Ready to do a little mixology? You’re going to love this bee’s knees cocktail recipe—and don’t worry, there are no expensive bitters, complex infusions or mysterious ingredients. A classic bee’s knees is a beautiful and simple drink. (Or should we say bee-utiful!) It’s a Prohibition-era libation that’s sweet and citrusy, with a blend of honey, lemon and gin. A refreshing sipper with an adorable name, it’s a favorite lemony summertime cocktail.
To begin making our bee’s knee’s cocktail recipe, you’ll first create an easy honey simple syrup. You’ll most likely have extra. Stash it in the fridge for other simple syrup-based cocktails like an old-fashioned or mint julep. Grab your favorite gin and let’s get bee-sy!
Bee’s Knees Ingredients
- Honey: It’s the star sweetener of this cocktail. A mild-flavored honey like wildflower or Tupelo is best; a stronger-flavored variety of honey could overpower the other ingredients.
- Gin: Use any type of gin you like. A classic, dry gin will give the bee’s knees notes of pine and juniper, while a gin made with honey and botanicals will harmonize with honey-citrus flavor of the drink. Here are more gin cocktails for happy-hour inspiration.
- Lemon juice: A splash of acidic lemon juice balances the sweetness of the honey. Pick up a fresh lemon; you can use it for the juice, and for the next ingredient!
- Lemon peel: A strip of lemon peel is a simple and pretty garnish on this cocktail. Here’s how to make this lemon garnish with a simple kitchen utensil.
Directions
Step 1: Make the honey syrup
Pour the honey into a small saucepan with a 1/4 cup of water, and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat and simmer the honey and water for several minutes until it’s reduced to a 1/4 cup of syrup. Pour the hot syrup into a heat-proof, resealable container. Refrigerate the syrup until it’s cold.
Step 2: Create the cocktail
Have a cocktail shaker ready with a strainer (they’re part of any good home bar setup) and a coupe-style or other stemmed cocktail glass. Fill the shaker half-full with ice, then add in the gin, lemon juice and honey syrup.
Cover the shaker tightly and shake the ingredients for 15 to 20 seconds until the ingredients are cold.
(The outside of the shaker will become frosty.) Strain the liquid into the glass. Add a strip of lemon peel to the glass as a garnish and enjoy.
Recipe Variations
- Make it a French 75: After shaking the cocktail ingredients together, pour the mixture into a champagne flute or cocktail glass to fill it halfway. Then finish the glass with champagne, prosecco or sparkling white wine.
- Add botanicals to the honey syrup: Give the cocktail a hint of floral flavor by adding a sprig of lavender or dried hibiscus petals to the simmering syrup. Or try an herbal profile with a sprig of thyme or rosemary. Strain out the botanicals before chilling the syrup. You could even use edible flowers to garnish the botanical bee’s knees.
- Use orange blossom honey: Look for a pure orange blossom honey to make your syrup. (Avoid brands that add artificial flavor.) It will add a subtle, lovely orange flavor. And you can add a strip of orange peel to the glass instead of lemon.
- Add a floral liqueur: Flavors like elderflower, rose and crème de violette pair well with this honey-gin cocktail—and you only need to add a small amount.
- Make bee’s knees for a crowd: Multiply this single-serving recipe for the number of drinks you’ll need. Stir the ingredients together in a pitcher or large jar and store it in the fridge. Once the mixture is cold, it’s ready to serve. You can add lemon slices to the pitcher for an extra pretty presentation.
How to Store a Bee’s Knees Cocktail
The honey syrup can be stored in a closed container in the fridge for up to two weeks. Having this on hand makes it easy to shake up a bee’s knees anytime. You can also compose the bee’s knees cocktail and store the drink covered in the fridge for up to five days.
Can you freeze honey syrup?
Yes! To make it last longer, transfer your cooled honey syrup to a freezer-proof container and cover it tightly. It can be stored in the freezer for up to three months. Allow the syrup to thaw in the fridge and stir it before using.
Can you make bee’s knees ahead of time?
You can! Shake or stir together the cocktail ingredients, then pour the mixture into a resealable container. Store the drink in the fridge for up to five days until you’re ready to serve it. If you’re topping it off with champagne in a French 75 style, top with the bubbly just before serving so it doesn’t go flat sitting in the fridge.
Bee’s Knees Tips
Can I add honey straight into a bee’s knees cocktail?
Honey has a thick texture that’s even more viscous when cold. When added straight to a chilled cocktail, it tends to clump and sink to the bottom. Simmering honey and water creates a simple syrup with sweetness and flavor that blends smoothly into drinks.
How do you make a frozen bee’s knees?
To turn this into a frozen cocktail, pour the ingredients into a blender and add one to two cups of ice per serving. Run the blender until the mixture is smooth and slushy. Pour it into glasses and serve immediately.
