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    Home All Cocktails

    Bees Knees Cocktail

    Published: Oct 8, 2021 · Modified: Feb 28, 2025 by Kimberly · This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. · Leave a Comment

    Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe
    side view of bees knees cocktail with text on top showing the name

    The Bees Knees is a super simple and delicious classic cocktail. Made with lemon juice, honey, and gin, it's one of those drinks you can whip up anytime without much prep work!

    top view of cocktail with droplet splashing into it

    This Prohibition-era cocktail was created in 1921 by Frank Meier, a bartender in Paris (here's the Wikipedia page for more history).

    Nowadays, the catchy name makes it easy to recognize on a bar menu. It's a great drink for warm weather, but the honey also gives it a nice warm flavor that is delicious year-round.

    If you're looking for more honey cocktails, try out the Gold Rush whiskey cocktail, or the Rum Hot Toddy!

    For more classic cocktail recipe ideas, check out my Classic Margarita and Last Word cocktails. They are both just as easy to make and delicious as this one!

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • Equipment
    • Instructions
    • Honey Syrup
    • Variations
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    Ingredients

    There are only a few ingredients in this simple drink. Here's what you'll need to have on hand to make a Bees Knees:

    • Gin
    • Lemon
    • Honey syrup
    • Floral or lemon bitters (optional)
    side view of bees knees cocktail with gin and bitters in the background

    Equipment

    This cocktail is shaken, so you'll need to grab a cocktail shaker and strainer, a knife and cutting board for the lemon, and a citrus juicer.

    For the serving glass, a stemmed glass is traditional for this one. I used a Nick & Nora style glass, and this drink will fit perfectly in a 4 or 5 ounce glass.

    I highly recommend all of the cocktail tools from A Bar Above, and you can get a 10% discount by using my code, LKDrinks, at checkout. (Plus they're dishwasher safe!)

    vertical image of bees knees cocktail in a stemmed cocktail glass with ingredients in the background

    Instructions

    This drink is so easy to put together! Start out by cutting your lemon in half, then juice one half of it and add the juice to your cocktail shaker.

    adding fresh lemon juice to cocktail shaker
    adding honey to cocktail

    Measure out your honey and water and add it in. If you're using homemade honey syrup, use ounce of syrup for each drink.

    adding gin to cocktail
    adding floral bitters to cocktail shaker

    Although they're not in the classic recipe, I like to add some bitters to mine too. Floral bitters are a great choice. I think the bees would approve! These lavender bitters go perfectly with this drink.

    Once everything is added, give it a stir before shaking to make sure that the honey dissolves. Then add ice, shake in your cocktail shaker, and strain it into your cocktail glass.

    stirring cocktail with spoon to dissolve the honey
    straining cocktail into serving glass

    For a little something extra, cut a piece of lemon peel to use as a garnish.

    Hint: You can use just a regular cocktail strainer (aka a Hawthorne strainer), or double strain, as I've done here. Double straining is just a nice extra if you want to make sure there's no pulp or crystallized honey left in the drink.

    Honey Syrup

    Click here for my full Honey Syrup recipe with printable instructions!

    If you're planning on making a bunch of these cocktails, I highly recommend stirring up a batch of honey syrup beforehand.

    Since honey is so thick, it can sometimes take a while to fully dissolve and mix with the water (especially if it's a little crystallized).

    To make this syrup, just add equal amounts of water and honey to a small saucepan. Heat the mixture on medium, stirring occasionally, until all the honey is dissolved.

    Let the mixture cool completely, and store it in an airtight container in the fridge. It'll keep for a few weeks, but throw it out at any sign of mold.

    Variations

    There are a ton of ways to modify this drink, but here are a few of my favorites:

    • Highball - Mix up the drink, then add it to a tall highball glass filled with ice, and top with tonic or seltzer.
    • Floral - Add some fragrant flowers, like lavender or chamomile, to your honey syrup as it heats. The flavor will infuse the syrup and the drink.
    • Switch up the spirit - This is a great cocktail try out different gins, since it is so simple. You can also substitute in vodka for a more straightforward honey flavor.
    • Try a different type of honey - There are all sorts of different honey types you can try. Buckwheat honey and wildflower honey both have a much stronger flavor than the standard clover honey.
    top view of bees knees cocktail with lemon peel garnish

    📖 Recipe

    top view of cocktail with droplet splashing into it

    Bees Knees Cocktail

    Kimberly Salem
    This classic cocktail is a simple and delicious mix of gin, lemon and honey.
    4.25 from 4 votes
    Pin Recipe Print Recipe
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Total Time 5 minutes mins
    Course Drinks
    Cuisine American, European, French
    Servings 1 cocktail
    Calories 195 kcal

    Equipment

    • Cocktail shaker and strainer
    • Jigger or measuring cup
    • Citrus juicer
    • Knife and cutting board
    • Cocktail serving glass

    Ingredients

    • 1 ounce lemon juice from about ½ lemon - use your citrus juicer
    • 1 ounce honey syrup (or ½ ounce each of honey and water - see Notes)
    • 2 ounces gin
    • 3 dashes lavender bitters optional

    Instructions
     

    • Measure out the lemon juice from your citrus juicer and add it to your cocktail shaker.
    • Add the honey and water (or honey syrup) to the cocktail shaker.
    • Add the gin and bitters to the shaker, then stir all the ingredients to make sure the honey is dissolved.
    • Add ice to the shaker and shake vigorously, about 15-20 times.
    • Strain the drink into your cocktail glass.
    • Optionally garnish with a lemon peel, and serve immediately.

    Video

    Notes

    • If you don't have your honey syrup ready to go, you can mix ½ ounce each of honey and water in the cocktail shaker ahead of time. You will need to stir it until the honey is fully dissolved.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 195kcalCarbohydrates: 15gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 2mgPotassium: 38mgFiber: 1gSugar: 13gVitamin A: 2IUVitamin C: 11mgCalcium: 3mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword alcohol, gin, honey, lemon
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