Bee’s Knees Cocktail

This Bee‘s Knees Cocktail is light, refreshing, and perfect for any celebration.

If you’re looking for a refreshing way to upgrade your summertime sips, this cocktail needs adding to your must-try list.

Perfect for entertaining a crowd or just enjoying after a long day at work, the Bee’s Knees cocktail is a Prohibition era invention made from only three simple ingredients: gin, lemon juice, and honey syrup. Somewhat similar to the classic Gin Sour cocktail (gin, lemon juice, and sugar-based simple syrup), this iteration was thought to help mask the awful taste of low-quality gin that was so common throughout the 1920s.

Luckily, there’s nothing low-quality about this cocktail nowadays. It’s light, sweet, and absolutely foolproof to make; no mixology skills required.

Is The Bee‘s Knees Cocktail Healthy?

The Bee’s Knees cocktail is nice and light, but two of its primary components are gin and honey. While honey has a lower glycemic index than regular refined sugar, it’s still sugar (paired with alcohol) at the end of the day. Enjoy your cocktails in moderation.

Honey Really Is The “Bee’s Knees”

Many classic gin cocktail recipes—like the Gin Sour, Tom Collins, or French 75—use a sugar-based simple syrup in the mix. However, the Bee’s Knees uses a honey-based simple syrup that adds a warm, floral depth of flavor that complements the herbaceous, piney notes of gin perfectly. Rather than just add generic sweetness, it gives the drink a slight earthy charm that’s as timeless as the cocktail itself.

Serving Suggestions

This drink is the perfect addition to your warm-weather dinner parties, where it’s best served alongside some equally light and refreshing fare. We love having it with some Tomato Grilled Moroccan Chicken With Mint Sauce, Grilled Avocados With Feta And Tahini Sauce, and this Grilled Pineapple-Mango Salsa With Corn.

To round out the rest of your summer cocktail menu, whip up a batch of Tropical White Moscato Sangrias or Coconut Blueberry Mojitos. Cheers!

Recipe