Gin Cocktails

Bee’s Knees Cocktail

Bee’s Knees Cocktail Ingredients

1.5 oz. Bluecoat Gin

0.75 oz. Fresh lemon juice

0.75 oz. Honey syrup

Garnish

Lime wedge

Bee’s Knees Cocktail Preparation

Combine all ingredients in a shaker and add ice. Shake hard. Fine strain into a coupe glass. Garnish with a lime wedge.

Download our free app to learn more about honey syrup and to get the recipe.

Bee’s Knees Cocktail Story

The etymology of the term "bee's knees," meaning swell, sweet, or just great, traces back to the 1920s, which is the same time a cocktail of the same name popped up. While the Prohibition-era cocktail has no definitive creator, references appear in William Boothby's World Drinks and How to Mix Them (1934) and Trader Vic's Bartender's Guide (1947). There are also tales of Frank Meier serving the drink at Paris's Ritz Hotel in the '20s, as he had a habit of tailoring cocktails geared specifically towards American expats and tourists. While the bare bones original version was likely created to mask poor quality gin, it's Frank Meier's balanced recipe that more closely resembles a Bee's Knees you would want to enjoy today.