A Whiskey Brand and a Hot Honey Maker Team Up for a Tour Across America
Sweet meets heat, and a drizzle meets a pour. Bulleit Frontier Whiskey and Mike’s Hot Honey have announced a partnership built around one simple idea: some things just taste better together. The two brands kicked off the effort on October 14, 2026, and they plan to bring it to bars, festivals, sports crowds and food spots across the country.
The team-up comes right after the launch of Bulleit ‘87, the newest whiskey from the brand. It blends bourbon and rye in a single bottle. Bulleit says the bourbon side brings richness, while the rye brings spice. Mike’s Hot Honey adds sweet heat on top of that. Put them in the same glass, and the brands say you get the ultimate pairing.
What Is Bulleit ‘87?
Bulleit ‘87 is the newest expression from the Kentucky-based whiskey maker. Instead of picking one style, it combines bourbon and rye. The suggested retail price is $29.99 for a 750mL bottle. That puts it right in line with Bulleit Bourbon and Bulleit 95 Rye. It is sold at select retail stores across the country and online through ReserveBar.
Bulleit says Mike’s Hot Honey works well with the whiskey for a simple reason. When used as a rim on a neat or on-the-rocks pour of Bulleit ‘87, the honey pulls out the brown sugar sweetness in the whiskey. At the same time, it boosts the spiced rye flavor. The brand calls the result a “swicy” experience, a mash-up of sweet and spicy, that lets both bottles stand out in the glass.
A Rolling Bar Painted Orange
The pairing is going on the road with 22 events in 15 cities spread across the year. Stops include festivals, sports games, and big food and cultural events. At each one, the duo will serve Bulleit ‘87 neat or on the rocks with a drizzle of Mike’s Hot Honey on the rim.
The star of the tour is the Bulleit Rider, a mobile bar decked out in the brand’s signature orange. Guests can try the ultimate pairing there. Bulleit Bourbon and Bulleit Rye will also be on hand, showing up in cocktails that use Mike’s Hot Honey as a key ingredient.
Each stop will also have its own local twist. The partnership is working with food spots and adding some wearable gear along the way. Examples include a collab with Briscuits in Austin, Texas, and one with Cafe du Monde Beignets in New Orleans. In Los Angeles, there is a classic deli sandwich with Ggiata Delicatessen. The idea is that fans can taste a drizzle and a pour in both culinary classics and local favorites all over the US.
What the Brand Says
Frank Dudley, Brand Director of American Whiskey at Diageo, explained why the company wanted in on the idea. “As a brand built on backing bold ideas and doing things differently, we’re thrilled to partner with Mike’s Hot Honey to create the ultimate flavor pairing,” Dudley said. “We’re all about pushing the boundaries of flavor exploration, and Mike’s Hot Honey shares the same philosophy of quality and flavor, making for a pairing that tastes damn good.”
Fans should expect to see a lot more of the partnership. It is set to pop up in bars, restaurants and spirits retailers nationwide. The brands say it will show up on drink menus and on store shelves.
The Kentucky Hotshot Sandwich in Los Angeles
One of the first big stops is in Los Angeles, where Bulleit and Mike’s Hot Honey have teamed up with Ggiata Delicatessen. Together they created The Kentucky Hotshot, a limited-time sandwich. It features chicken marinated in a special Bulleit ‘87 BBQ sauce and finished with a drizzle of Mike’s Hot Honey.
The sandwich costs $18. It is available at all Ggiata Delicatessen locations, but only this weekend, from October 16 through October 19.
Meet Ggiata Delicatessen
Ggiata was started by three childhood friends: Noah Holton-Raphael, Max Bahramipour and Jack Biebel. They took their cues from the classic Italian delis in their hometown of Montclair, New Jersey. Those delis were community hubs where friends and family gathered over great food.
The trio brought that tradition to the West Coast. They reimagined the East Coast deli through a California lens. The menu includes high-quality Italian-style sandwiches, wraps, salads, sides and pastries. Everything is made with care and the best local ingredients.
Ggiata began in Melrose Hill and has since grown into other neighborhoods. Those include West Hollywood, Venice, Highland Park, Brentwood, Studio City, and now Echo Park. Each spot reflects the brand’s roots in craftsmanship and collaboration, with partnerships with local artisans and creatives that give every space its own feel. The goal is to be a neighborhood fixture that offers exceptional food, genuine hospitality and a modern take on the timeless deli experience. More details are at ggiata.com, and the deli is on Instagram at @ggiata.
