Bees Knees is a delightful and refreshing cocktail from the Prohibition era, featuring gin, fresh lemon juice, and honey syrup. The name of this cocktail, not only refers to the honey in it but “Bees Knees” was a popular slang for something really outstanding, which is what this drink is. Convenient, no matter how you look at it.

 The man responsible was the head bartender at the Hotel Ritz Paris in the 1920s – Frank Meier. What Meier did was simple, yet brilliant. He took the classic Gin Sour (gin, sugar, lemon) and used honey syrup instead of sugar. That minor change gave us a richer and smoother drink, and not only that, but the honey can mask the inferior quality gins common for that time. Of course, nowadays, we’re blessed with a vast selection of superior quality gins that can only improve our cocktail.

The Bee’s Knees is a perfect cocktail for a party, since it only has 3 ingredients, and they are also very common. All you have to do is shake them and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. It’s a refreshing and tasty drink, and everyone will love it.

On the list of IBA Official Cocktails.

Honey Syrup is a simple mix you can easily prepare at home. Just add 2 parts of honey to 1 part water in a saucepan over medium heat and stir until the honey dissolves. After it cools down, transfer it to an airtight container and store it in your fridge. 1-month shelf life guaranteed. Always taste your honey before making the syrup. Milder honey works best with the 2:1 ratio.

 

Ingredients:

  1. 2 Ounces (60 ml) of gin.
  2. ¾ of an ounce (22.5 ml) of freshly squeezed lemon juice.
  3. ½ an ounce (15 ml) of honey syrup.
  4. Lemon twist as garnish.

 

Preparation:

  1. Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice and shake well.
  2. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
  3. Garnish and enjoy.

 

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