Photography Credit: Nancy Mitchell

You don’t need a complicated cocktail to have a delicious one. A Bee’s Knees cocktail is made with just three ingredients – gin, honey, and lemon – but together they create a magical drink.

Even if you don’t think of yourself as a gin drinker, a Bee’s Knees is worth trying. It’s the perfect balance of sweet and sour, with herbal notes from the gin and a rich, sweet flavor from the honey

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What Kind of Gin Should I Use?

The Bee’s Knees does not demand fancy ingredients. While I wouldn’t recommend anything with a handle or in a plastic bottle, any of your mid-range gins will do the trick. Broker’s, Boodles, and Bombay are all nice examples.

What Kind of Honey Should I Use?

There are so many different kinds of honey out there – so, so many. Yes, you can absolutely use the honey that comes in a bear at your local grocery store, and that will make a fine drink. But if you’re really into (or have been itching to try) some artisanal or local or whathaveyou honey, this is a perfect application.

It’s a lot of fun to see how different kinds of honey change the character of the cocktail. I like the cocktail with a darker honey, which adds a more robust, almost molasses-y flavor. If you want to buy something online, the Washington Buckwheat honey from Bee Raw and the Aroeira honey from Bee Seasonal are both great choices.

What Kind of Glass Should I Use?

I’ve seen this served in a cocktail glass, no ice, but I prefer it in an old fashioned glass, with one big ice cube. This keeps the drink cool, although it will water it down if you’re not a fast drinker.

Try a Twist!

As I’ve said, this drink only needs three ingredients, but you can add other ingredients if you want to mix it up. My favorite way to make a Bee’s Knees is with a dash of lavender bitters, which adds a nice floral twist to the proceedings. If you have a favorite kind of bitters, feel free to experiment! That kind of discovery is part of the fun of making drinks.

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