Tamir’s Bees Knees

From DIY: Do It For the Bees

Photo by Erin Scott

Adapted from William “Cocktail Bill” Boothby’s 1934 version of World Drinks and How to Mix Them. His 1930 edition of this book was the earliest known printed recipe for the Bees Knees. The recipe included orange juice, which most bartenders today disregard. Our recipe uses orange curaçao.

1.5 ounces Miller’s Westbourne Strength Gin (or your preferred gin)
1 ounce E.G. Flewellen spring honey solution
.75 ounces lemon juice
.5 ounces of Marian Farmhouse California Style Curaçao
Lemon twist

Place all ingredients in a cocktail shaker. Fill shaker 2/3 full with ice and shake vigorously. Strain through a fine-mesh strainer into a cocktail glass. Twist lemon peel over the glass and drop it into the cocktail.

Honey Solution: Wildflowers lend a unique flavor profile to honey when nectar is collected in spring versus summer. But either way, to make E.G. Flewellen’s honey solution, stir together honey and water (at room temperature) in equal parts by volume until completely mixed. The easiest way to do this is to pour out the entire jar of honey into a container and add water to the emptied jar. Then pour the water into the container with the honey and stir away.