Meet The Maker: Ames Russell Ames Russell is a lifelong food enthusiast and Southern cuisine fan.

He grew up putting honey on fried chicken, and later, began infusing the honey with the tasty heat of red chili peppers.

One evening, his wife suggested he produce a hot honey condiment the family could always have on hand.

He did and it quickly became a household staple: perfect for both sweet and savory dishes! In 2015, Ames began giving out bottles of his Hot Southern Honey as a Christmas gift, and soon he was receiving requests for more of his tasty concoction.

Today, he offers variations on his original recipe, while remaining committed to local ingredients: Ames' infused honey is produced by blending wildflower and clover honey from producers throughout the Shenandoah Valley.