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    Home » Recipes » Cocktail Recipes » Bee's Knees Cocktail

    Bee's Knees Cocktail

    Published: Mar 24, 2022 · Modified: Dec 20, 2022 · by Debra with 1 Comment · 761 words. About 4 minutes to read this article. · This post contains affiliate links

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    A Bee's Knees is a simple, classic gin cocktail that dates back to the Prohibition era. The recipe only requires a few ingredients, so it's easy to make at home.

    Fresh lemons, lemon twists a cocktail jigger and a small knife surround two Bee's Knees cocktails in coupe glasses.

    This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of my links, I may make a small commission at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Read my full disclosure policy here.

    This cocktail is the Bee's Knees! And by that I mean it is both the name of the drink and the perfect way to describe it. It tastes like a warm sunny day, with floral notes from the gin, a bit of sweetness from the honey syrup, and the lemon juice brings bright acidity.

    A Bee's Knees cocktail is wonderful at any time of year, but especially refreshing during citrus season and early summer. It's a very smooth, very sippable drink.

    Jump to:
    • A Bee's Knees is a light and refreshing classic cocktail!
    • History of the Bee's Knees cocktail
    • Ingredients you'll need
    • How to make a Bee's Knees cocktail
    • Bee's Knees cocktail variations
    • When to serve a Bee's Knees cocktail
    • More citrusy cocktail recipes
    • Recipe

    A Bee's Knees is a light and refreshing classic cocktail!

    • So citrusy! Fresh-squeezed lemon juice = refreshing!
    • Homemade honey syrup adds sweetness without being sugary.
    • Invented at The Ritz in Paris, so you know it's fancy!

    History of the Bee's Knees cocktail

    The Bee's Knees is credited to Frank Meier, an Austrian bartender who came up with it while working at The Ritz in Paris in the 1920s. It's a twist on a gin sour, using honey instead of sugar. The heavier and richer flavor of honey may have served to cover up the terrible taste of the "bathtub gin" prevalent during Prohibition.

    Fresh lemons, a bottle of gin, a shot glass of honey syrup, two coupe glasses, and a cocktail jigger.

    Ingredients you'll need

    • Gin: This Bee's Knees recipe lends itself well to a very floral, botanical gin. I like Hendricks, but you can also try Citadelle or The Botanist.
    • Fresh squeezed lemon juice: Please squeeze yourself. Do NOT use that stuff in the plastic lemon!
    • Honey and water: For the honey syrup.
    • Lemon twist: For the garnish.

    How to make a Bee's Knees cocktail

    Step 1: Make the honey syrup

    Combine equal parts warm water and honey, stir until honey dissolves. Note: This recipe makes enough honey syrup for several cocktails. It will keep in the refrigerator for up to a month. 

    Step 2: Mix and shake it up!

    Pour the gin, lemon juice, and honey syrup into a cocktail shaker filled with ice and shake vigorously. We have this insulated cocktail shaker from Elevated Craft and we love it!

    Step 3: Strain and serve

    Strain into a chilled coupe glass. Garnish with a twist of lemon.

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    Bee's Knees cocktail variations

    • Make a virgin Bee's Knees by using a non-alcoholic gin. Brands to try: Seedlip, Fluère, Lyre's.
    • Amp up the floral flavor by adding ½ ounce of St. Germain, an elderflower liqueur.
    • Swap the gin for bourbon, and you've got yourself a Gold Rush.
    • Add ¼ ounce of Chartreuse to create a Bumblebee's Knees.

    When to serve a Bee's Knees cocktail

    The beauty of this recipe is that you probably keep all of the ingredients around most of the time so you can make one whenever it strikes your fancy!

    • Make a Bee's Knees cocktail when lemons are at their peak during citrus season from November to March.
    • Serve for spring celebrations like Easter, Mother's Day, and graduation parties.
    • Perfect for baby showers because they are such a beautiful color.
    • Always a good happy hour drink!

    More citrusy cocktail recipes

    • Keep it citrusy with an Old Cuban Cocktail. It hits with a one-two punch of lime and mint, perfect to cool you down when the temperatures rise.
    • A Blood Orange Negroni puts a twist on the classic by adding a splash of blood orange juice.

    Recipe

    Two bee's knees cocktails in coupe glasses with two twists of lemon peel and cut fresh lemons..

    Bee's Knees Cocktail

    A Bee's Knees is a simple, classic gin cocktail that dates back to the Prohibition era. The recipe only requires a few ingredients, so it's easy to make at home.
    5 from 6 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: cocktails
    Cuisine: American, French
    Diet: Gluten Free, Low Lactose, Vegetarian
    Keyword: bee's knees cocktail recipe
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 0 minutes
    Total Time: 5 minutes
    Servings: 1 cocktail
    Calories: 351kcal

    Equipment

    • cocktail shaker
    • coupe glass

    Ingredients

    Honey Syrup

    • ¼ cup honey
    • ¼ cup warm water

    Cocktail

    • 2 ounces gin
    • ¾ ounce lemon juice
    • ½ ounce honey syrup
    • lemon twist for garnish
    US Customary - Metric
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    Instructions

    • Make the honey syrup by combining equal parts warm water and honey, stir until honey dissolves.
    • Pour the gin, lemon juice, and honey syrup into a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
    • Shake vigorously, then strain into a chilled coupe glass. Garnish with a twist of lemon.

    Notes

    • This recipe makes enough honey syrup for several cocktails. It will keep in the refrigerator for up to a month. 
     
    This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of my links, I may make a small commission at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Read my full disclosure policy here.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 351kcal | Carbohydrates: 93g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 15mg | Potassium: 309mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 83g | Vitamin A: 1IU | Vitamin C: 12mg | Calcium: 18mg | Iron: 1mg

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Donna

      June 07, 2022 at 6:13 pm

      5 stars
      WOW!!

      Reply

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    Hi, I'm Debra! I love to cook and eat and travel, and cook the things I eat when I travel! I'm a detail-oriented Virgo, so it's my jam to simplify recipes and break them down into easy to follow steps. I help you bring the world to your table!

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    Hi, I'm Debra! I love to cook and eat and travel, and cook the things I eat when I travel! I'm a detail-oriented Virgo, so it's my jam to simplify recipes and break them down into easy to follow steps. I help you bring the world to your table!

    More about me →

    Subscribe To My Enewsletter

    Get my new, and tried and true, recipes delivered to your inbox! Subscribe now!

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    • Gluten Free Almond Flour Brownies

    French Recipes

    • Romaine Hearts Salad with Blue Cheese, Pears, and Pecans
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