fruit farmers to find the best figs. Otherwise, just let your figs ripen on the kitchen counter for a few days before using them in cocktails. It's worth it.
FAQ
Of course, and that sounds delicious! Skip the champagne and orange liquor, adding plain soda water instead.
Sparkling Fig & Honey Cocktail
Equipment
- Small saucepan
Ingredients
- ¼ cup honey
- ¼ cup filtered water
- 6 figs cut into quarters
- 2 sprigs thyme
- 1 cup champagne
- ½ cup high quality apple cider
- 1 ounce orange liquor
Instructions
- Combine the honey, water and figs in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer over low heat and whisk continuously until the honey is melted and the figs begin to soften. Add the thyme and let simmer for an additional 10 minutes, stirring often.
- Remove from heat and let the mixture sit for a few minutes. Remove the thyme sprigs from the honey mixture and use a food processor or immersion blender to blend the honey and figs into a smooth syrup.
- In a small pitcher, combine the champagne, apple cider and orange liquor. Add two tablespoons of the fig syrup and stir. Pour into two glasses and garnish with extra thyme and fig slices.
