Classic Cocktails · Gin Cocktails
Bee's Knees
Honey softens gin's edges and adds a floral, silky texture.
- Base spirit
- Gin
- Origin
- Paris, France
- Period
- 1920s
Ingredients
IBA official specification
- Gin52.5 ml
- Honey syrup (2:1)20 ml
- Fresh lemon juice22.5 ml
- Glass
- Chilled coupe
- Ice
- Served up, no ice
- Garnish
- Lemon zest (optional)
- Technique
- Shaken
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Prep time
- 4 min
Method
- 01
Chill the coupe.
- 02
Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice.
- 03
Shake hard for 10–12 seconds.
- 04
Double strain into the coupe.
Tasting Notes
- Aroma
- Honey, lemon, botanicals
- Finish
- Bright and smooth
- Character
- Balanced floral sour
Tasting scores are MIXY editorial assessments.
History & Background
'The bee's knees' was 1920s slang for 'the best'. The drink is often linked to Frank Meier of the Ritz in Paris; honey and lemon helped mask rough bathtub gin.
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