Drinks Cocktails Vodka Cocktails Bee Keeper Be the first to rate & review! This citrusy and spiced cocktail is inspired by Hawaii's indigenous ingredients. By Ravi Kapur Ravi Kapur Restaurant: Liholiho Yacht Club Location: San Francisco The motto at Ravi Kapur's sensational Hawaii–meets–San Francisco restaurant is "Get Jag," an island term for "have a good time." It's hashtagged all over Liholiho's Instagram feed and encapsulates the exuberant spirit of Kapur's cooking. So does his quintessential dish: tuna poke with spicy mayo, sesame oil and crispy battered-and-fried nori crackers. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines Published on August 27, 2024 Tested by Anna Theoktisto Tested by Anna Theoktisto Anna Theoktisto is a recipe tester and developer. Anna has been working in Dotdash Meredith test kitchens since 2017, and her recipes and writing have appeared in over 10 nationally distributed print publications, as well as on various digital platforms. When not in the kitchen, Anna enjoys hiking with her son, husband, and two dogs, and fostering puppies for a local animal rescue group. Meet the Food & Wine Test Kitchen Save Rate PRINT Share Close Photo: Greg Dupree / Food Styling by Julian Hensarling / Prop Styling by Christina Daley Prep Time: 5 mins Total Time: 40 mins Yield: 1 drink Jump to recipe As the owner of San Francisco's Liholiho Yacht Club and Good Good Culture Club, two restaurants that thoughtfully draw inspiration from his Hawaiian upbringing, 2016 F&W Best New Chef Ravi Kapur is uninterested in stereotypes about the island’s food and culture. “In 2018, I had an uncle pass at his home in Maui, and the night before the funeral, my family and I were just decompressing with tropical drinks and beers by the pool,” he says. “My palate got exhausted from these delicious but very sugary, kind of cloying drinks.” Kapur realized that the sweet, tropical drinks many people associate with Hawaii failed to properly showcase the island’s indigenous ingredients. After several rounds of testing back, Kapur fell in love with a vivid, bright yellow combination of ginger- and turmeric-infused vodka. He named the spirit Olehna, which mimics the Hawaiian word for turmeric. Meet Olehna – A Golden Turmeric Spirit That Honors Hawaiian Culture Olehna is the star in this eye-catching cocktail, where it beautifully balances the flavors of turmeric and ginger without being overly bitter. The Seven-Spice Mix features warming spices such as star anise, cloves, and cinnamon plus black peppercorns, which enhance the spiced notes of the botanical spirit. Finally, Szechuan peppercorns add a satisfying tingly sensation to the bittersweet cocktail. 8 Easy Ginger Beer Cocktails You'll Want to Make All Fall Frequently Asked Questions What other ways can I use Olehna? Olehna isn’t sweet, nor is it a liqueur. At 80 proof, it packs a boozy punch similar to gin or vodka. Kapur likes to use it in place of gin to make a Negroni, but also reaches for it to surprise and delight martini drinkers and it also shines in a simple spritz. At Liholiho Yacht Club, it’s the visual and flavor star of the Ginger Sunset cocktail, which also includes Japanese vermouth and ginger liqueur. What else can I do with the seven-spice mix? The seven-spice mix can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature up to 1 month. Spiced honey can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 month. Leftover seven-spice mix can be used as a rub for pork and poultry — especially ribs and chicken wings — or sprinkled into stir-fries. Notes from the Food & Wine Test Kitchen Store-bought five-spice powder can be substituted for the seven-spice mix. You can find it at most grocery stores. Cook Mode (Keep screen awake) Ingredients Seven-Spice Mix 1 star anise pod 1 teaspoon fennel seeds 3/4 teaspoon Szechuan peppercorns 1/2 teaspoon peppercorns 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon whole cloves 1/2 teaspoon coriander seeds Spiced Honey 1/2 cup boiling water 1/2 cup honey 1/4 teaspoon Seven-Spice Mix Bee Keeper Cocktail 2 ounces Olenha spirit 1 ounce fresh lemon juice 1/2 ounce Spiced Honey (see above) 3 dashes Angostura bitters Directions Make the Seven-Spice Mix: Heat star anise, fennel seeds, Szechuan peppercorns, black peppercorns, cinnamon, cloves, and coriander seeds in a small skillet over medium, stirring constantly, until fragrant and toasted, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a spice grinder; process until finely ground, about 30 seconds. Set aside. Make the Spiced Honey: Stir together 1/2 cup boiling water, honey, and seven-spice mix in a medium-size heatproof bowl until combined, about 30 seconds. Let cool to room temperature, about 30 minutes. Make the Bee Keeper: Fill a cocktail shaker with ice, and add Olehna, lemon juice, and spiced honey. Cover and shake well until chilled, about 20 seconds. Strain into a chilled rocks glass with a large ice cube. Garnish with Angostura bitters. Rate It Print