Here’s a classic from the early 20th century, or as I like to call it, the golden age of drinking. It’s another example of a “sour” – meaning a slug of base sprit, paired with a lesser quantity of something sweet and something sour. Daiquiris, Sidecars, Margaritas, and Gimlets – all great drinks! – are also sours. It’s a wonderful, varied, and very flexible category. I love them all.
First published in 1929, the Bee’s Knees involves gin as the base and uses honey syrup and lemon as the sweet and sour ingredients. Making the honey syrup may sound like a complication that will slow down the process, and I’ll confess, it has slowed down my presenting this drink – but it’s actually easy. Just stir together equal parts honey – whatever you have on the shelf – and room temperature water, and you’re done. It takes seconds. And you’ll love the result in this drink.
The term bee’s knees, dating to the 1920s like the drink, is a slang superlative, meaning the very best. (Similar to cat’s pajamas, and cat’s meow, all three occasionally used by my grandmother, who dated to the 1890s and also used interesting expressions like, “now you’re cookin’ with gas.” She was wonderful!)
Shake up a few of these and you’ll feel like the bee’s knees. Or the cat’s pajamas. Or the cat’s meow …
Bee’s Knees
2.5 ounces gin
1 ounce honey syrup
1 ounce fresh-squeezed lemon juice.
Shake it up, serve it up, and sip. Honey is a very powerful sweetener, and if this is a bit too sweet for your taste, bump up the gin and lemon a bit, or decrease the honey syrup.