Founded in 2010 by Mike Kurtz, Mike’s Hot Honey has become America’s leading brand of hot honey, renowned for its unique blend of high-quality honey and chili peppers. What started as a personal culinary experiment quickly turned into a word-of-mouth sensation when Mike began drizzling his signature hot honey on pizzas at a Brooklyn pizzeria. Customers couldn’t get enough and soon began requesting bottles to take home.

While studying abroad in Brazil, Mike visits a pizzeria where he finds jars of honey with chilies sitting on the tables for drizzling on pies. He falls in love with the unique flavor profile of the honey and is blown away by how good it tastes on pizza.

After months of experimentation with chili pepper-honey infusions, Mike settles on a recipe for his original honey infused with chili peppers and gives out jars to friends and family as holiday gifts, dubbing it Mike’s Hot Honey.

While apprenticing at Paulie Gee's pizzeria in Brooklyn, Mike brings in a bottle of Mike's Hot Honey for Paulie to taste on a pizza. Paulie loves the combo and asks Mike to produce small batches for the pizzeria to drizzle on their pies. The Hellboy pie, with hot soppressata and a drizzle of MHH, becomes an instant hit.

Mike’s Hot Honey launches 1.88 oz Mini Jars for weddings, gift baskets and party favors, the first MHH product small enough to carry on a plane!

CBS This Morning airs feature news segment on Mike’s Hot Honey introducing the brand to millions of Americans across the country.

In late 2016, Mike’s Hot Honey underwent significant developments that enhanced its brand presence and product offerings. In November, the company unveiled a complete brand refresh with new packaging across all SKUs, earning praise from retailers and consumers alike and securing a Pentaward for excellence in packaging design. Following this, in December, Mike’s Hot Honey introduced the 24 oz Chef’s Bottle, specifically designed for foodservice, catering to busy kitchens and enabling fast-paced drizzling.​

In 2017, Mike’s Hot Honey reached several milestones that fueled its growth and innovation. With the completion of a Series A investment by Fifth Down Capital, the brand gained the resources to expand further. In March, Mike’s Hot Honey introduced 0.75 oz Squeeze Packets for delivery, takeout, and meal kits, making it easier for customers to enjoy their favorite hot honey on the go. By October, the brand opened its first holiday kiosk in Bryant Park, NYC, showcasing the iconic MHH Neon Sign designed by Robbie Ingui of Artistic Neon, the first of many to adorn pizzeria windows across the country.

The Mike’s Trike hits the mean streets of NYC, passing out samples of MHH at events throughout the Five Boroughs.

In 2019, Mike’s Hot Honey made significant strides in expanding its reach and delighting food lovers. In January, the brand partnered with DOT Foods, making Mike’s Hot Honey products widely available to restaurants across the country. By June, Mike’s Hot Honey Fried Chicken opened inside the legendary Madison Square Garden, serving up MHH fried chicken sandwiches and wings to sports fans and concert goers, further cementing the brand’s presence in the culinary world.

In 2020, Mike’s Hot Honey introduced new products and celebrated major milestones despite the pandemic. In April, the brand launched dip cups for to-go packaging. July saw the Extra Hot flavor, adding more heat to the signature honey. In August, Mike’s Hot Honey marked its 10th Anniversary with a limited edition t-shirt. By November, the Mike’s Hot Honey Gift Box launched on Amazon, featuring candied pecans, a 10 oz bottle, spicy soppressata, croccantini crackers, and the official recipe book.

In 2021, Mike’s Hot Honey made significant strides in expanding its brand presence. In October, the company launched its first Wheat Paste campaign in NYC, capturing the attention of urban audiences. By December, Mike’s Hot Honey teamed up with Maille to introduce their first co-branded retail product: Maille Hot Honey Dijon mustard, blending the unique flavors of both brands into a new culinary delight.

Imperial Stash: Mike’s Hot Honey Cider made by 
Austin Eastciders launches in bars and retailers.

In 2023, Mike’s Hot Honey expanded its influence through exciting collaborations and major partnerships. In April, the brand partnered with footwear company Ewing Athletics to release the Hot Honey Sport Lite sneaker. By May, Mike’s Hot Honey teamed up with Utz to launch a Mike’s Hot Honey-flavored potato chip, bringing a unique spicy-sweet flavor to snack lovers. In October, Mike’s Hot Honey furthered its reach by being added to the menu in over 1000 Marco’s Pizza locations nationwide with the introduction of the Hot Honey Magnifico pizza.