New York Gets a Street Party
On October 17, the Bulleit Rider rolls into New York City to take over Stone Street Oktoberfest. The brands plan to offer complimentary cocktails, serves of Bulleit ‘87 with Mike’s Hot Honey, and giveaways at several bars on the block.
The Tour Calendar
The fun doesn’t stop there. The brands say they will show up in many more cities, and the tour runs into 2027. Here are the dates listed so far:
- October 23: Whiskey Washback Dallas
- October 24: Detroit bar takeovers
- October 30: Whiskey Washback NYC
- November 20: WhiskyFest NY
- February 25 to 28: Miami South Beach Food & Wine
- April 9 to 11: Tampa Gasparilla Music Festival
- April 28 to 30: Louisville Derby Week
The Cocktail Recipes
For those who want to try the pairing at a local bar or in their own kitchen, the brands shared a few simple signature pours. This information is shared for reference only.
Hot Honey Old Fashioned
This take on a classic uses Bulleit Bourbon. The recipe calls for:
- 1.5 oz Bulleit Bourbon
- 2 bar spoons (about 1/8 oz) of Mike’s Hot Honey
- 2 dashes of bitters
It is garnished with an expressed orange peel.
Swicy Gold Rush
This one leans on Bulleit Rye. The recipe calls for:
- 1.5 oz Bulleit Rye
- 0.75 oz lemon juice
- 0.5 oz Mike’s Hot Honey
It is garnished with a lemon peel or a dehydrated lemon.
Bulleit ‘87 With a Honey Rim
The simplest option of all is a neat or on-the-rocks pour of Bulleit ‘87 with a drizzle of Mike’s Hot Honey on the rim. The brands say a drizzle of the honey also gives a sweet heat element to the two cocktails above. It can also upgrade food recipes that go well with the whiskeys, however they are served.
A Tee to Go With It
The flavor journey also has its own look. Illustrated by Diego Aguilar (@bird_milk_), the limited-edition Bulleit ‘87 x Mike’s Hot Honey tee draws on the bold flavors and unexpected pairings found throughout the tour. It sells for $30 on the Mike’s Hot Honey website for a limited time. There are also chances to win one for free on Bulleit’s Instagram page.
A Look at Bulleit
Bulleit Frontier Whiskey was founded in 1987. It was inspired by an old recipe and grew into one of the fastest-growing whiskeys in America. Most traditional bourbons lean heavily on corn. Bulleit is known for using a high rye mashbill instead. That gives the whiskey a bold, spicy character backed by caramel sweetness and a finish that holds its ground.
The brand’s top-selling Bulleit Rye came about because of bartenders. The company says its “restless creators behind the bar” asked for it, so the brand turned their request into a real product. Bulleit says it believes whatever the bartender community can dream up is worth doing, and that idea runs through the brand.
The whiskey is made at a distillery in Shelbyville, Kentucky. The facility opened in 2017 and is a key stop on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Bulleit Distilling Co. says it has kept building a modern, technological and sustainable way of making whiskey. The brand also picked up awards at the 2024 Tag Spirits Awards, with a Gold medal for Bulleit Bourbon and a Double Gold medal for Bulleit Rye.
Who Is Behind the Brand
Bulleit is part of Diageo, a global leader in beverage alcohol. Its portfolio spans spirits and beer and includes Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, J&B and Buchanan’s whiskies. It also includes Smirnoff and Ketel One vodkas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Don Julio, Tanqueray and Guinness. Diageo products are sold in nearly 180 countries. The company is listed on both the London Stock Exchange (DGE) and the New York Stock Exchange (DEO). More information is at www.diageo.com, and the company’s responsible drinking resource is at www.DRINKiQ.com. Its tagline is “Crafting iconic drinks chosen for life’s moments.”
Enjoy Responsibly
Bulleit says whiskey is best enjoyed with a glass of water. The brand encourages anyone 21 and older to sip boldly and responsibly. Bulleit ‘87 is 45% alcohol by volume.
More on the brand is available at bulleit.com and on Instagram at @bulleit.
