Spirit Sunday - This Week Krupnikas Honey Liqueur

This week: Krupnikas Honey Liqueur ($34 (500mL))

Take a moment now to remember the last time you had honey. Was it on toast? A scone, maybe? A few drops in tea? What aspect of the honey drew you use it on this occasion? Its sweet taste or sticky texture? I bet you're smiling right now as you think about honey.

Krupnikas is none of the things you were just thinking about. It's thinner than you'd think but thicker than you'd want, far more sour than sweet, and just generally not very much like its alleged source.

Interestingly, none of these things are good enough reasons to stop me from recommending it. Indeed the way that it shrugs off so many aspects of its origin make it all the more exciting. At a hearty %40 alcohol by volume, its a strong liqueur, and has enough body to not burn like poison all the way down.

Like any over-proof liqueur its can be difficult to smell without cringing, however I implore you to persevere; its bark (smell) is worse than its bite (taste). For any spirit buffs out there it resembles a slightly sweeter, less sustained form of Metaxa, and for any Metaxa drinkers out there I ask only this question; why?

It mixes better with hot drinks over cold, perhaps in a hangover of its honey upbringing. This probably puts it firmly in the 'Winter drinks' category, but that's ok.

Krupnikas Honey Liqueur rates 3.5 stars.