Bee's Knees

A Prohibition-era gin sour sweetened with honey rather than sugar, the Bee's Knees balances juniper-forward spirit against bright citrus and a soft floral honey finish — its slang name was 1920s shorthand for "the best." Frank Meier, head bartender at the Ritz Paris, claimed it as his own creation, though a 1929 account credits American socialite Margaret "Molly" Brown. The standardized modern build rounds the classic gin-honey-lemon formula with an equal measure of orange juice.

RefreshingClassic

Ingredients

  • 1.75 ozGin
  • 0.5 ozHoney Syrup
  • 0.75 ozLemon Juice
  • 0.75 ozOrange Juice

Garnish: Lemon Peel

Preparation

Shaken · Coupe · None

  1. 1.

    add

    Add honey syrup, lemon juice, and orange juice to a shaker and stir briefly so the honey dissolves into the juices.

  2. 2.

    add

    Add the gin and fill the shaker with ice.

  3. 3.

    shake

    Shake hard until well chilled and integrated.

  4. 4.

    strain

    Double-strain into a chilled coupe, served straight up.

  5. 5.

    garnish

    Express a lemon twist over the surface and drop it in (optional).

Flavor Profile

citrus
53%
dilution
35%
herbal
27%
fruity
25%
floral
25%
sour
24%
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