Bee's Knees Cocktail Recipe
Some time ago, to say something was the "bee's knees," meant that it was cool. Many theories peg that this bee's knees cocktail was concocted in America during Prohibition, while other stories speculate that it was invented in Paris (per Travel Distilled). Recipe creator Christina Musgrave of Tasting with Tina created this rendition of a classic cocktail.
The sweetness of the drink mellows out the stiffness of the gin, which serves as the central component in the mixture. "There's not really 1 special ingredient in this cocktail ... the combination of all 3 is what makes the drink so special," Musgrave explains. The subtle flavors in this delicious lemon cocktail can make it go down pretty easy, even after only adding a few ingredients to the gin. After you've had 1, though, you might find it difficult not to make a second.
Keep reading to find out how to make this classic bee's knees cocktail.
The history of the bee's knees cocktail
The term, bathtub gin, became infamous during prohibition. It was homemade hooch distilled by bootleggers, and notoriously very harsh in taste (via The Mob Museum). Honey was used to smooth out the smell of the homemade gin, to the point where some fans were particular about the type of honey used (via Chilled Magazine).
The drink's history has many historical connections, including being associated with the Ritz Hotel, and legendary Titanic survivor — the Unsinkable Molly Brown (via Travel Distilled). Regardless of where it came from, Musgrave has made it easy for you to make your at-home cocktail parties classier than ever with this easy cocktail.
Grab the ingredients for the bee's knees cocktail
Since gin is the main ingredient, it's important to use a good brand for this cocktail. "My all-time favorite gin is Watershed Distillery's Guild Gin," says Musgrave. "I also love Sipsmith Gin." Get a bottle of honey simple syrup, and a small bottle of lemon juice as well, though you could choose to squeeze your own lemon juice. Regardless, you will need a lemon to make the garnish.
Pour your ingredients into a shaker
Pour the gin into a cocktail shaker filled with ice, along with the honey simple syrup and the lemon juice. While you can purchase honey simple syrup, you could also make your own. "You can use any type of honey you have on hand to make the syrup," Musgrave adds. "If you choose a flavored honey, those notes will be in the syrup, so watch out for that."
Shake and serve the cocktail
Shake the mixture for 15 seconds to chill the drink. Then, strain into a cocktail glass, and finish it off with a lemon twist to serve. Even if you're just serving it to yourself, you want to make sure you're doing it properly.
As Musgrave explains, "This cocktail is a classic for a reason — it's well-balanced, and delicious with only a few ingredients."
- 2 ounces gin
- ½ ounce honey simple syrup
- 1 ounce lemon juice
- 1 lemon peel to garnish
- Add gin, honey simple syrup, and lemon juice in a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
- Shake for 15 seconds, until chilled, and strain into a cocktail glass.
- Garnish with a lemon twist.
| Calories per Serving | 199 |
| Total Fat | 0.1 g |
| Saturated Fat | 0.0 g |
| Trans Fat | 0.0 g |
| Cholesterol | 0.0 mg |
| Total Carbohydrates | 14.2 g |
| Dietary Fiber | 1.4 g |
| Total Sugars | 11.6 g |
| Sodium | 10.4 mg |
| Protein | 0.3 g |
