Branden hahn, general manager at chef bill taibes popular downtown westport eatery, jesup hall, offers this modern take on the classic prohibition era cocktail called the bees knees find the original here. The bees knees cocktail is comprised of gin, honey and lemon. This season were focusing on classic cocktails, and to guide us weve. With todays variety of gins, the bees knees is a delightful cocktail with fun possibilities. The great gatsby and prohibition the history kitchen blog. The bees knees by post prohibition their wellorganized and informative site will stir your creativity even further, but their bees knees cocktail is a great place to start. The phrase bees knees was prohibitionera slang for the best. The bees knees, named after a popular flapper phrase, is like indulging in golden honey, except it happens to be spiked with good ol gin. Bees knees cocktail recipe a sweet, citrusy gin cocktail. Shake vigorously and strain into an iced plastic cup.
Add the gin or vodka, lemon juice, honey simple syrup to a shaker with ice and shake well. The bees knees is a classic cocktail made with gin, lemon and honey. The bees knees cocktail, unlike so many fussy cocktails these days, dates back to the prohibition era in the 1930s. Bees knees cocktail is sweet but delicious cocktails.
The phrase, like the cats pajamas, has given its name to a cocktail, made from gin and honey with lemon and orange juice. This concoction was born during the years of prohibition, when most liquor was lowquality bathtub gin that needed plenty of masking with other flavors. Republished as a fig bees knees, since it is not a martinistyle cocktail. Jun 03, 2016 the pollinator aka sage bees knees this is one of those drinks that works as well in winter as summer. Apr 24, 2014 the bees knees by post prohibition their wellorganized and informative site will stir your creativity even further, but their bees knees cocktail is a great place to start. A london dry gin will create a completely different profile than one of the new americanstyle gins, and whatever botanicals are more apparent in the gin you choose will be.
This, however, was because as it originally came out during prohibition days it consisted of equal parts lemon juice, honey, and gin. Some stories claim that the drink was concocted because the honey masked the odor of the liquor. The phrase, like the cat s pajamas, has given its name to a cocktail, made from gin and honey with lemon and orange juice. Heres how to make the classic cocktail, the bees knees, which uses gin, fresh lemon juice, honey syrup and an orange twist for garnish. Bee s knees cocktail, a prohibitionera cocktail made with gin, honey, and lemon bee knees, the pollen basket, part of the tibia on the hind legs of the four related lineages of apid bees that formerly made up the family apidae. Leisuremann s bee s knees cocktail mix offers you the best of the prohibition cocktails, combining honey simple syrup, prevalent lemon tartness, and the rich aromatics of gin to create a blend so copasetic you will question what the word copasetic actually means.
Gin, lemon juice and honey create a buzzworthy cocktail. Honey from the bottom of the jar about 12 ounce 12 ounce hot water 2 12 ounce bourbon 1 ounce fresh lemon juice fresh thyme sprig, for garnish preparation. But if youre a lover of lemonade, and youre an adult, and you drink alcohol, the bees knees is for you. Leisuremanns bees knees cocktail mix offers you the best of the prohibition cocktails, combining honey simple syrup, prevalent lemon tartness, and the rich aromatics of gin to create a blend so copasetic you will question what the word copasetic actually means. Our twist on the classic cocktail adds jalapeno for a little kick thats sure to make you dance. Add all ingredients into a shaker with ice and shake. The bee s knees vintage cocktail if im going to have a cocktail, i always lean towards gin.
All all ingredients to shaker with ice and shake vigorously. Cocktail historian jared brown uncovered the article, the penultimate paragraph of which says, the bees knees is an invention of mrs jj brown of denver. This recipe originally appeared on the rachael ray show. Cocktail club, where we offer stepbystep tutorials in making your favorite cocktails. If you substitute white rum for gin in this drink, youve made a honeysuckle. The bees knees is a prohibition era gin cocktail thats. The bees knees is an english slang phrase the oxford english dictionary records the expression bees knee as meaning something small or insignificant from 1797. I think of a bee s knees as a fairly sweet drink, but this seems like an especially dry take to me. Its brightly flavored, lightly sweet, and just an overall delightful drinkhence the name.
