First mentioned in print in David Embury's 1948 cocktail tome The Fine Art of Mixing Drinks, the Bee's Knees is an excellent illustration of how a few simple, delicious ingredients can really sing when mixed in the proper proportions. While the phrase “bee’s knees” was used in Prohibition times as slang to mean “the best”, where exactly this specific drink originated may not be so simple to decipher, though its origins are almost certainly linked to 1920's France.
Among these origin stories, one of our favourites comes from the Ritz in Paris, when the hotel's Cafe Parisian opened its doors in 1921. Helmed at the time by bartender Frank Meier, the the iconic hotel bar at the Ritz has birthed so many of the world's most iconic cocktails. This one may be one of our favourites.
Bee's Knees Recipe
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Ingredients |
Instructions |
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60mL Beefeater Gin 22mL lemon juice 22mL Honey Syrup (2:1 Honey:Water) |
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*Traditionally, the Bee's Knees would be served up in a martini glass or cocktail coupe, but we prefer the drink over ice with the garnish and presentation as shown here.