DISH RESEARCH · Dish
Bee's Knees
Chilled gin cocktail brightened with lemon, orange and honey syrup.
About Bee's Knees
The Bee's Knees is a gin-and-honey cocktail associated with the American Prohibition era. This profile follows the current International Bartenders Association formula, which balances dry gin and honey syrup with equal measures of fresh lemon and orange juice.
Gin provides a dry botanical base while honey gives rounded floral sweetness. Lemon brings sharp acidity and orange softens it with sweeter citrus, producing a bright drink without hiding the spirit completely.
The cocktail is pale golden-yellow and lightly cloudy from fresh citrus juice. Shaking gives it a fine temporary froth and a chilled, smooth texture, served straight up without ice in the glass.
Allergens in this recipe
Allergen details are not yet confirmed.
Ingredients vary by restaurant. Confirm your allergens with staff before ordering.
Ingredients in Bee's Knees
IBA Bee's Knees with Lemon and Orange.
- Dry ginBotanical spirit base
- Honey syrupFloral sweetness
- Fresh lemon juiceSharp citrus acidity
- Fresh orange juiceSweet citrus balance
Ingredient details & uncertainties
Allergen information is incomplete. Unconfirmed details do not establish that an allergen is absent.
- Dry gin: . The IBA specifies dry gin without a producer or botanical formula; it maps to the established generic gin route
- Honey syrup: . The IBA names honey syrup but does not specify its honey-to-water ratio or a commercial formula
- Fresh lemon juice:
- Fresh orange juice:
Origins & food traditions
The International Bartenders Association supplies the complete modern Bee's Knees formula selected here. Cookie and Kate independently identifies the Bee's Knees as a classic cocktail built from gin, lemon and honey, corroborating the drink's core identity while the IBA formula fixes orange juice in this exact version.
Countries
- United States
Cuisines & regions
- American Cocktail Tradition
- Prohibition-era Cocktails