Bee's Knees
Gin · Coupe
A prohibition-era classic that used honey to sweeten and mask the harsh flavors of bathtub gin. The name 'bee's knees' was 1920s slang meaning 'the best thing ever.'
| Glass | Coupe |
| Garnish | None |
| ABV | 22% |
| Category | prohibition |
| Flavor | citrus, sweet, smooth, floral |
Ingredients
- Gin2 oz
- Fresh Lemon Juice0.75 oz
- Simple Syrup0.75 oz
- Lemon Peel1 twist
Method
- Add gin, lemon juice, and honey syrup to shaker
- Fill with ice and shake vigorously
- Double strain into chilled coupe
- Garnish with lemon twist
Pro Tips
- Prohibition-era honey + lemon + gin — the honey masked bathtub gin's harshness.
- Honey syrup (1:1 honey:water), not raw honey, dissolves properly in cold liquid.
- Good bees-knees restored in the craft-cocktail revival; a pre-Prohibition classic.