Whisk the mustard and honey together first before slowly drizzling in the olive oil while continuously whisking to create a creamy, emulsified dressing that won't separate.

Taste as you go and adjust honey incrementally—different mustard brands vary in tanginess, so start with slightly less honey and increase to find your perfect sweet-to-tangy ratio.

Use freshly squeezed lemon juice rather than bottled for brighter flavor, and add it at the end to preserve its vibrant acidity that mellows over time in storage.

Don't substitute coarse ground mustard with yellow mustard—the whole grain seeds provide superior texture and a more complex, less sharp flavor that makes this dressing truly premium.

Store in a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid and shake vigorously before each use to recombine ingredients; the dressing will thicken slightly as it cools, which is perfectly normal.