The Bee's Knees is a Prohibition-era gin classic that began as a way to make rough or homemade spirits palatable by pairing them with bright lemon and sweet honey; it has endured because the combination highlights good gin rather than hiding it. What makes a great Bee's Knees is freshly squeezed lemon, a well-made honey syrup (I prefer two parts honey to one part hot water for clarity of flavor), and a quality London dry or floral gin to provide botanical backbone. Serve in a chilled coupe with a thin lemon twist for a clean, elegant presentation, and if you’re in Buffalo stop by our store for local gin recommendations.
Ingredients
| 2 oz | London dry gin |
| ¾ oz | Fresh lemon juice |
| ¾ oz | Honey syrup (2:1 honey to hot water) |
| 1 tsp | Lemon twist (garnish) |
Instructions
- Chill a coupe glass in the freezer or by filling it with ice and setting it aside
- Add gin, fresh lemon juice, and honey syrup to a cocktail shaker
- Fill the shaker with ice and shake vigorously for 10–15 seconds until well chilled and slightly frothy
- Fine-strain the cocktail into the chilled coupe
- Express the lemon twist over the drink to release the oils and drop it in as a garnish
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Gin for Bee's Knees
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