Bee's Knees Cocktail

Three ingredients -- a quick homemade honey syrup, fresh-squeezed lemon juice and your favorite gin -- are all you need to make this easy and delicious springtime sipper.

Prep Time5

Total Time5

Course: Drink

Cuisine: American

Keyword: gin cocktail, honey lemon cocktail, honey simple syrup, honey syrup, lemon cocktail

Servings: cocktails

Author: Stephanie Wise

Ingredients

1 ounce honey
1 ounce hot water
2 oz fresh-squeezed lemon juice from about 2 medium lemons
4 oz London Dry gin such as Tanqueray or Beefeater
granulated sugar for the glass rim (optional)
2 lemon peels for garnish (optional)

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

In a small bowl or measuring cup, whisk honey and hot water together until honey is fully dissolved into water. Set aside.
In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, add lemon juice, gin and honey syrup. Cover and shake vigorously until mixture is well-blended and frothy, about 30 seconds.
If desired, dip rims of two coupe glasses in a small shallow bowl of water, then in another small shallow bowl of granulated sugar to coat. Strain and divide cocktail mixture evenly between two prepared glasses. Garnish each with a lemon peel, if desired.

Notes

Do not use bottled lemon juice for this recipe. Since lemon juice is one of only a few ingredients, fresh juice will render the best flavor.
The addition of the sugar rim helps to offset the tartness of the lemon juice in the cocktail.
London Dry gin is very juniper-and-citrus-forward in flavor, making it the perfect accompaniment to this cocktail. I do not recommend using other types of gin, such as genever or Old Tom gin, for this recipe, as their flavors won't mesh as well.

Nutrition