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It’s a simple concoction of a smooth gin, delivering gorgeous notes of juniper and citrus, accented with freshly squeezed lemon and a splash of sweet honey syrup. Shake it, pour it up over a glass of ice then sit back and enjoy this vintage cocktail!
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If you’re from the South chances are that you’re quite familiar with simple syrup. After all, you can’t make a decent sweet tea without it. But there’s another nectar infused syrup that you might not know about – honey syrup – and it’s the perfect touch for this fun cocktail!
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The Bee’s Knees is a cocktail said to have originated during the days of Prohibition and simply made from gin, lemon and honey syrup.
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The honey syrup is the twist in this cocktail, made just like simple syrup but subbing honey for the sugar. The honey melts into a naturally sweet liquid making it perfect for polishing up this cocktail.
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Considered a member of the family of sour cocktails, recipes for a Bees’s Knees vary on the amount of honey syrup. Don’t be afraid to tweak it to get just the right taste for your palate. And though a Bee’s Knees is typically served shaken with ice, then served straight up in a coupe, summer months seem to beg for a really cold drink. So, scoop up some ice and serve this refreshing drink well chilled.
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Quite simply it is the “bee’s knees” and it’s the best!
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Bee’s Knees
For the honey syrup:
1-½ cups honey
1 cup water
Combine the honey and the water in a small saucepan. Warm over medium heat stirring until the honey is melted into the water. Cool and refrigerate.
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Makes about 2-1/4 cups of honey syrup.
For the cocktail:
2 ounces good gin, about 4 tablespoons
1-½ tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice, about 1 small lemon
2 tablespoons honey syrup
Lemon twists for garnish
Ice for shaking and serving
In a cocktail shaker add the gin, with the lemon juice and the honey syrup.
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Fill the shaker with ice and shake vigorously until the cocktail is well-chilled.
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Pour into a glass with ice…
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and garnish with a twist of lemon.
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Bee’s Knees on Ice
Equipment
- small saucepan
- cocktail shaker
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons good gin
- 1-½ tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice, about 1 small lemon
- 2 tablespoons honey syrup
- Lemon twists for garnish
- Ice for shaking and stirring
Instructions
- For the honey syrup:
- Combine the honey and the water in a small saucepan. Warm over medium heat stirring until the honey is melted into the water. Cool and refrigerate. Makes about 2-¼ cups of syrup.
- For the cocktail:
- In a cocktail shaker add the gin, with the lemon juice and the honey syrup.
- Fill the shaker with ice and shake vigorously until the cocktail is well-chilled.
- Pour into a glass with ice and garnish with a twist or two of lemon.