This iconic 1920s cocktail is composed of honey syrup, gin, and lemon juice ー finely balancing the sweetness of honey, tangy kick of lemon, and botanical depth of gin ー it’s the cat’s pyjamas!
We’re using our Summer Blossom Honey to give further botanical depth to this classic cocktail, rich in floral notes derived from local wildflowers in the regions from which the honey is harvested.
Let’s get a taste of the roaring ‘20s, shall we?
Ingredients
- 2 oz gin
- 3/4 oz fresh lemon juice
- 3/4 oz honey syrup
Honey Syrup (produces 1/2 cup)
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/4 cup raw, unpasteurized honey
Method
- To make honey syrup, warm up the water in the microwave for 20 to 30 seconds. Once the water is warmed, pour the honey into the water and stir until the honey is completely dissolved.
- Add the honey syrup, gin, and lemon juice to a cocktail shaker or a mixing glass, making sure to add lots of ice. Shake or stir for 20 seconds until cold.
- Strain into a chilled glass.
The History Behind the Bee’s Knees Cocktail
The Bee’s Knees Cocktail originated from the Prohibition era, with the story of its creation hosting various theories. Its name ‘the bee’s knees’ was a widespread saying in the 1920s meaning ‘amazing’ or ‘the best’, which is true in this classic cocktail.
With this name, it only makes sense that honey acts as one of the key ingredients composing this concoction, with honey’s sweet taste concealing the smell and flavour of bathtub gin from those drinking the cocktail. This quality of the drink also increased the difficulty in detecting alcohol for the authorities ー which at the time was certainly a win-win!
Learn More About the Recipe Here: https://kitchenswagger.com/bees-knees-cocktail-recipe/
