Instructions
- In a shaker filled with ice, combine the gin, lemon juice, and honey syrup.
- Shake vigorously until well-chilled and the ingredients are thoroughly mixed.
- Strain the mixture into a chilled cocktail glass.
- Garnish with a twist of lemon for an extra touch of citrus aroma.
- Sip and enjoy the refreshing and flavorful Bee's Knees cocktail.
Estimated Nutrition:
Where it came from
Hotel Ritz Paris in the 1920s, attributed to bartender Frank Meier (the same man behind the Mimosa). The drink was popular in Prohibition-era America too, where the honey was used to mask the off flavours of poorly distilled bathtub gin. The 1920s slang 'the bee's knees' meant something excellent; the drink got the name because it was.
It went into hibernation after Prohibition and came back hard in the 2000s cocktail revival. The drink is now standard on craft cocktail menus because it's simple, it's adaptable, and quality honey makes a real difference to the result.
What it tastes like
Lemon up front, honey's floral sweetness in the middle, gin botanicals on the finish. The honey adds depth that simple syrup can't. Pick a honey with personality (orange blossom, manuka, lavender) and the drink picks up that character.
It's a sour family member with a softer profile than a Whiskey Sour or Daiquiri. Honey rounds the corners. Drinks elegantly.
The technique
60ml gin, 22ml fresh lemon juice, 22ml honey syrup. Shake hard with ice for 12 seconds and double-strain into a chilled coupe. Garnish with a lemon twist.
Honey syrup, not raw honey. Raw honey doesn't dissolve properly in cold liquids and clumps on the ice. Make honey syrup by mixing equal parts honey and warm water until smooth. Cool before using.
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Ingredient Spotlight
The bottles that make or break this drink.
The gin
- Use
- London Dry (Beefeater, Tanqueray, Plymouth)
- Try
- Floral contemporary gins (Hendrick's, Monkey 47) for more complexity
- Why
- London Dry is the classic and balances the honey. Floral gins amplify the honey.
The honey
- Use
- A flavourful honey: orange blossom, manuka, lavender, wildflower
- Skip
- Generic supermarket honey
- Why
- The honey is half the flavour. Generic honey gives a generic drink.
The lemon
- Use
- Fresh lemon juice
- Skip
- Bottled lemon juice
- Why
- Bright fresh acid is essential to balance the honey's sweetness.
Variations
Other gin classics and honey cocktails worth a round.
What if I don't have…
Quick substitutions for when the bottle shop is closed.
Maple syrup makes a Lumberjack's Knees (real drink, real recipe). Demerara syrup is a workable backup but loses the floral note.
Vodka makes a softer, less interesting drink. Whiskey turns it into a Gold Rush. Tequila makes a Margarita Real.
Lime works (turns it into a Bee's Knees Tropical). Bottled lemon ruins the drink.
Bump gin to 75ml. Increase honey syrup by 5ml.
Drop honey syrup to 15ml. Some honeys are sweeter than others; adjust by taste.
Frequently Asked Questions
Direct answers to what people search for after Googling this drink.
What is in a Bee's Knees?
Gin, fresh lemon juice, and honey syrup. Standard spec: 60ml gin, 22ml lemon, 22ml honey syrup.
How do you make a Bee's Knees?
Shake 60ml gin, 22ml fresh lemon juice, and 22ml honey syrup with ice for 12 seconds. Double-strain into a chilled coupe. Garnish with a lemon twist.
Where did the Bee's Knees come from?
The Hotel Ritz Paris in the 1920s, attributed to Frank Meier. Also popular in Prohibition-era America, where honey covered up bathtub gin. The slang 'the bee's knees' meant excellent.
How do you make honey syrup?
Mix equal parts honey and warm water in a small jar. Stir until fully dissolved. Cool before using. Keeps in the fridge for two weeks.
Can I use raw honey?
Not directly. Raw honey doesn't dissolve in cold liquid and clumps on ice. Always make honey syrup first.
What gin should I use?
London Dry is classic. Floral contemporary gins amplify the honey character. Avoid heavily juniper-heavy navy-strength gins; they fight the honey.
What honey is best?
A flavourful honey: orange blossom (citrusy), manuka (deep), lavender (floral), or wildflower (mixed). Generic supermarket honey produces a generic drink.
Bee's Knees vs Gold Rush?
Bee's Knees is gin-based. Gold Rush is bourbon-based. Same template (spirit, lemon, honey), different spirit.
How strong is a Bee's Knees?
Around 22 to 25 percent ABV in the glass after dilution. Mid-range cocktail strength.
What glass should I use?
A coupe or Nick and Nora. Served up. The drink shows a pale gold colour and looks elegant in a clear stemmed glass.
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