What does a Bee's Knees taste like?
A Bee's Knees tastes like honey lemonade with gin: tart fresh lemon, a soft floral honey sweetness and gin's pine and herbs, shaken cold and served up.
Bee's Knees
gin, lemon and honey
A Bee's Knees is gin, fresh lemon juice and honey syrup, shaken and served up. The name is old slang for 'the best.' It's a simple sour, but the honey makes it different from one made with plain sugar: rounder, a little floral and almost silky. The lemon keeps it tangy, and the gin gives it backbone with pine and citrus peel. If you like a gin sour but want it a bit softer and warmer, this is it. Some bars use lavender or rosemary honey for a twist.
Where you’ll see it
On classic cocktail and brunch menus, served up in a coupe with a lemon twist. You may see versions with local honey or herbs, or made with vodka.
Order it if you like a tangy gin drink with a soft, honeyed sweetness.
Quick questions
- Is a Bee's Knees sweet?
- Balanced. Honey adds sweetness and a floral flavor, and lemon keeps it bright. It tastes like a good honey lemonade.
- What's the difference between a Bee's Knees and a Gold Rush?
- Same lemon and honey. A Bee's Knees uses gin, so it is brighter and more herbal. A Gold Rush uses bourbon, so it is warmer and more caramel.