Bee's Knees is a Prohibition-era drink that combines gin, fresh lemon juice, and honey syrup. It's best served shaken and cold, with a lemon twist on top. Frank Meier, an Austrian-born, Jewish bartender, developed the Bee's Knees at the Ritz in Paris in 1921, when the Cafe Parisian opened for business.
The most famous variations of this drink are:
- Barr Hill Gin is suggested for its honey infusion, but other gins (including Barr Hill's Tom Cat gin) can also be substituted.
- To make the "Oldest Living Confederate Widow," add 2 dashes of absinthe and 2 dashes of orange bitters.
Spirit Used
Gin
Ingredients
Ice
2 ounces gin
3/4 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/2 ounce honey simple syrup
Lemon wedge
Recipe
1. In a shaker with ice, combine the gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup.
2. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
3. Garnish with a lemon wedge.
