Quarantine cocktail: Bee's Knees
Sheltering-in-place rules for the DC region have put the kibosh on cocktail parties and bar excursions for the near future. But that doesn’t mean the end of craft beverages. Au contraire! If anything, simple pleasures - like a fine cocktail - take on added significance. As the days blend together in a seemingly endless stream, it’s important to maintain the rituals of civilization that distinguish us from savages. So, take a shower, put on some real clothes for a change, and mix yourself a proper drink. You’ll be glad you did.
I thought it might be interesting to do a series on quarantine cocktails, i.e., those that can be made from ingredients that you’re likely to have on hand. The first is inspired by my friend CB, who served this cocktail to our crew in Moab last Thanksgiving. It’s an old/new classic called the Bee’s Knees. The phrase hails from the Roaring Twenties, and the drink was probably created soon thereafter. Like the similarly quirky ‘cat’s meow’ from the same era, ‘bee’s knees’ means top-notch or excellent, an accurate description for such a delicious libation.
The drink is simplicity itself: gin, lemon juice, and honey. Yet within those three ingredients reside a wealth of possibilities. A traditional London Dry gin like Beefeater provides an assertive juniper bite that accentuates the acid tang of lemon. But swap out that gin for one in the modern style, such as Hendrick’s, and the sweet floral notes of honey stand front and center. Different types of honey (clover, mesquite, orange blossom) will highlight different flavors from the gin. