The Bee's Knees Cocktail

The Bee's Knees Cocktail
4.5 (2 ratings)
No matter what season it is, this classy cocktail is great for any occasion. With fragrant flavors of honey, lemon, gin and lavender this beverage is the bee's knees from first to last sip. This recipe by Leah Eskin originally appeared in The Chicago Tribune.
Prep Time
5
minutes
Cook Time
1
minute
Servings
1
Total time: 6 minutes
Ingredients
  • 1 lemon
  • 1/4 cup gin
  • 2 tablespoon honey syrup (recipe follows)
  • ice
  • 1/2 cup honey
  • 1/2 cup water
Directions
  1. Use a vegetable peeler to strip off a wide length of zest from the lemon. Use a five-hole zester to strip off some skinny lengths of zest. Halve and squeeze the lemon.
  2. Measure gin, syrup and 2 tablespoons lemon juice into a cocktail shaker. Add ice. Shake. Strain into a glass.
  3. Say you can't find the cocktail shaker. Use a pint jar with a screw top. Not as stylish, but does the trick.
  4. Remember that wide strip of lemon zest? Fold it, yellow-side down, over the rim of the glass. Slide it around the rim.
  5. Garnish cocktail with a strip or two of the skinny zest. Or, if you've flavored the honey syrup, garnish with a few thyme leaves or lavender blossoms.
  6. Drink up.
  7. Measure into a small saucepan 1/2 cup honey and 1/2 cup water.
  8. Set over medium heat, and stir until honey has dissolved, about 1 minute.
  9. You can get fancy here and add a few dried lavender flowers or a stem of fresh thyme.
  10. Let cool. Strain (if need be). Makes about 1 cup (enough for 8 drinks).