It's sticky. It's sweet. It tastes like mead. It comes in a bottle shaped like a beehive.

It's Bärenjäger, and it comes from Germany. The name means 'bear hunter', in case you wondered. Essentially it's a blend of honey, vodka, and a touch of spice. Like a lot of sweet liqueurs, it's delicious, but kind of on the strong side... not something you'd want to drink straight up, but it's certainly got its uses when you want to mix up something snappy for dessert.

After a bit of experimentation, here are three things about Bärenjäger I learned:

1) Mixing one part Bärenjäger with one part triple sec results in a drink I call the Urinal Cake, for obvious reasons. Give this one a skip.

2) Mixing one part Bärenjäger with one part creme de cacao gives you a potent little shot I named Chocolate Honeycomb. It's not bad, but a bit harsh. One is all you'll want.

3) Mixing one part Bärenjäger with one part Gosling's Black Seal rum is not a good idea.

No, what you'll really want to make with Bärenjäger is this spiffy little shooter, which I call Honeybutter.

In a shot glass, and using the back of a spoon, layer:

One part butterscotch schnapps (buttershots)
One part Bärenjäger
One part Irish Cream

Knock back in one slug, and let it dance around on your tongue before swallowing. It's buttery, sweet, and rich - perfect for cold weather, or for those who want something other than eggnog this holiday season.

Bonus Beverage - Kokuto Ume-shu Liqueur.

Do you like plum wine (ume-shu)? Do you like brown sugar (kokuto)? If you said 'yes' to both, then kokuto ume-shu is for you. Unlike regular plum wine, this stuff is blended with brown sugar, which imparts a strong (but not overpowering) flavor of dark molasses. Surprisingly, the sweetness of the plum and the richness of the sugar go quite well together. Best sipped chilled, or over ice.