The Bee’s Knees Cocktail is a classic drink with sweet and citrus flavors. Made with honey syrup, lemon juice and gin, the bee’s knees is a simple, classy, and timeless cocktail for your next happy hour.
A classic cocktail that is both refreshing and simple to make, the Bee’s Knees takes just minutes to shake up.
Jump to:
Honey Cocktail
Made with only three ingredients, gin, lemon juice, and honey simple syrup, every sip of this drink is bursting with lots of flavor.
With its crisp, bright and citrus flavors, it is just sweet enough to be dangerously easy to enjoy.
The Bee’s Knees is a vintage cocktail that dates back to the Prohibition era.
Back in the day, this drink was originally created to cover up the strong and unpleasing flavors of bootleg spirits or bathtub gin.
The Bee’s Knees has truly stood the test of time and is a favorite of people who enjoy a sweet, citrusy cocktail.
The beauty of this drink lies in its simplicity and the way each ingredient shines on its own.
The honey syrup adds a unique depth of sweetness that sugar or agave can’t duplicate exactly although you can substitute them if need be.
Oh, and you can make and use hot honey syrup if you prefer a hint of heat in your cocktail! Yum!
Once you try the Bee’s Knees Cocktail, you’ll realize why it’s still "buzzing" in bars and home kitchens too. "Buzzing", get it? I crack myself up!
Whether you're hosting a happy hour or just looking for a delightful drink to sip on, this ultimate throwback cocktail is the perfect combination of sweet, tart, and botanical.
So go ahead and make a cocktail or two and enjoy the honey lemon flavor of the Bee’s Knees. Your tastebuds will thank you!
Elevate your happy hour with more of my refreshing mocktails and cocktails.
Be sure to visit the Swirls of Flavor Amazon Storefront for GG's personal kitchen recommendations!
Hungry for more? Follow along on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and Twitter for my latest recipes.
How to make a honey syrup cocktail
This is a quick overview of how to make this recipe. Scroll down for the full recipe instructions and ingredient amounts in the recipe card below
- Step 1: Combine honey syrup and lemon juice in a cocktail shaker with ice
- Step 2: Add gin or Bourbon
- Step 3: Shake until the mixture is chilled and well shaken
- Step 4: Pour into a glass, over ice if desired, and enjoy!
Hint: Your cocktail will be chilled when shaken in the shaker with ice but pouring over an extra large ice cube will keep it chilled. I love making ice cubes in silicone molds.
Expert recipe tips
- Use fresh ingredients – Fresh lemon juice and homemade honey syrup make a big difference. They provide a clean, vibrant flavor that store bought bottled alternatives just can’t match.
- Chill your glass – A chilled coupe glass or cocktail glass helps keep your drink colder longer. And you won’t need too much ice that would water down your cocktail so the integrity of the flavors will be kept.
- Adjust sweetness to taste – You can always start with a little less honey syrup if you're unsure of the sweetness that you’d like and then add more if desired.
- Shake it well – Shaking with ice not only chills the cocktail but also helps dilute it ever so slightly. This helps to mellowing the flavors and create a smooth, silky texture.
- Freshly Squeezed Lemon Juice – For the best flavor, avoid bottled lemon juice and squeeze your own juice.
- Large ice cube - Pour over an extra large ice cube to keep your drink chilled
Substitutions
- Gin – If you’re not a fan of gin’s floral flavor, vodka can replace gin and will give a cleaner, more neutral taste.
- Gin - I personally prefer this cocktail when I replace gin with Broubon. The Bourbon gives a warm well rounded flavor profile to this drink.
- Honey Simple Syrup – If you must, you can substitute maple syrup or agave nectar for honey syrup. Each sweetener will add its own distinct flavor, but honey is still the classic choice.
- Lemon Juice – For a slightly different citrus profile, try replacing some of the lemon juice with freshly squeezed orange juice. This will add a more mellow sweetness.
Variations
- Bourbon Knee's Bees Cocktail - Using Bourbon instead of gin will lend a warm well-rounded flavor to this cocktail
- Lavender Bee’s Knees – Infuse your honey syrup with dried lavender for a floral twist of lavender flavor that complements the gin beautifully.
- Spiced Bee’s Knees – Add a dash of ground cinnamon or ground ginger to your honey syrup while it warms for a cozy spiced version of the classic cocktail.
- Herbal Bee’s Knees – Muddle fresh basil or rosemary in your shaker before adding the other ingredients for an herbal variation.
- Frozen Bee’s Knees – Blend all ingredients with ice for a refreshing frozen cocktail on hot summer days.
- Hot Honey Bee’s Knees – Make the honey syrup with hot honey. This will add a hint of heat to your cocktail.
Equipment
- Cocktail Shaker
- Liquid Measuring Cup
Storage
- You can combine the ingredients and refrigerate until you are ready to shake and chill the drink in the cocktail shaker with ice.
- I do not recommend shaking the drink with ice and then storing it for later.
FAQ
A traditional Bee's Knees cocktail is made with just three ingredients, gin, lemon juice, and honey syrup. It is served shaken and chilled, often with a lemon twist. The amounts of each ingredient may vary based on personal preference.
The expression "the bee's knees" gained popularity in the 1920s, especially during Prohibition and the Roaring Twenties and referred to something that was stylish or excellent.
The cocktail "Bee's Knees" was also invented during the 1920s and was named because of the honey syrup ingredient used in the cocktail.
The difference is the sweetener used in the cocktail.
Gin Sour is made of gin, lemon and sugar.
Bee's Knees is made of gin, lemon and honey syrup.
Ingredients
Ingredients for a honey cocktail
- Gin – Gin is a botanical spirit that is the backbone of the Bee’s Knees. Its herbal and floral notes pair beautifully with the lemon and honey. For a crisp, juniper-forward flavor use a London Dry gin and for more mellow flavor use a softer, more citrusy gin.
- Lemon Juice – Freshly squeezed lemon juice is key to this cocktail’s vibrant, tangy kick. The citrus notes of squeezed lemon juice cuts through the sweetness of the honey and also balances the floral notes in the gin.
- Honey Simple Syrup – Made by gently simmering equal parts honey and water, this syrup gives the Bee’s Knees its signature sweetness and rich flavor. It adds a silky texture that elevates the drink above and beyond typical sugar-based cocktails.
Recipes With Honey
Love honey? Be sure to give these recipes made with honey a try too!
Easy Cocktail Recipes
These are my favorite dishes to serve with [this recipe]:
Bee’s Knees Cocktail Recipe
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup honey syrup
- 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 cup gin
- ice
- lemon slices , optional garnish
I earn a commission from Instacart from qualifying purchases.
Instructions
- To a cocktail shaker, add ice, honey syrup, lemon juice, and gin.
- Shake until chilled and blended.
- Pour, through the shaker’s strainer, into your cocktail glasses and garnish with fresh lemon wedges or slices. Pour over a large ice cube, if desired.
Thanks for stopping by. Leave a tip or comment...