Bee's knees

Bee's Knees is a classic Prohibition Era cocktail made with gin, lemon juice, and honey. The phrase "bee's knees" was popular slang in the 1920s, used to denote something as excellent or outstanding. This cocktail, with its unique blend of ingredients, was indeed considered the "bee's knees" during its time.

History

The Bee's Knees cocktail was created during the Prohibition Era in the United States, a period from 1920 to 1933 when the production, importation, transportation, and sale of alcoholic beverages were banned. During this time, homemade, illegal alcohol, known as bathtub gin, was common. However, this gin was often of poor quality and had a harsh taste. Bartenders would use mixers like honey and lemon juice to mask the unpleasant flavor of the alcohol, leading to the creation of cocktails like the Bee's Knees.

Preparation

The Bee's Knees cocktail is simple to prepare. The ingredients are 2 oz of gin, ¾ oz of fresh lemon juice, and ¾ oz of honey syrup. The honey syrup is made by combining equal parts of honey and water and heating them until they blend together. The ingredients are combined in a cocktail shaker with ice, shaken until chilled, and then strained into a cocktail glass.

Variations

There are several variations of the Bee's Knees cocktail. Some bartenders add a dash of orange juice or replace the gin with bourbon or vodka. Others add a twist of lemon peel as garnish or rim the glass with sugar.

In popular culture

The Bee's Knees cocktail has been featured in various forms of media, including books, films, and television shows, often in settings that depict the Roaring Twenties or the Prohibition Era.

See also

• List of cocktails
• Prohibition in the United States
• Roaring Twenties