Bee's KneesCocktail recipe
Rating
Can you make this?
Add the ingredients you have at home to your My Bar and we'll show you what cocktails you can make. Start off by adding the ingredients you have for this cocktail using the plus icons.
The Bee's Knees is a fun and very easy cocktail from the Prohibition era. Some stories claim that the drink was concocted because the honey masked the odour of the alcohol.
A London dry gin will create a completely different profile than one of the new American-style gins, and whatever botanicals are more apparent in the gin you choose will be accented by the honey syrup and lemon.
Microbadges
Can you make this?
Add the ingredients you have at home to your My Bar and we'll show you what cocktails you can make. Start off by adding the ingredients you have for this cocktail using the plus icons.
Cocktail Colin says:
Bee's Knees capitalizes on the smooth blend of gin with the sweetness of honey syrup, cut through by a refreshing dash of lemon juice. This Prohibition-era cocktail is both disarmingly simple and deliciously sweet, perfect for those who savor a hint of honey in their spirited concoctions.
Method
How to make a Bee's Knees
- Gin 50ml, Lemon Juice 20ml, Honey syrup 10ml
-
- Pour all ingredients into a shaker with ice
-
- Shake well then strain into a chilled cocktail glass and serve
Power tips
Elevate the Bee's Knees with these master mixologist tips
Upgrade to premium
And receive world class tips on how to raise your cocktails to the next level.
Find out more- Use freshly squeezed lemon juice to bring a vibrant freshness to the cocktail that cannot be matched by bottled versions.
- Warm the honey slightly before mixing to ensure it blends seamlessly with the gin and lemon juice, preventing it from settling at the bottom of the glass.
- Upgrade to premium to receive even more power tips on this cocktail.
Your private tasting notes
Featured in
FAQ's
What is the origin of the Bee's Knees cocktail?
The Bee's Knees cocktail dates back to the Prohibition era in the United States, around the 1920s. It was created as a way to mask the harsh flavors of homemade 'bathtub' gin. The sweet ingredients like honey and lemon juice helped to smooth out the gin, making it more palatable. Its name, 'Bee's Knees', was slang at the time for something excellent or of high quality.
Can I use any type of honey to make the honey syrup for the Bee's Knees?
Yes, you can use any type of honey you prefer to make the honey syrup for the Bee's Knees cocktail. However, different types of honey will impart slightly different flavors and sweetness levels. For a classic taste, a mild-flavored honey like clover is recommended, but feel free to experiment with darker, more flavorful honeys like buckwheat for a deeper taste profile.
Why is the Bee's Knees cocktail shaken and not stirred?
The Bee's Knees cocktail is shaken and not stirred to thoroughly mix the honey syrup with the other ingredients, ensuring a smooth texture and even distribution of flavors. Shaking also chills the cocktail faster and adds a slight dilution, which is desirable for balancing the sweetness of the honey syrup and the acidity of the lemon juice.
What is the ideal glass for serving a Bee's Knees?
The ideal glass for serving a Bee's Knees is a cocktail glass, also known as a martini glass. This type of glass showcases the cocktail's clarity and elegance. It also helps to concentrate the aromatics for a better tasting experience.
What garnishes work well with the Bee's Knees cocktail?
A lemon twist or a slice of lemon works well as a garnish for the Bee's Knees cocktail, adding a touch of elegance and enhancing the citrus aroma. You can also add a sprig of fresh lavender or a small edible flower to introduce a floral note that complements the honey's sweetness.
Upgrade your mixology
Become a member for free taking your cocktail making skills up to level 11. Or become a premium member to rise to cocktail greatness.
- Save your bar forever
- Access to our Cocktail Creator, allowing you to create your own wonderful concoctions.
- Access to Cocktail Colin; ask Cocktail Colin anything on an individual cocktail and he'll give you the answers you need.
- Create personalised cocktail menus for all your events, bars or parties
- Save cocktails to personalised 'Tried' and 'Want to try' lists
- Create and record tasting notes on cocktails
- Create lists of cocktails to share with friends and family
- A personalised MyBar URL, allowing you to share everything you can make with friends
- And much more ... (what to buy next, measurement choices, search personalisation...)
Have you tried our Wordpress Plugin?
Download our plugin and embed cocktail recipes directly onto your own site or blog.
Choose from our whole recipe database, or choose a specific cocktail made with a certain ingredient, and let us place a beautiful recipe on your own site.
Find out moreYou might also like
Experience this classic mix of vodka and gin
Vesper
Vodka, Gin, Lillet Blanc
Savor this citrusy blend of gin and orange liqueur
Pegu Club
Gin, Orange liqueur, Lime juice, Angostura Bitters
Discover this festive mix of gin and mincemeat
Mince pie martini
Gin, Dark rum, Red vermouth, Sugar, Mincemeat
Dive into this rosemary-infused gin delight.
Tuscan Blue Fizz
Gin, Soda water, Rosemary Syrup
Create a cocktail
Choose a theme and some ingredients, give us some description and we'll create an amazing cocktail for you.
Register as a Premium Make Me a Cocktail community member and get access to an even more powerful creator.
Start creatingBuild your bar
Tell us what you have at home and we’ll find a delicious cocktail for you to make right now.
Register as a Make Me a Cocktail community member and we’ll save your ingredients list so you can come back to it at any time.
Create My Bar
Cocktail Colin
Your cocktail expert
Hi! I'm Cocktail Colin
Ask me anything about this cocktail - how to make it, substitutions, variations, or any other questions!
Become a member to access Cocktail Colin
Become a member (for free) to pick Cocktail Colin's cocktail filled brain on everything on this cocktail, from substitutions, if you can use what you have, to serving suggestions and more.
Become a member
Comments