It is generally believed that david emburys the fine art of mixing drinks was the first published recipe of the bees knees in 1948, but in doing my usual recipe history research, i saw that the pdt cocktail book references a frank meier, bartender at the ritz in paris, publishing his recipe in the artistry of mixing drinks in 1937. A london dry gin will create a completely different profile than one of the new american. The bees knees is a speakeasy classic, and not necessarily in a good way. This cocktail, a gin sour thats believed to have been created around that time, used lemon and. The original poster is welcome to rename it so long as the name conforms to any wellestablished drinks referenced in the name. Shake all ingredients with ice, then strain into a coupe. The bees knees cocktail is a gin, lemon and honey classic that dates back to prohibition.
The bee s knees is a fun and very easy cocktail from the prohibition era. The bee s knees was invented by frank meier, an austrianborn, part jewish bartender who was the first head bartender at the ritz in paris in 1921, when its cafe. The bees knees is a fun and very easy cocktail from the prohibition era. Be the cats pajamas at any bash with one of the coolest cocktails around, courtesy of mixologist ryan maerz from. Bees knees the bar cocktail bar argostoli, kefalonia. In that time, the addition of ingredients such as citrus and honey were often used to cover the less than ideal smell and taste of bathtub gin. The bees knees cocktail was published in the 1934 cocktail book world drinks and how to mix them. Bees knees cocktail, a prohibitionera cocktail made with gin, honey, and lemon bee knees, the pollen basket, part of the tibia on the hind legs of the four related lineages of apid bees that formerly made up the family apidae. Its the fact that its % better after a long day at work when all you want to do is get together with a friend and just moan about your day.
This apple bees knees cocktail adds a seasonal twist to the classic gin cocktail you know whats fun about happy hour. You can hear a flapper ordering it up with a continental accent. The bee s knees is a classic prohibitionera cocktail made with gin, lemon and honey. In fact, it would be a great thanksgiving cocktail, since sage is. The bees knees, a sweet, citrus cocktail, lives up to its moniker, and will no. The bees knees is a honeysweetened prohibitionera cocktail. The phrase the bees knees was originally an 18th century fanciful phrase which. Its a modified gin sour, but the choice of sweetener. The name comes from prohibitionera slang meaning the best. One of the earliest references to the bees knees cocktail is found in 1948s legendary cocktail book the fine art. I just tried a bees knees for the first time, and i am in love. The bees knees is a prohibition era cocktail recipe of unknown origin, titled after a prohibition era slang term of unknown origin. The phrase bees knees was slang at the time for the best, explains the author. Combine ingredients in a cocktail shaker and shake with ice until cold.
The bees knees, a sweet, citrus cocktail, lives up to its moniker, and will no doubt leave you buzzing too. Combine gin, lemon juice, and honey syrup in a cocktail shaker. A bees knees or bee s knees is a prohibition era cocktail made with gin, fresh lemon juice, and honey. While that may be the case, one has to wonder if it really did the trick given some of the stories about the often pungent bathtub gins circulating during that time. The bee s knees is a prohibition era gin cocktail that s.
This cocktail, a gin sour thats believed to have been created around that time, used lemon and honey to mask the harsh smell of bathtub gin. A real easydrinking cocktail from the prohibition era, the bee s knees cocktail is named for the flapper slang for excellent quality. The bee s knees cocktail is a gin, lemon and honey classic that dates back to prohibition. The origin of the bees knees cocktail is lost to history, but we do know that it popped up sometime during prohibition. The phrase the bee s knees was originally an 18th century fanciful phrase which referred to something that didnt exist. This is one to sip when under the thrall of a dark and hazy speakeasy. If you substitute jamaican dark rum, youll have a honey bee. A bees knees or bees knees is a prohibition era cocktail made with gin, fresh lemon juice, and honey. The phrase the bees knees, meaning the height of excellence, became popular in the u. The phrase the bee s knees was used in prohibition times as slang to mean the best. One of the earliest references to the bees knees cocktail is found in 1948s legendary cocktail book the fine art of mixing drink, by david embury printed at the bottom of this article. Im not quite sure if its my love for citrus flavors or my obsession with honey but dear gin lord, it has quickly become a personal favorite. In fact, it would be a great thanksgiving cocktail, since sage is such an integral flavor to the holidays. The bees knees cocktail dates as you might have guessed to the 1920s.
