Quick Answer: Our top pick for hot honey on a charcuterie board is Mike's Hot Honey (4.5 out of 5). Best value: Nature Nate's Hot Honey. Splurge: Björn's Sweet and Spicy Colorado Honey. We ranked 5 widely sold options on how they work on a board, published taste tests and awards, ingredients, value and how easy they are to find.
Hot honey on salami, pepperoni, aged cheddar or fresh mozzarella is one of the easiest ways to make a board memorable. These are the jars that won published taste tests.
How we ranked these: these are researched picks, not a side-by-side tasting. We scored each product on published taste tests and awards, its ingredient list, price and where you can buy it, plus how that style of product behaves on a board. Sources are listed at the end, and the full method is on our buying guides hub. Prices and stock last checked September 2026.
Our picks at a glance
| Pick | Rating |
|---|---|
| Best overall: Mike's Hot Honey ($$) | ★★★★½ 4.5 |
| Best value: Nature Nate's Hot Honey ($) | ★★★★½ 4.3 |
| Best splurge: Björn's Sweet and Spicy Colorado Honey ($$$) | ★★★★☆ 3.8 |
The full ranking
| Product | Rating | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Mike's Hot Honey ($$) | ★★★★½ 4.5 | The easy-to-find classic |
| 2. Bushwick Kitchen Bees Knees Spicy Honey ($$) | ★★★★½ 4.4 | Balanced habanero heat |
| 3. Nature Nate's Hot Honey ($) | ★★★★½ 4.3 | Beginners |
| 4. Björn's Sweet and Spicy Colorado Honey ($$$) | ★★★★☆ 3.8 | Most complex |
| 5. Drizzle Hot Raw Honey ($$$) | ★★★½☆ 3.6 | Cheese boards |
1. Mike's Hot Honey
★★★★½ 4.5 out of 5 · Best overall · Best for: The easy-to-find classic · $$ mid-range
The brand that popularized hot honey in the US. Sporked scored the Extra Hot version 9 out of 10 and the original 7.5; Tasting Table ranked the original seventh.
- Why we like it: Everywhere. Two heat levels.
- Keep in mind: Reviews rate it good rather than best.
- Where to buy: Most grocery stores.
2. Bushwick Kitchen Bees Knees Spicy Honey
★★★★½ 4.4 out of 5 · Best for: Balanced habanero heat · $$ mid-range
Sporked's top hot honey at 9.5 out of 10, with the fruity heat of habanero bridging sweet and spicy.
- Why we like it: Top-ranked. Balanced heat.
- Keep in mind: Not in every store.
- Where to buy: Grocery, specialty, online.
3. Nature Nate's Hot Honey
★★★★½ 4.3 out of 5 · Best value · Best for: Beginners · $ budget
Sporked scored it 8.5 out of 10 and called it ideal for beginners, with citrusy honey notes and gentle heat.
- Why we like it: Mild. Everywhere.
- Keep in mind: Too mild for heat lovers.
- Where to buy: Most grocery stores.
4. Björn's Sweet and Spicy Colorado Honey
★★★★☆ 3.8 out of 5 · Best splurge · Best for: Most complex · $$$ premium
Tasting Table's number one hot honey: whipped wildflower honey with red jalapeño sriracha and caramel notes.
- Why we like it: Top-ranked. Complex flavor.
- Keep in mind: Hard to find.
- Where to buy: Online, specialty.
5. Drizzle Hot Raw Honey
★★★½☆ 3.6 out of 5 · Best for: Cheese boards · $$$ premium
Sporked singled it out as a cheese-board option, with visible crushed pepper in the jar.
- Why we like it: Looks great on a board.
- Keep in mind: Hard to find.
- Where to buy: Specialty, online.
How the scores break down
Each product is scored 1 to 5 on five things, then weighted: how it works on a board (30%), published taste tests and awards (25%), ingredients (15%), value (15%) and how easy it is to find (15%).
| Product | On the board | Reviews and awards | Ingredients | Value | Easy to find | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mike's Hot Honey | 5 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 4.5 |
| Bushwick Kitchen Bees Knees Spicy Honey | 5 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 4.4 |
| Nature Nate's Hot Honey | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 4.3 |
| Björn's Sweet and Spicy Colorado Honey | 4 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 3.8 |
| Drizzle Hot Raw Honey | 5 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 3.6 |
What to look for on the label
Label check: Honey first, then chili or peppers and often vinegar. Heat levels vary a lot, so check for 'extra hot'.
Skip: Drizzling hot honey over the whole board. Serve it in a small bowl so guests choose.
For what hot honey pairs with and how to serve it, see the hot honey guide. To see every ranked guide, visit our charcuterie buying guides.
Hot honey questions
What is the best hot honey?
Bushwick Kitchen Bees Knees topped Sporked's test; Mike's Hot Honey is the easiest to find.
What goes with hot honey on a board?
Pepperoni, soppressata, aged cheddar, fresh mozzarella and fried chicken bites.
How spicy is hot honey?
Most are mild to medium. Look for 'extra hot' if you want real heat.
Sources
Get one board idea a week, plus the free charcuterie cheat sheet, when you join the Charcuterie Lab newsletter.
