• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Sidewalk Shoes
  • Home
  • Recipes
    • Food Recipes Index
    • Cocktails Recipes Index
    • All Recipes
  • Lifestyle
    • Gardening
    • Travels
      • North Carolina
      • Oregon
      • Tennessee
  • Cats
  • Subscribe
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Food
  • Cocktails
  • Collections
  • Travels
  • Cats
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Home » Cocktails » Gin

    Bees Knees Cocktail

    LAST UPDATED: August 22, 2019 PUBLISHED: August 22, 2019 By Pam Greer 13 Comments As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Bees Knees Cocktail is a delicious classic gin cocktail with only 3 ingredients!  Easy to prepare and easy to sip! 

    Two coupe glasses with bees knees cocktail.

    The Bees Knees Cocktail

    Okay, remember the honey simple syrup that I posted about on Tuesday?  I made it with this Bees Knees Cocktail specifically in mind.  It had been awhile since I had a bees knees and it was calling to me. 

    Drinking a Bees Knees always reminds me of watching the old black white movies, where they said things like, "He's the bees knees" and 'isn't she just swell" and "he is the cat's pajamas."   

    This cocktail is usually included in the list of classic prohibition cocktails, which include other favorites like the French 75, The White Lady and The Last Word. 

    I've made it a goal this year to try and make most of the well known prohibition cocktails.  It's one of those made up tasks that I give myself.  I enjoy it much more than the clean out the garage task and unlike the clean out the garage task, I'll probably complete this one!

    Honey simple syrup, gin, and lemon to make a bees knees cocktail.

    Ingredients needed to make a Bees Knees Cocktail:

    Honey Simple Syrup - equal parts honey and water, heated until honey is dissolved. 

    Gin - I used a local gin from Gate Eleven Distillery  that has soft floral botanical notes.  Use your favorite gin, something that you think would pair well with the honey. 

    Lemon - for fresh squeezed lemon juice. 

    Photo showing the amounts of each ingredient to make a bees knees cocktail.

    How to Make a Bees Knees Cocktail:

    • Put a coupe glass in the freezer to chill or fill it with ice.  
    • Measure ¾ ounce of hones honey simple syrup and add to a cocktail shaker. 
    • Measure 2 ounces of gin and add to the cocktail shaker. 
    • Measure ¾ ounce of lemon juice and add to the cocktail shaker.  Note - before you squeeze the lemon, use a channel knife to remove several sections of lemon peel for garnish.  I like to remove as much as possible and I store the extra peels in the freezer for whenever I need an extra lemon peel garnish. 
    • Add ice to the cocktail shaker about half full.  Shake for about 10-20 seconds or until the cocktail shaker becomes frosty.   
    • Remove the coupe glass from the freezer or pour out the ice if you used that method to chill the glass.  
    • Strain cocktail into the coupe glass and garnish with the lemon twist. 

    Two coupe glasses with bees knees cocktail.

    This cocktail is so easy and so good!  It has a soft floral flavor, it's richness depends on the kind of gin you use.  The herbal floral notes from the gin, the floral earthy notes from the honey are all balanced by the citrus from the lemon juice.  A perfectly balanced cocktail! 

    Delicious Gin Cocktails:

    Hanky Panky Cocktail - also called the Fernet-Branca Cocktail. 

    Southside Cocktail - another easy gin cocktail this time with some mint! 

    Italian Gin and Tonic - with it's lovely orange color it makes a delicious fall cocktail. 

    Tart Cherry Negroni - a classic negroni with a fruity twist! 

    For even more be sure and follow my Gin Cocktails and Recipes Board on Pinterest. 

    Two coupe glasses with bees knees cocktail.
    Print Pin Save Saved!
    5 from 14 votes

    Bees Knees Cocktail

    This classic gin cocktail is perfectly balance with just the right amount of sweetness plus citrus. With only 3 ingredients, it's also so easy to make!
    Course Drinks
    Cuisine American
    Prep Time 5 minutes
    Cook Time 0 minutes
    Total Time 5 minutes
    Servings 1
    Calories 193kcal

    Ingredients

    • 2 ounces gin
    • ¾ ounce honey simple syrup
    • ¾ ounce lemon juice fresh squeezed
    • lemon twist for garnish

    Instructions

    • Chill a cocktail glass (preferably a coupe.)
    • Add gin, honey simple syrup and lemon juice to cocktail shaker.
    • Fill halfway with ice. Cover with top and shake for 10-15 seconds or until sides of shaker become frosty.
    • Strain into chilled cocktail glass and garnish with a lemon twist.