During this time in history, everyone was making bathtub gin and in order to improve the taste, they would use citrus or in this case, honey to. Which was, of course, the era of prohibition in the us. The bees knees vintage cocktail is a prohibition era drink that is still perfectly delicious today. It is served shaken and chilled, often with a lemon twist. To call something the bees knees is to say that its top notch and grand. Early in the book i spoke in disparaging terms of the bee s knees. Pour into a champagne bowl or martini glass and serve with the lemon twist. Its name is an homage to dancer bee jackson, who is credited with popularizing the charleston. The phrase the bees knees was used in prohibition times as slang to mean the best. Of course, it has a doublemeaning here since the drink is sweetened with honey. The phrase the bee s knees, meaning the height of excellence, became popular in the u. The origin of the bees knees cocktail is lost to history, but we do.
How to make the classic bees knees cocktail youtube. It is generally believed that david emburys the fine art of mixing drinks was the first published recipe of the bees knees in 1948, but in doing my usual recipe history research, i saw that the pdt cocktail book references a frank meier, bartender at the ritz in paris, publishing his recipe in. Many cocktail origins are lost to history, but perhaps only the origin of the bees knees is lost because everyone was too blitzed to remember it. Bees knees cocktail is sweet but delicious cocktails gin foundry. The bees knees, along with the cats whiskers, entered the us lexicon in the 1920s. Both phrases are called into use to describe something of excellence. Apr 24, 2007 the origin of the bees knees cocktail is lost to history, but we do know that it popped up sometime during prohibition.
Nov 19, 2019 the bees knees cocktail, unlike so many fussy cocktails these days, dates back to the prohibition era in the 1930s. It is served shaken and chilled, often with a lemon twist the name comes from prohibitionera slang meaning the best. I am closing with some photos from late march and early april. Its simple, clean and refreshingthe perfect drink for spring. M book signing, cocktail noir in the museums retail store scott deitche, author and expert on organized crime deitche, who has written books on floridas mob and mobsters, delves into the intersection of alcohol and the underworld with his book, cocktail noir. Hahns spicy, sophisticated version of the drink uses vodka instead of gin and offers a kick with ginger syrup sweetened. The cocktail is called the bees knees, a cute name and a popular phrase during the 1920s. The postprohibition cocktail definitely holds true to its meaning, its one of the best gin cocktails i have ever had. Were not just being selfconsciously anachronistic in our slang. May 15, 20 this concoction was born during the years of prohibition, when most liquor was lowquality bathtub gin that needed plenty of masking with other flavors. Bees knees copper and kings american brandy company. Cocktail historian jared brown uncovered the article, the penultimate paragraph of which says, the bee s knees is an invention of mrs jj brown of denver and paris, widow of the famous miner, and is a rather sweet combination including honey and lemon. You can experiment and decide how much of a honey flavor you want in your syrup. Dec 05, 2008 the bee s knees is a speakeasy classic, and not necessarily in a good way.
The pollinator aka sage bees knees this is one of those drinks that works as well in winter as summer. The bees knees cocktail whip up a cocktail reminiscent of the roaring twenties. With a simple mix of gin, lemon, and honey syrup, it is perfect for spring and summer relaxation. To mask the flavor of these noxious spirits, plenty of strong flavors and rich sweeteners were added to the cocktail shaker, resulting in some. The recipe doesnt appear anywhere in my copy of the old waldorfastoria bar book by albert stevens crockett, but my trader vicc bartenders guide shows two recipes, one for a bees knees made.
If something is said to be the bee s knees it is excellent the highest quality. Sounds very good, and a reason to finally get some fee black walnut bitters. Place the strip on a flat surface, pith side up, and roll away from you in tight coilsas if rolling a rug. The bees knees vintage cocktail if im going to have a cocktail, i always lean towards gin. The pollinator aka sage bees knees nerds with knives. The bee s knees vintage cocktail is a prohibition era drink that is still perfectly delicious today. Tori avey of the history kitchen shares the origin of the drink and the history of prohibition in a full post on. Add 12 cup honey and 12 cup water to a small saucepan over medium heat.
1242 477 1210 1113 1431 469 491 981 1567 144 633 652 754 153 338 868 214 1134 967 824 475 353 773 1394 39 508 915 135 712 1223 761 304 1245 1044 871 372