The Bee’s Knees Is Our Favorite Prohibition-Era Cocktail for Fall

This iconic Bee’s Knees cocktail calls for just three ingredients: freshly squeezed lemon juice, honey syrup, and gin. The first two were historically used to mask the taste of bitter, astringent bathtub gin that was commonplace during the Prohibition era, and while we’ve luckily come a long way in terms of access to thoughtfully crafted botanical and dry gins that are actually worth savoring, you’ll still find us regularly whipping up a batch of this simple, fall-friendly cocktail. — Oset Babur-Winter

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between simple syrup and honey syrup?

While simple syrup calls for a 1:1 ratio of sugar and water, honey syrup uses a 1:1 ratio of honey and warm water.

What is the best gin?

Your choice of gin should depend on the context in which you use it. We have thoughts on the best gins for a classic Gin & Tonic, Martini, and many other gin cocktails.

What is the best gin to use in a Bee’s Knees cocktail?

According to Food & Wine contributor Brian Freedman, the Empress 1908 Indigo gin is an especially excellent pick to use in a Bee’s Knees cocktail. “This is a layered gin whose incorporation of tea, ginger, and cinnamon finds a fantastic balance between earthy and spicy,” writes Freedman. “It’s purple from the use of butterfly pea flower, which grows lighter and more lavender- or pink-hued in the presence of acid, like citrus juice!”

Notes from the Food & Wine Test Kitchen

If you have butter, powdered sugar, flour, and vanilla extract, you can make Bee’s Knees cookies to go along with the cocktail. Leah Koenig’s delightful powdered sugar-capped confections are nutty and delicate — think of them as a perfect vehicle for clover or wildflower honey.