The Bees Knees: Crafting Your Own Prohibition Era Cocktail

The Bee’s Knees Cocktail

The Bee’s Knees cocktail has been around since the Prohibition era, but its popularity has continued to soar as more people discover its delicious combination of gin, honey, and lemon. Not only is this classic cocktail easy to make, but it’s also a perfect way to showcase the bright and complex flavors of honey. Whether you’re a fan of gin or just looking for a refreshing cocktail to enjoy, the Bee’s Knees is sure to please your palate. In this post, we’ll dive into the history and recipe of the Bee’s Knees cocktail, as well as some tips for making the perfect drink.

Origin Theories of The Bees Knees Cocktail: Three Takes

The Bees Knees a Prohibition Era Cocktail Creation

Many believe that the Bee’s Knees was invented during Prohibition in the United States, they believe that the lemon juice and honey syrup were used to mask the flavor of cheap bathtub gin. Another aspect of this orgin theory is the drinks name, ‘the bee’s knees’ was slang used during the Prohibition era for something that was ‘the best’.

An Invention of ‘the unsinkable Molly Brown’

Another version of the Bee’s Knees’ history credits someone else for the invention, the woman who has gone down in history as ‘the unsinkable Molly Brown’. She got the nickname as she was one of the 712 people who survived the Titanic disaster in 1912.

Her real name was Margaret Tobin Brown and she was the wealthy widow of a gold miner. She lived in both Denver and Paris. A story from an April 1929 issue of the Brooklyn Standard Union about the current trend for women-only bars in Paris claimed that Mrs Brown, who frequented these bars, invented the Bee’s Knees gin cocktail.

Parisian Inspiration

One of the possible orgins of the The Bee’s Knees cocktail is that it was invented in Paris by Frank Meier, who was born in Austria and was the firt head bartender at the Café Parisian at the Ritz Hotel when it opened in 1921. Meier came up with many cocktails, one of which was this simple combination of gin, lemon juice, and honey syrup. 

(www.traveldistilled.com)

Honey Harvested in Micro Batches Makes The Best Cocktails

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The unique flavors and aromas really come alive in a complex and sophisticated. This makes micro-batch honey a cornerstone ingredient in cocktails and charcuterie boards.

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Bees Knees Cocktail

A Bees Knees (or Bee's Knees) is a Prohibition Era cocktail made with gin, fresh lemon juice, and honey. It is served shaken and chilled, often with a lemon twist.

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Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 5 minutes mins

Course Cocktails

Cuisine American

Servings 1 Cocktail

Equipment

• 1 Standard Cocktail Shaker
• 1 small saucepan
• 1 Martini Glass or Coupe

Ingredients

  

Honey Syrup

• 3/4 oz Honey
• 1/4 oz Water

Cocktail

• 1 oz Lemon Juice
• 2 oz Gin
• 1 Lemon Twist For Garnish You could also use a single sprig of fresh time as a garnish.

Instructions

 

Make The Honey Syrup

• Combine the honey & water in the small saucepan over medium heat.
• Stir until the honey has dissolved, and the moisture has evaporated and it becomes a syrup, about 5 minutes.

Combine Into The Cocktail

• If using a lemon twist as a garnish, before juicing the lemon, use a vegetable peeler to peel off a strip of zest for your twist.
• To make the cocktail, fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Pour in the honey syrup, lemon juice, and gin. Securely fasten the lid and shake until the mixture is very cold about 30 seconds.
• Strain the drink into a coupe or martini glass. Twist the lemon peel over the cocktail to release some of its oils, then drop it in. Enjoy while cold.

Notes

Bees Knees Cocktail Variations Include:

• A Bee’s Knees cocktail made with gin, 1:1 honey syrup, and lemon juice

• Barr Hill Gin is sometimes recommended for its honey infusion, though other gins may be used
• The honey may be diluted 1:1 with warm water to thin the consistency.
• The honey may be diluted 1:1 with simple syrup instead of water.
• A sprig of basil or thyme may be used for garnish instead of lemon peel.
• Some variations contain orange juice
• Add 2 dashes of absinthe and 2 dashes of orange bitters to make a variation called “Oldest Living Confederate Widow”
• Add 1 oz James Bay Distillers’ Finocchietto and lemonade (or a lemon soda) to taste, for a “2/3 Holy” cocktail featuring anise and fennel (without the last 1/3 of absinthe’s “holy trinity” of botanicals).

Keyword Bees Knees, Cocktails, Honey Cocktail, Prohibition-Era Cocktails, Spring Cocktail

Check out some of my other honey cocktail recipes:

French 75 Honey Cocktail: A Sweet Twist On A Historical Favourite

The French 75 is a fixture in cocktail bars, but it’s also a fan-favorite during brunch. In this recipe, we switch out the simple syrup for honey syrup, but the real secret is using a raw, unfiltered, unpasteurized, micro harvested wildflower honey for a refreshing twist on this historical cocktail.

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