    Notes

    Note - the nutrition information is using regular simple syrup not honey simple syrup.  Honey simple syrup wasn't in the nutrition database. 
    To make honey simple syrup - cook equal parts honey and water over a low heat, stirring until honey dissolves. 
    Lemon juice - always use fresh squeezed. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 193kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 13mg | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin C: 8mg | Iron: 1mg

    More Gin Cocktail Recipes

    • Bright yellow cocktail garnished with a pansy flower.
      Pansy Gimlet
    • Two pale green cocktails garnished with basil.
      Gin Basil Smash
    • Photo collage of blackberry cocktails.
      9 Blackberry Cocktails that are Bursting with Flavor!
    • Light green cocktail in a coupe glass.
      Basil Gimlet Cocktail

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Toni says

      August 24, 2021 at 7:47 am

      5 stars
      Such a perfect cocktail! My husband loved it!

      Reply
    2. Renee says

      March 25, 2020 at 5:24 pm

      Pam,
      I can't wait to try this tonight in my on-line Gin & Yin class while I'm sheltered at home in CA. How do you store extra honey simple syrup?

      Reply
      • Pam Greer says

        March 25, 2020 at 7:33 pm

        Store it in the fridge, just like any simple syrup.

        Reply
    3. Lizzie says

      August 24, 2019 at 10:14 pm

      Hi Pam: Wowzers, this looks fantastic. Honey simple syrup, huh? Great because I find straight honey to be just a little too "very very." This will be our Sunday night cocktail -- tomorrow -- here in Boise.

      Reply
      • Pam Greer says

        August 26, 2019 at 2:21 pm

        You'll have to let me know what you think!

        Reply
    4. Traci says

      August 22, 2019 at 3:59 pm

      5 stars
      I'm in love with any cocktail that uses gin and honey together. Yummm, girl! Another winner...thanks for sharing 🙂

      Reply
      • Pam Greer says

        August 23, 2019 at 1:36 pm

        It is so good together!

        Reply
    5. Andrea says

      August 22, 2019 at 3:25 pm

      5 stars
      Love the name of this drink. The gin with the honey sounds so refreshing.

      Reply
    6. Ashley @ Sweetpea Lifestyle says

      August 22, 2019 at 3:17 pm

      5 stars
      I have had a terrible day, and this is being shaken up right now!! Thank you!!

      Reply
      • Pam Greer says

        August 23, 2019 at 1:37 pm

        Hope it made your day better!

        Reply
    7. Emmeline says

      August 22, 2019 at 2:40 pm

      5 stars
      Oh I love those old expressions! Like "bee's knees" who on the earth came up with that?? Anyway, I always need a new good cocktail recipe - def trying this one out! Sounds amazing!

      Reply
      • Pam Greer says

        August 22, 2019 at 2:42 pm

        I know! Aren't they fun!

        Reply
    8. Lisa Bryan says

      August 22, 2019 at 2:12 pm

      Love this cocktail idea! Looks refreshing and perfect for Summer.

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Pam Greer from Sidewalk Shoes

    Hi, I'm Pam. I'm the person who plans whole vacations around where to eat and drink. Beautiful scenery is optional.

    More about me →

    Featured in:

    Collage of website titles

    Click here to subscribe to my newsletter.

    Slow Cooker Recipes!

    • Two red bowls of sweet potato chili.
      Slow Cooker Beef and Sweet Potato Chili
    • Bowl of beans topped with cheese and jalapeño peppers.
      Slow Cooker Pinto Beans with Beef and Bacon
    • Two bowls of lasagna.
      Slow Cooker Vegetarian Lasagna
    • Plate with chicken enchilada casserole.
      Slow Cooker Chicken Enchilada Casserole

    See more More Slow Cooker Recipes →

    Instant Pot Recipes

    • Bowl of pineapple rice garnished with cilantro.
      Instant Pot Pineapple Rice
    • Bowl of pork noodle soup topped with radishes and green onions.
      Instant Pot Asian Pork Noodle Soup
    • Platter of green beans with mushrooms and bacon on a lace tablecloth.
      Instant Pot Green Beans with Bacon and Mushrooms
    • Blue bowl with oatmeal in it.
      Instant Pot Pumpkin Pie Steel Cut Oats

    See more Instant Pot Recipes →

    Sidewalk Shoes is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

    Footer

    ^ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • About Me
    • Contact me!

    Copyright © 2023 Sidewalk Shoes