Bee’s Knees Cocktail
The perfect combination of tart, sweet, and refreshing – the Bee’s Knees Cocktail is made with gin, fresh-squeezed lemon juice, and homemade honey syrup!
Today’s recipe is the bee’s knees! Literally. I mean, kind of? Erm, we’re going to be making the Bee’s Knees Cocktail, one of my favorite Prohibition-era drinks! I mean, we all have ‘em, right??!? J/k!
You’ll find that the Bee’s Knees cocktail recipe is bright, refreshing, and a tasty balance of tart lemon and sweet honey. Ready to make your new favorite cocktail? Let’s shake this!
Bee’s Knees Cocktail Ingredients
- Gin – use your favorite gin, I use Bombay Sapphire Gin.
- Lemon Juice – bottled is okay, but fresh-squeezed lemon juice is truly best for the Bee’s Knees cocktail
- Honey Syrup – I make a quick, 5 min recipe for honey syrup, then store it in the fridge for all of my honey cocktail recipes.
What is a Bee’s Knees Cocktail
The Bee’s Knees cocktail is a gin-based, Prohibition-era cocktail made with honey syrup and lemon juice.
It’s also a refreshing and summery blend of sweet and tart flavors that balances well with gin.
Put simply, a Bee’s Knees is a Gold Rush made with gin. Or, a Whiskey Sour made with honey and gin.
The History of the Bee’s Knees Cocktail
Although no one is quite sure who invented the Bee’s Knees cocktail, it is said to have been invented by Frank Meier, the head bartender at the Hôtel Ritz Paris in 1921. [1]
Meier was the first head bartender at the Ritz, which later became famous for Bar Hemingway, one of the most well-known bars in the world.
Eight years later, a 1929 news article credits the Bee’s Knees cocktail to American socialite Margaret Brown.
No matter who invented this drink, the name and the concoction remain the same: “Bee’s Knees” refers to Prohibition-era slang for “the best,” similar to “That’s the berries” or “cats meow.” [2]
A funny side note, “quilt” meant a warming drink, and “let’s blouse” meant “we’re leaving.”
Meanwhile, is it said that during the Prohibition, honey and lemon were often used in gin-based drinks to cover up the bitterness and smell of bathtub-made gin (aka bathtub gin). [3]
The Importance of Making Honey Syrup
Why make honey syrup for the bees knees cocktail when you can just add a dollop of syrup straight into the cocktail shaker? Welp, straight-up honey just solidifies once it comes into contact with cold temperatures. As such, we’re going to make a super simple honey syrup that’s literally just two ingredients stirred together on a stovetop. Bonus? You get to use your leftover honey syrup in fancy cocktail recipes like the Penicillin Cocktail and the Gold Rush Cocktail.
How to Make a Bee’s Knees Cocktail
- First thing you want to do before making a this cocktail is checking to make sure you have honey syrup. If not, make this super simple, 5-minute recipe for honey syrup.
- Then, fill a cocktail shaker about halfway with ice. Next, pour in all Bee’s Knees cocktail ingredients: gin, fresh lemon juice, and honey syrup.
- Now, shake the shaker until all ingredients are very well mixed and chilled. Then, strain this cocktail mixture into a coupe glass.
- Pinch a lemon twist over the cocktail to express the oils over the cocktail. Then hang a new lemon twist on the rim of the coupe glass. Sip and enjoy the best Bee’s Knees cocktail recipe!
Bees Knees Variations
- Make it sweeter: add in more honey than the recipe calls for–you deserve a sweet treat!
- Replace the gin: not a fan of gin? Try subbing the gin with vodka.
- Use Lavender: this beautifully violet flower is everywhere right now (I see you, Starbucks!), so try infusing lavender into your honey syrup for a Lavender Bees Knees.
- Grapefruit Bees Knees: if you love grapefruit-based cocktails like Salty Dog Cocktail and Greyhound Drink, try subbing the lemon juice in the Bees Knees with grapefruit for a refreshing, tart twist.
More Recipes
- Gimlet Cocktail
- Gibson Drink
- Dirty Martini // Extra Dirty Martini
- 15 Best Martini Recipes
- Cadillac Margarita
- Whiskey Sour • Tennessee Mule (aka Moscow Mule with Whiskey)
Tools You Need
It’s the Bees Knees!
Be honest, you like “bee’s knees” better that “cat’s meow.” Me too. Heh heh. Either way, if you make this recipe, take a pic and share it on Instagram and Facebook, tagging me at @beamingbaker and #beamingbaker. I can’t wait!
Sending you all my love and maybe even a dove, xo Demeter ❤️
Print
Bee’s Knees Cocktail
- Total Time: 2 minutes
- Yield: 1 cocktail 1x
Description
The perfect combination of tart, sweet, and refreshing – the Bee’s Knees Cocktail is made with gin, fresh-squeezed lemon juice, and homemade honey syrup!
Ingredients
Tools Needed
- Gold Cocktail Shaker Set
- Coupe Glasses
Bee’s Knees Cocktail Ingredients
- 4 oz gin
- 1 1/2 to 2 oz lemon juice
- 1 oz honey syrup
Garnish
- Lemon twist
Instructions
- Add gin, lemon juice, and honey syrup to a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Learn how to make honey syrup.
- Shake until very chilled, about 20-30 seconds.
- Strain into a coupe glass.
- Pinch the lemon twist to squeeze and express (release) oils over the cocktail. Hang the lemon twist on the rim of the glass. Sip and enjoy.
- Prep Time: 2 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Cocktail
- Method: Shake
- Cuisine: American
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Did you make this recipe? Take a pic and share it on Instagram with the hashtag #beamingbaker & tag @beamingbaker. I’d love to see it!
Love the name and the photos are so pretty! And honey and lemon are obviously a match made in heaven, thanks for the recipe!
Aww thank you, Farah! 😊 And major yes on honey and lemon–they’re one of my fave flavor combos!
Invigorating and perfect for the summer
Well said!
Great cocktail recipe! Simple to make yet very satisfying! I added a bit of agave nectar to it as well and the result was fantastic!
Ooh fun twist! Glad to hear you’re enjoying it!
Beautiful! It’s a perfect spring/summer cocktail for enjoying while sitting in the sunshine. Love the lemon/honey combo.
Absolutely agreed, Harriet! There’s nothing better than a little sunshine and a fun drink. 🙂
So simple and SO refreshing!
My thoughts exactly! 😉
Adore gin and love this recipe!
Thanks! I know, it’s such a unique flavor, right?
This drink was so refreshing and I loved the sweet honey flavor. The honey syrup was the perfect addition! Thanks for the fun recipe 🙂
Lemon, honey and so refreshing. A magnificent summer cocktail.
So glad you like it!
I love classic cocktails and I think I have found my new favorite!
Perfect drink recipe for gin! Gin has a floral taste to me so adding honey and lemon is a great addition.
I’m so pleased you enjoyed it, Whitney!