Back in America's Prohibition years, bartenders used fruits, sweeteners and bitters to mask the unpalatable taste of poorly distilled spirits. A staple in speakeasies, Bee's Knees was the embodiment of such practice; relying on honey and aromatic bitters to distract and disguise the horrid tasting gin.
Those were the days. Today's gins are incredibly well-made and their flavours diverse. There's also a huge range of bitters and honeys to choose from. Your Bee's Knees could taste drastically different than mine, just as your next Bee's Knees could be worlds apart from your previous.
Ingredients
50-60 ml Gin
5-10 ml Honey Syrup*
10-15 ml Fresh lemon juice
3 dash Bitters of choice
* To make honey syrup, combine 2 parts honey and 1 part of warm water (approx. 40°C) in a sterilized jar. Cover and shake until combined. Will keep for weeks in the refrigerator.
Garnish
Herbs, edible flowers and/or fruit peels, preferably with scents that pair well with the flavours of your gin and bitters.
Tools
Jigger, bar spoon, cocktail shaker
Serve in a Coupe or a Nick & Nora style cocktail glass.
❶ Chill the coupe glass and prepare garnish.
❷ In a shaker add all ingredients; stir, taste and adjust.
❸ Add ice and shake vigorously for about 12 seconds.
❹ Strain into the chilled glass.
❺ Garnish and serve.