Cocktail Chronicles 013: Bee's Knees


Bee's Knees in an Amehla Co. Honeycomb Nick and Nora

Back at you with a prohibition era cocktail this week. This cocktail, the Bee’s Knees, was somewhat strategically created in order to mask the terrible flavor of the bathtub gins that were making their rounds during the prohibition. Bathtub gin is exactly what it sounds like gin that had been distilled in in very amateur and homemade conditions. Thus, resulting in a low quality horrible tasting spirit that's main flavor profile was that of ethanol. Obviously, folks wanted to get their drank on but still do it in a way that was enjoyable. This meant trying to make that ethanol taste found in their bathtub gin by adding additional ingredients. So for this particular cocktail they took honey and lemon and mixed it into their gin in order to mask the harsh flavors. 

Bee's Knees being poured into a honeycomb Nick and Nora cocktail glass from Amehla Co.

We wanted to present the Bee’s Knees in one of our Honeycomb Nick and Nora glasses for probably obvious reasons. The pair coupled together just seem like the perfect match with a HONEYmoon phase that won't wear off. 

Honeycomb Nick and Nora cocktail glass with a Bee's Knees cocktail with a dehydrated lemon as garnish

Bee's knees cocktail with honey dripping from the rim of a honeycomb nick and nora cocktail glass

Ingredients

  • 2 oz. (60ml) Gin
  • ¾ oz. (20ml) Lemon Juice
  • ¾ oz. (20ml) Honey Syrup
  • Garnish with lemon wedge or lemon twist (we used a dehydrated lemon)

Steps

  1. Add lemon juice, honey syrup, and gin into a cocktail shaker with ice and begin shaking until well chilled.
  2. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass such as a Nick and Nora.
  3. Add your garnish.