Food

Classic Bee’s Knees Cocktail Recipe

Written by MasterClass

Last updated: Jul 1, 2024 • 1 min read

The Bee’s Knees is a bright, sunny cocktail that is a refreshing twist on the classic gin sour.

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What Is a Bee’s Knees Cocktail?

The Bee’s Knees is a cocktail consisting of gin, lemon juice, and honey simple syrup, typically served in a chilled coupe or Martini glass. The Prohibition-era cocktail was invented by bartender Frank Meier during his tenure at the Hôtel Ritz Paris in the 1920, and is named after the popular idiom used to denote high quality. The drink’s calling card is a honey simple syrup—equal parts honey and hot water—which lends a full-bodied, rich sweetness to dry, botanical gin and bright lemon juice.

Classic Bee’s Knees Cocktail Recipe

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makes

1 cocktail

prep time

5 min

total time

5 min

Ingredients

  1. 1

    To make the honey simple syrup, bring a ½ cup of water to a boil in a small saucepan. Add a ½ cup of honey into the pan, occasionally stirring until dissolved. Allow the mixture to cool completely before using.

  2. 2

    In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine the gin, lemon juice, and honey syrup, and shake well until the concoction is chilled to your preference.

  3. 3

    Strain into a chilled cocktail glass (like a coupe) and garnish with a lemon twist.

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