Bee's Knees co*cktail Recipe (2024)

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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!

Bee's Knees co*cktail Recipe (2)

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

Bee's Knees co*cktail Recipe (3)
  • 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.

Bee's Knees co*cktail Recipe (4)
Bee's Knees co*cktail Recipe (5)

Step 2.

Combine gin, lemon juice, and honey in aco*cktail shaker with a cup of ice.

Bee's Knees co*cktail Recipe (6)

Step 3.

Shake vigorously for 20 seconds and double strain into a chilled coupe glass.

Bee's Knees co*cktail Recipe (7)

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.

Bee's Knees co*cktail Recipe (8)

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

Bee's Knees co*cktail Recipe (13)

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

Tried this recipe?Mention @kitchenswagger or tag #kitchenswagger!

About Shawn Williams

My name is Shawn, author behind Kitchen Swagger. I'm a food & drink enthusiast bringing you my own simple and delicious restaurant-inspired recipes.

Read More About Me

Bee's Knees co*cktail Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the drink Bee's Knees made of? ›

A Bee's Knees co*cktail is made with just three ingredients – gin, honey, and lemon – but together they create a magical drink.

What's the best gin for bees' knees? ›

For those seeking a classic yet elevated Bee's Knees, consider gins like Hendrick's for its infusion of rose and cucumber or Lifted Spirit's Bright Gin with its citrus-forward notes, adding an easy-sipping character ideal for co*cktails.

What's the difference between bees knees and gin sour? ›

The only difference is that Bee's Knees uses honey syrup instead of sugar that's used to make a Gin Sour. As the co*cktail was created during the Prohibition era, it is believed that the honey was used to mask the bitterness of the bootleg gin. Although the honey also makes the co*cktail richer and easier to drink.

What is the history of the bees knees co*cktail? ›

The Bee's Knees co*cktail is a gin, lemon and honey classic that dates back to prohibition. The phrase “bee's knees” was prohibition-era slang for “the best.” In that time, the addition of ingredients such as citrus and honey were often used to cover the less than ideal smell and taste of bathtub gin.

What's so special about bees knees? ›

'That's the bee's knees' which means it is excellent, the highest quality. The phrase 'the bee's knees' came from the 18th century and it was a fanciful phrase that referred to something that didn't exist. A boss would send an apprentice to the store to pick up a left-handed hammer and a bag of bee's knees.

Why is it called bees knees? ›

According to The Guardian, some believe that the "bee's knees" derives from a shortening of "the be all and the end all of everything" which was shortened to "the B's and E's" and thus to "bee's knees"; while another camp believe it derives from "it's the business".

What drink is similar to Bees Knees? ›

Gin Sour. The Gin Sour, a relative of the Bees Knees, uses sugar syrup instead of honey to provide a more traditional gin and lemon taste.

What gin did the Queen use? ›

The Queen's former private chef, Darren McGrady, said fellow royal warrant-holder Gordon's was her favourite gin.

What are the flavors of Bees Knees? ›

The Bee's Kees is a Prohibition-era co*cktail featuring gin, lemon juice and honey. The unique name is a convention of the time: The phrase “bee's knees” was popular slang used to call something excellent or outstanding.

What are other versions of the bees knees? ›

Here are three delicious takes on the classic.
  • FIG's Bee's Knees. Drink creator Ashley Dods and the bar team at FIG in Charleston originally concocted a spiced version of the German honey-flavored liqueur Bärenjäger for a wintry Hot Toddy. ...
  • Bubbly Bee's Knees. ...
  • The Cat's Pajamas.
Sep 21, 2022

What is slang for bees knees? ›

(idiomatic, colloquial) Something or someone excellent, surpassingly wonderful, or cool. synonyms ▲ Synonyms: cat's meow, cat's pajamas, dog's bollocks, the bomb; see also Thesaurus:best. We had strawberry shortcake for breakfast on Saturday and the kids thought it was the bee's knees.

Can you make a bees knees with empress gin? ›

It's the holiday season, and a festive co*cktail is in order. This simple Bees Knees features Empress 1908 gin and a homemade honey simple syrup you can make and keep on hand to use all month long. I was gifted a bottle to feature, and I was so impressed with how vibrant this simple co*cktail turned out.

What is America's oldest co*cktail? ›

The famed Sazerac Coffee House was founded in New Orleans in 1850 and soon became known as the home of “America's First co*cktail,” the Sazerac. Using rye whiskey (in place of French brandy), a dash of Peychaud's Bitters, and Herbsaint, what eventually became the official co*cktail of New Orleans was created.

What was the most popular co*cktail in the 1950s? ›

Popular mixed drinks of the time included old-fashioned, highball, gin punch, and of course, the martini. I would expect that a good 1950s co*cktail party would have had a large bowl of punch in addition to martinis in order to give the man of the house a break here and there.

What co*cktail did New Orleans invent? ›

In 2008, the state of Louisiana passed legislation that made the Sazerac co*cktail the official co*cktail of New Orleans. It’s a fitting tribute to the drink that arguably started the co*cktail movement throughout the United States.

What is the inside of a bee's mouth? ›

(a) The mouthparts comprise the galeae, labial palp and the glossa. (b) When the honey bee is ready to imbibe liquid food, the galeae and labial palp are brought closely together to form a tube around the glossa, a sucking tube, which is similar to a drinking-straw.

What are mako knees made of? ›

Total knee replacement is a surgical procedure in which a diseased or damaged joint is replaced with an artificial joint called an implant. Made of metal alloys and high grade plastics (to better mach the function of bone and cartilage, respectively), the implant is designed to move much like a healthy human joint.

How many grams of sugar are in bees' knees? ›

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 1
Dietary Fiber 0g0%
Total Sugars 18g
Added Sugars 17g34%
14 more rows
Apr 19, 2024

Are bees knees carbonated? ›

Bee's Knees (Gin with Lemon, Honey and Carbonation) | Can Bee co*cktails | BevNET.com Spirits / Alcohol Database.

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