Sbiten (Russian Honey Drink) Mocktail Recipe
A hot infusion of honey, ginger and warm spices — soothing, sweet and gently peppery.
- Category: Mocktail
- Glass: Irish coffee mug
- ABV: 0%
- Difficulty: Easy
- Prep time: ~4 min
- Alcohol-free: ✓
Ingredients
- Cold water200 ml (6.8 oz)
- Honey30 ml (1 oz)
- Cinnamon stick1 piece
- Whole cloves3 piece
- Fresh ginger slices2 piece
- Fresh mint leaves4 piece
How to Make It
- Bring the water to a simmer with the cinnamon, cloves and ginger.
- Lower the heat and let the spices infuse for about ten minutes.
- Take the pan off the heat, then stir in the honey and mint until the honey dissolves.
- Strain into a warmed mug and serve piping hot.
Garnish
A sprig of mint and a cinnamon stick.
What it tastes like
It has a green, botanical backdrop and there is a spiced warmth to it.
The technique
Built in the glass. Ice goes into the serving glass, the ingredients go on top, and you stir once if at all. Anything carbonated goes in LAST and never gets stirred; every turn of the spoon costs you bubbles. Fill the glass to the rim with ice: less ice melts faster, not slower.
Glass and ice
A handled, thick-walled Irish coffee mug. Built for hot drinks: the handle protects your hand and the thick glass holds the heat. Warming it with hot water first noticeably changes the first sip.
Ingredient notes and substitutes
- Cold water
- Seeing it in a recipe is not a mistake: in spirit-forward drinks, measuring the dilution instead of leaving it to the ice is what makes the result repeatable.
- Honey
- Honey will not disperse in a cold liquid; turn it into a syrup first, three parts honey to one part hot water. Dark honeys bury the spirit's aroma — a pale one is safer.
- Cinnamon stick
- A cinnamon stick is aroma, not decoration: it steeps in a hot drink, and in a cold one it is rubbed along the rim to leave its scent.
- Fresh mint leaves
- The stem is bitter, so use the leaves. One clap between your palms before it goes in releases the oils and gives you the aroma without bruising it.
The Story
Sbiten is an old Russian hot drink of honey, water and spices that warmed the country long before tea arrived; in winter it was sold on the street from insulated pots.
Frequently asked questions
- How is a Sbiten (Russian Honey Drink) mixed?
- It is built in the glass and served in an Irish coffee mug.
- Does a Sbiten (Russian Honey Drink) contain alcohol?
- No. It is safe to serve to children, to anyone pregnant, and to whoever is driving.
- Is a Sbiten (Russian Honey Drink) hard to make?
- Easy. No bar kit required — a measure, ice and a jar will do.
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Alcoholic drink recipes are intended for those aged 18 and over. Please drink responsibly.