First Impressions
Warner's Honeybee Gin is the most botanically ambitious expression in the Warner's range — and given that the Elderflower already uses 300 hand-picked flowers per bottle, that is saying something. Honeybee incorporates over 20 botanicals alongside fresh honey from the beehives on Falls Farm, creating a gin that is closer to a botanical garden in a glass than a conventional spirit. The commitment to growing and sourcing botanicals on the farm extends to the honey itself — these are Warner's own bees, pollinating Warner's own flowers.
The Distillery
Warner's Distillery at Falls Farm produces Honeybee using an extraordinary botanical bill: juniper, honey from their beehives, coriander seed, elderflower, cardamom, nutmeg, cinnamon, angelica root, orange peel, lemon peel, rose petal, chamomile, rosemary, sage leaf, fresh root ginger, star anise, hibiscus, apple, dried grapefruit peel, fresh lime peel, lavender — plus a few secret additions. It is a botanical count that rivals some of the most complex gins in production, and the fact that many are grown on the farm gives the gin a terroir that is genuinely meaningful.
Tasting
The nose is a complex floral bouquet — dewy, honeyed, and layered. Rose, lavender, and chamomile provide the floral core, while a robust note of grapefruit adds citrus brightness that prevents the florals from becoming cloying. The honey is present — warm, sweet, and inviting — but it is one note among many rather than a dominant force. It is a nose that rewards patience, with new botanical notes emerging each time you return.
On the palate, the gin is soft and creamy — the honey contributing a textural richness that feels luxurious. Lavender and rose provide the floral framework, and grapefruit gives a little zest that keeps the palate fresh. Complex citrus notes develop alongside dewy floral layers, with lemon curd complementing bold bursts of honeysuckle and elderflower. At mid-palate, grapefruit, honey, and hints of Honeycrisp apple create a fruit-forward interlude, and orange blossom honey adds warm sweetness. The botanical complexity is remarkable — this is a gin where every sip reveals something new.
The finish is smooth and enduring. The dry-sweet spice of juniper and elderflower leads the conclusion, followed by lingering honey that extends the experience with warm, comforting sweetness. It is a generous finish that suits the gin's overall personality of botanical abundance.
How to Drink It
Honeybee makes a magnificent G&T with Fever-Tree Elderflower Tonic — the elderflower in both gin and tonic creating a floral harmony that is deeply satisfying. Garnish with a sprig of lavender and a thin slice of grapefruit. It also makes a stunning Bee's Knees cocktail — the honey botanical means you need less honey syrup, and the floral complexity adds dimensions the classic recipe cannot achieve alone.
The Bottom Line
Warner's Honeybee earns a 7.5 for delivering a botanical feast grounded by the farm's own honey. The 20+ botanical bill is extraordinarily ambitious, and the integration — the way each ingredient occupies its own space without muddying the others — speaks to real skill in the blending. The honey provides sweetness and texture without overwhelming, and the farm provenance gives the gin an integrity that cannot be faked. At around £38, the price reflects the extraordinary sourcing commitment. A gin for those who believe more is more — and want each 'more' to be real, farm-grown, and honestly made.
