The recipe
for your table
Mix honey with a splash of warm water until it becomes a liquid syrup, then let it cool.
Shake gin, lemon juice, and honey syrup with plenty of ice for 12 seconds.
Double strain into a chilled coupe.
Garnish with a thin strip of lemon zest.
The story
The Bee's Knees originated during American Prohibition, when illegal 'bathtub gin' was often so rough that something had to be done to make it drinkable. Honey and lemon proved the perfect camouflage—and a golden combination at the same time. The recipe is attributed to Frank Meier, the Austrian bartender at the Ritz in Paris, who was the first to publish it in 1936. What began as an emergency solution is now a staple on modern cocktail menus, especially as bartenders are once again working extensively with honey and local ingredients.
The right glass
With its honey-gold color, the Bee's Knees is a cocktail to show off, and a clear stemmed coupe is the perfect way to do it. A generous 26 to 30 cl glass gives the drink room to breathe and turns every serving into a small occasion. Pair it with a golden garnish—lemon zest or even a little honeycomb—and the picture is complete. If you prefer to serve it in a classic stemmed cocktail glass, take a look at our cocktail glasses.
Luigi Bormioli Meravigliosi Coupe 30 cl (6 pieces)
RCR Timeless Champagne Glass / Coupe 26 cl (6 pieces)
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Variations & twists
With rum instead of gin, it is called a Honeysuckle; with bourbon, a Gold Rush—the honey-lemon formula works with almost any base spirit. Infuse the honey syrup with lavender, ginger, or thyme for a seasonal version. In winter, it can also be served warm, like a sort of toddy. Looking for more inspiration? Browse all 80 cocktail recipes.
Serving tip
The flavor of the honey determines the cocktail: try wildflower or linden honey for a softer version, or chestnut honey for more character. Never use pure honey in the shaker—it clumps on ice.
Making honey syrup: two parts to one
Pure honey clumps in a cold shaker into a strand that remains on the bottom, so dilution is not optional. Mix two parts honey with one part warm water and stir until everything has dissolved; one tablespoon of honey and half a tablespoon of water is enough for two cocktails. Let the syrup cool before using it, otherwise you will warm the shaker. Sealed in a clean bottle in the refrigerator, it keeps for two to three weeks. It is better to make slightly too much than too little, because it is also great in tea.
Which honey to use
The honey is both flavoring and sweetener here, so the choice matters. Mild wildflower honey or acacia honey lets the gin do the work and provides a clean, golden sweetness. Chestnut and buckwheat honey are much darker and more bitter and take over the cocktail; they pair better with whisky. Lavender or thyme honey works beautifully if you are looking for something herbal, but stick to a neutral gin in that case. Above all, avoid crystallized honey that you have heated aggressively, because above sixty degrees, honey loses the aromas you chose it for.
Gold Rush and Honeysuckle
The same formula works with other base spirits. Replace the gin with 5 cl bourbon and you have a Gold Rush, created in 2001 at Milk and Honey in New York: rounder, warmer, and a great winter version. Swap the gin for white rum and it becomes a Honeysuckle, fresher and with a light molasses sweetness beneath the honey. With Scotch, you get something close to a Penicillin. The ratio remains 5 cl of spirit, 2 cl lemon juice, and 2 cl honey syrup in every case, so you do not need to measure anything again.
Which gin pairs well with honey
Because honey is soft and rounded, you want a gin that provides contrast. A classic London dry with assertive juniper does this best, and bottles around 44 percent ABV hold up better against 2 cl of syrup than lighter 37.5 percent varieties. Spicy gins with coriander or angelica add an extra layer that pairs well with floral honey. Floral or sweet gins, and especially pink fruit gins, can quickly make the whole drink sticky-sweet. With three ingredients, this cocktail is honest enough to put the gin on display, so choose a bottle you trust.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Bee's Knees made of?
A Bee's Knees consists of 5 cl gin, 2 cl fresh lemon juice, and 2 cl honey syrup, shaken with plenty of ice and garnished with a thin strip of lemon zest. Three ingredients, that's all. Make the honey syrup with two parts honey and one part warm water.
How do you make honey syrup for a Bee's Knees?
Mix two parts honey with one part warm water and stir until everything has dissolved, then let the syrup cool. Pure honey will clump in a cold shaker, so this step is not optional. Kept sealed in the refrigerator, the syrup will stay good for several weeks.
Where does the name Bee's Knees come from?
'The bee's knees' was American slang in the 1920s for 'the very best'. The cocktail originated during Prohibition, when honey and lemon made rough illegal gin drinkable. Frank Meier, bartender at the Ritz in Paris, published the recipe in 1936.
Which glass do you use for a Bee's Knees?
A 26 to 30 cl coupe does this cocktail the most justice. The honey-gold color looks best in clear stemmed glass, while the wide bowl gives the citrus and honey aromas room to shine. See our champagne coupes.
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