Classic Bees Knees Cocktail

The Bees Knees Cocktail is a sparkling lemon and gin drink! Honey syrup adds a rich and unique sweetness to this classic.

Here’s a classic chic, refreshing and sparkling cocktail: the bee knee! It has a cute 1920s name and a mild flavor to match. The single item? honey syrup. Making simple syrup with honey instead of refined sugar adds rich depth to cocktails. Pair it with lemon and gin, and you have a refreshing cocktail that’s easy to drink. Naturally sweet and perfectly balanced, it’s easy to make too! Here’s what you need to know.

What is a Bees Knees cocktail?

The Bees Knees is a Prohibition-era cocktail that appeared in cocktail books in the 1930s. There is no clear origin story, but “Bees Knees” is a term used at the time that meant “the best”. It’s likely a bartender came up with this clever pun to emphasize the drink’s unique ingredient: honey syrup! Using honey syrup instead of plain syrup gives this drink a rich sweetness. The ingredients of a Bees Knees cocktail are:

• gin
• lemon juice
• honey syrup

Add orange juice if you like!

The Bees Knees is a cocktail on the International Bartender Association’s list of official IBA cocktails, meaning it has an official definition. Interestingly, the IBA definition of a Bees Knee uses equal parts fresh lemon juice and fresh orange juice. Most sources you will find use only lemon juice, including historical mentions of the drink in cocktail books.

The addition of orange juice gives another nuance and roundness to the taste of the drink. It’s a funny adder! But for those who prefer it very simple: The classic is pure lemon juice.

How to make honey syrup

Honey syrup is a simple syrup made with honey instead of granulated sugar! It’s easy to prepare a batch: and you can use it instead of simple syrup in any cocktail recipe. Here’s what to do:

1. Add equal parts honey and water to the saucepan and heat over medium-high heat.
2. Stir until honey has dissolved (don’t let simmer!), about 1-2 minutes. Cool to room temperature before use. Store in the fridge for 1 month.

A few more cocktails Who Uses Honey Syrup? The gold rush, the brown derby and penicillin.

How to Make a Bees Knees Cocktail (Basic Steps)

The Bees Knees are very easy to assemble! Once you’ve made the honey syrup, simply shake it in a cocktail shaker. Here are the basic steps (or jump straight to the recipe):

• Shake: Pour gin, fresh lemon juice and honey syrup into a shaker. Fill with ice and then shake until very cold. Don’t have a cocktail shaker? Use a mason jar with a lid instead.
• stump: Strain the drink into a cocktail glass. Don’t have a cocktail strainer? Use a fine mesh strainer instead.
• Garnish: Add ice and lemon zest.

Use a quality gin

The golden rule for every cocktail: the better the liqueur, the better the drink! Our rule of thumb is to buy gin at an average price: this is generally an indicator of quality. The gin we like to use is called Malfy Gin and we usually order it online. Also look for locally distilled spirits if you can!

When to serve a Bees Knees cocktail

The Bees Knees Cocktail is a sweet and tangy retro cocktail that’s ideal for sipping as:

• summer drink
• Happy hour drink
• Drink at dinner
• Evening drink between boys or between girls
• Aperitif at aperitif time

More gin cocktails

Gin was a favorite in the 1920s and 1930s: that’s why there are so many great gin-based cocktails! Here are some other products to try:

• Classic Gin Fizz Super, sweet and sparkling, with a frothy protein filling.
• Gin Tonic The key to the best Gin Tonic, the most refreshing 2 ingredient cocktail.
• Tom Collins Light, sparkling, sparkling and simple Fun.
• Gin Gimlet A classic refreshing cocktail made with lime juice and gin.
• Gin Gin Mule A mix of a sparkling Moscow Mule and a mint mojito.
• Jewel Its name is reminiscent of jewellery: gin for diamond, vermouth for ruby ​​and chartreuse for emerald.
• Last Word This pale green classic is beautifully balanced between tangy, sour and sweet.
• Aviation A 1900’s mixed drink with a gorgeous purple hue!
• Singapore Sling A fun and complex classic cocktail with an impressive list of ingredients.
• Martinez Cousin of the Martini and Manhattan, it’s sophisticated and classy.
• Classic Martini The classic martini always uses gin! Or try Dirty Martini or Vesper Martini.