PREP TIME 2 min
The Bee’s Knees cocktail is one of those classic gin-based drinks that exudes all the jazz and glamor of the 1920s. It’s something you’ll want to sip wearing a sequined chiffon dress, or a dapper suit topped with a jaunty fedora. Style in a glass, it’s the very essence of the word ‘languid’.
Add all the ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice, and shake it vigorously until ice cold
Strain the cocktail into a coupe or martini glass
Twist the lemon peel over the cocktail to release its oils and then drop it in
The great thing about this time-honored recipe is that it contains only three ingredients, which means you can really focus on your technique. This simple flavor profile also allows each of the ingredients to come into their own, so you can appreciate how the gorgeous trifecta of smoothness, sweetness, and tartness comes together in the end. Such is the beauty of the best gin cocktails.
Ostensibly first poured by a bartender called Frank Meier at the Hotel Ritz Paris around 1920, the honey was at first used to mask the taste of the questionable gin available at the time. These days, however, this ingredient only serves to highlight the beautiful herbaceous nature of the spirits we are lucky enough to have at our disposal.
We favor a London Dry Gin that has undergone a quadruple distillation process, with maceration of the plants in the still, which makes its aromas finer. Bulldog Gin contains 12 botanicals that were sourced from 8 different countries. Among them are exclusive components such as dragon’s eye, poppy, and lotus which give it subtle spicy notes. Exceptionally round, smooth, and pure, the Bulldog is ideal for making classic mixed drinks like the Bee’s Knees cocktail.
The thing that will really set your Bee’s Knees cocktail apart is if you take the time to make the honey syrup at home. The great news is that this is also super easy to do. Simply add equal parts honey and water to a pot on the stovetop and whisk until it becomes a syrup. That’s it! You can also do it in the microwave using a microwave-safe container.
TIP: Honey syrup stays good to use for up to two weeks when stored in a covered container in the fridge.
If you think the Bee’s Knees is the cat’s pajamas, there are a few other variations you can try at home:
