Bee’s Knees

origin

The Bee’s Kees is a Prohibition-era cocktail featuring gin, lemon juice and honey. The unique name is a convention of the time: The phrase “bee’s knees” was popular slang used to call something excellent or outstanding.

The drink is credited to Frank Meier, a bartender at the Hôtel Ritz Paris during the 1920s. It is a variation of the classic Gin Sour (gin, lemon, sugar) that features honey instead of sugar. The honey creates a richer drink, and it may have been employed to mask the taste of subpar gin, which was prevalent at the time.

Otter Creek Distilling’s Gold Star Gin will put more emphasis on the juniper as the gin is very much front-and-center in this drink. Our honey is locally sourced and by using a mild clover honey the drink maintains its original quality taste.

Ingredients

2 ounces Otter Creek Distilling Gold Star Gin

3/4 ounce lemon juice, freshly squeezed

1/2 ounce Honey Syrup

Garnish: lemon twist

Instructions

Add the OCD Gold Star Gin, lemon juice and honey syrup into a shaker with ice and shake until well-chilled.

Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Preferred Coupe or Martini glass.

Garnish with a lemon twist.