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By Shawn Williams
5 from 1 vote
Aug 20, 2019, Updated Sep 21, 2023
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The Bee’s Knees co*cktail is a Prohibition-Era drink made with gin, lemon juice, and honey syrup (honey and water). It’s a simple classic co*cktail, sweetened with real honey and balanced with citrus. It’s refreshing and perfect for gin lovers!
Other than being a Prohibition-Era co*cktail, the drink is known for its catchy name—a nod to the time in history it originated. Bee’s knees is a 1900’s slang term for ‘the best’ or ‘awesome’ and of course inspired by the co*cktail’s use of honey. And hey, you might even get a nice buzz as you’re sipping.
Looking for more delicious gin co*cktails? Also, try the French 75 co*cktail and the Corpse Reviver 2. If you’re looking for something a little more floral and complex, try the Last Word and the Aviation co*cktail!
Table of Contents
- Why This Recipe Works
- Ingredients
- How to Make a Bee’s Knees
- Expert Tips
- Gin Recommendations
- Honey Simple Syrup
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Similar Classic co*cktails
- Bee’s Knees co*cktail Recipe
Why This Recipe Works
- The Bee’s Knees is the perfect balance of botanicals, citrus, and sweetness. It’s refreshing and crowd-pleasing whether you’re a gin lover or not.
- The citrus and honey make this a comforting co*cktail that can be enjoyed year-round.
Ingredients
- Gin: the Bee’s Knees relies on the botanical brilliance of gin as its base spirit. The juniper-forward nature of gin adds depth and complexity.
- Lemon Juice: freshly squeezed lemon juice cuts through the sweetness of the honey, creating a well-rounded flavor profile that is both refreshing and invigorating.
- Honey syrup: honey lends a silky sweetness to the co*cktail. It provides a natural alternative to simple syrup and adds a distinct richness. Save the extra honey syrup for a Brown Derby co*cktail!
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities below.
How to Make a Bee’s Knees
Step 1.
To make honey syrup, combine equal parts hot water and honey in a glass and stir until the honey is fully dissolved.
Step 2.
Combine gin, lemon juice, and honey in aco*cktail shaker with a cup of ice.
Step 3.
Shake vigorously for 20 seconds and double strain into a chilled coupe glass.
Expert Tips
- Chill your glasses ahead of time in the freezer to keep your drinks cooler for longer. This is one of my favorite tricks in the summer.
- This co*cktail is best served in a small coupe glass. It makes for a fantastic presentation given the drink’s history and age.
- Always double-strain shaken co*cktails through a fine mesh strainer. This removes tiny ice chips that will dilute the co*cktail as it warms.
Gin Recommendations
The Bee’s Knees is not necessarily a gin-forward co*cktail. The honey and lemon are very complimentary and will balance the drink. London dry gins such as Beefeater or Bombay Sapphire are both more classic juniper-forward options.
There are numerous modern-day gins on the market with a variety of flavors and infusions. Hendrick’s is very smooth and offers more citrus-forward notes. I like Bar Hill Gin (made with juniper and raw honey), Plymouth Gin, and The Botanist Islay Dry Gin. All are great options with well-balanced botanicals and flavors.
Honey Simple Syrup
Honey simple syrup is made with equal parts honey and water. Honey syrup can be used in co*cktails similarly to classicsimple syrup (sugar and water), adding unique character and sweetness. It’s easier to make than simple syrup as the honey will easily dissolve in hot or warm water, unlike sugar.
To make honey syrup, heat 1/4 cup of water in the microwave for 20-30 seconds until very warm. Stir in 1/4 cup of honey until fully dissolved. The proper consistency is a little thicker than water when at room temp.
You can make extra syrup and store it in the fridge for about a month. The honey syrup recipe above is good for about 1/2 a cup or 4 co*cktails.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use simple syrup instead of honey syrup?
Simple syrup works but it doesn’t jive as well with the gin and fresh lemon. Simple syrup will leave this co*cktail tasting a little stark.
Why should I make honey syrup?
Honey and water dissolve in co*cktails much better than pure honey. Honey tends to clump up when chilled and won’t mix well.
What kind of gin should I use?
My favorite is Plymouth Gin. I use it in a wide variety of gin co*cktails.
Similar Classic co*cktails
Tom Collins co*cktail Recipe
Hot Toddy Recipe
Sidecar co*cktail Recipe
Brown Derby co*cktail Recipe
Enjoy this recipe? If you made this co*cktail, please leave a ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ star rating in the recipe card below & areview in the comments!
5 from 1 vote
Bee’s Knees co*cktail Recipe
By: Shawn Williams
Servings: 1 co*cktail
Prep: 5 minutes mins
Total: 5 minutes mins
Save
The bee’s knees co*cktail is a classic Prohibition-Era co*cktail made with gin, lemon juice, and honey syrup.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces gin
- 3/4 ounces fresh lemon juice
- 3/4 ounces honey syrup
honey syrup (makes 1/2 cup)
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1/4 cup water
Instructions
To make honey syrup, combine equal parts hot water and honey in a glass and stir until the honey is fully dissolved.
Combine gin, lemon juice, and honey in a co*cktail shaker with a cup of ice.
Shake vigorously for 20 seconds and double strain into a chilled coupe glass.
Notes
Chill your glasses ahead of time in the freezer to keep your drinks cooler for longer. This is one of my favorite tricks in the summer.
This co*cktail is best served in a small coupe glass. It makes for a fantastic presentation given the drink’s history and age.
Always double-strain shaken co*cktails through a fine mesh strainer. This removes tiny ice chips that will dilute the co*cktail as it warms.
Nutrition
Serving: 1gCalories: 219kcalCarbohydrates: 18gProtein: 0.2gFat: 0.2gSaturated Fat: 0.2gSodium: 6mgFiber: 0.1gSugar: 17.9g
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Additional Info
Course: co*cktail
Cuisine: American
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