Moms are the bees knees

My mom has a thing for bees.  More specifically, botanical bees.  For this reason, I am always on the hunt for cool botanical bee things.  Tea towels, serving dishes, craft punches, I’ve found them all over the year and often given them as Mother’s Day gifts.

You know what else my mom also likes?  Cocktails.  Who knows why, but one of my earliest memories involves camping in the summer and the adults sitting around a newly-lit fire in camp chairs, as the shadows grew longer, enjoying “cocktail hour.”  Of course, considering the gaggle of children they would bring along on these trips, cocktail hour may have started around 8:00 am every morning.

Always one for parsimony, I’ve finally found a way to honor two of my mom’s loves together: the bees knees cocktail.

Rumor has it that this concoction came about during prohibition as a way of making bathtub gin more palatable.  The secret ingredient is a simple honey syrup.

I’ve seen this little libation topped with lavender as well.  However, it’s too early in the season for lavender.  So, I used a paper-thin lemon slice.

Chin chin and happy Mother’s Day!

The Bees Knees

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces gin (while bathtub gin would lend authenticity, I am partial to Tangueray though all the cool kids are drinking Hendricks
  • 1/2 ounce fresh lemon juice
  • 1/2 ounce honey syrup (see below for recipe)
  • lemon slices or lavender sprigs to garnish

Directions

  1. Fill cocktail shaker with ice.  Add-in all liquid ingredients.  Shake until the shaker grows so cold you think your fingers might stick to it.
  2. Strain and serve garnished with something pretty.

Honey Syrup

  1. Add equal parts water and honey to a small sauce pan (to make thing even, I use 1 cup).  Whisk until honey dissolves.  Bring to a boil.  When the liquid reaches a boil, turn off the heat.  Allow to cool.  Can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for a couple of months.  But, it won’t last that long.

 

2 thoughts on “Moms are the bees knees”

  1. I can’t wait to share this recipe with a honey- and cocktail-loving friend. Have you heard of St-Germain (elderflower liquor)? I bet a drop would be beautiful here.

  2. It’s funny you mention St. Germain. I just had a St. Germain spritz for the first time a couple of weekends ago. I think you are right, a drop or two would be lovely in this cocktail!

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