Bee’s Knees Cocktail: The Best Drink?

If you want something sweet but also has a bit of a kick, then the bee’s knees cocktail is perfect for you. But what exactly makes this cocktail special, you might ask?

First, it’s quite an old cocktail and it goes all the way back to the Prohibition era. It is believed that a man called Frank Meier created this recipe sometime during the Roaring 20s. He was an Austrian working in Paris as a bartender, specifically at the Hôtel Ritz Paris. The name, “bee’s knees” was actually a popular slang term at the time to reference something that was outstanding or very good.

The bee’s knees cocktail was just that. It’s actually very similar to the classic gin sour and was, in fact, inspired by that cocktail. What makes this drink special is that it has honey in it along with a few other ingredients. Honey was likely incorporated because it would mask the bad taste of low-quality bootlegger gin that had to be used for this Prohibition cocktail.

Fortunately, since we no longer live in a dry country, we can choose between many different types of high-quality gin, and the flavor of the honey will only enhance the entire cocktail rather than mask its flavor. Also, these days, pure honey is not often used for this cocktail, although you can certainly use it. In its place, honey syrup is often used since it dissolves easier in the drink.

The bee’s knees cocktail is known for being sweet, refreshing, and strong yet not too strong all at the same time. Due to its sweet flavor, it can also be a little bit addicting. But how can you make such a classic and delicious cocktail, you might ask? Keep reading and discover the bee’s knees drink recipe below.

The Bee’s Knees Cocktail Recipe

To make the bee’s knees recipe, you will need three main ingredients: honey (or honey syrup), lemon juice, and gin. The quantities of each are as follows:

• ½ ounce honey syrup
• 1 ounce lemon juice
• 2 ounces gin

The kind of gin you choose will greatly determine the overall flavor of the drink. Using London Dry gin, for example, will bring more of a juniper flavor into the drink. When mixing these ingredients, all you need to do is shake them until they’re combined. The resulting drink should appear golden and a bit hazy (as you shall likely be after drinking it).

It should be served in a very cold cocktail glass. You can accomplish this by putting the glass in the freezer for an hour or so. The chill of the glass will make the drink particularly refreshing. You can also mix the drink with ice, but it is best to sieve out the ice when you serve the drink.

For a bit of extra flair and the aroma of citrus, you can also serve the drink with a twist of lemon. Once you do that, you will be ready to enjoy a delicious cocktail straight from the era of jazz, flappers, and bootleggers! To get your hands on some high-quality drinks for the evening, click here.

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