During Prohibition, the expression “the Bees’ Knees” meant something really, really good. When I hear the phrase, it conjures up images of speakeasies and flappers and bathtub gin. The original Bees’ Knees cocktail was a classic, probably made from bathtub gin, and probably not so very tasty, but it got the job done!
Somewhere along the line, gin fell out of favor, replaced with cosmo’s, wine, vodka martinis, and an infinite variety of vodka infusions, but I think it’s time to bring this classic back! Not Your Nana’s Bees’ Knees is the perfect way to reintroduce gin: light, balanced, sweet and sour, and just a touch floral.
This may or may not be my Nana’s coupe glass ( and there may or may not be a story there!) but this lavender scented cocktail is definitely Not Your Nana’s Bees’ Knees!
Ingredient and Recipe Notes for Not Your Nana’s Bees’ Knees
Gin: The alcohol is the star of the show here, so use a premium brand. You can substitute vodka, but it won’t be quite the same
Lavender honey syrup: Make your own by combining equal parts of honey and water; add 1 tsp of dried lavender blossom per half cup of liquid. Bring to a simmer then let it steep for 30 minutes. Strain. Lavender blossoms can be purchased at health food stores or in some well stocked baking aisles.
Lemon juice: only fresh squeezed will do!
It’s a short list of ingredients: gin, honey, lemon juice, lavender blossoms
For presentation, I like to add a sugar rim to the glass: Here there are a few drops of lavender bitters on a plate. Roll the edge of the rim through the bitters, then immediately roll it in sugar. You can substitute lemon juice or another liquid if you prefer.
Here is the finished sugar rim. If you are in an especially fun mood, you can add pop rocks instead of sugar! Just use honey or corn syrup to wet the rim or the pop rocks will explode prematurely.
We experimented with making our own honey and lavender flavored poprocks. The originals come in only a handful of flavors, but homemade ones can be honey, lavender, lemon, coffee, mango, watermelon (How amazing would that be on the rim of a Watermelon Cooler?) and many more. If you are curious, check it out at Modernist Pantry.
Having tiny explosions in your mouth as you sip on a gin cocktail is guaranteed to make you giggle!
Happy New Year!
Not Your Nana’s Bees’ Knees
A lavender scented modern take on the Prohibition era gin, honey and lemon cocktail.
Ingredients
- 1/4 C honey
- 1/4 C water
- 1 tsp dried lavender blossoms
- 4 oz gin
- 2 T lemon juice
- 4 oz lavender honey syrup
Instructions
-
To make lavender honey syrup: combine honey, water and lavender and bring to a simmer. Let the mixture steep for 30 minutes then strain.
-
To make cocktail: Combine gin, lemon juice and lavender honey syrup in an ice filled cocktail shaker. Shake well and strain into coupe or martini glasses.
These are fantastic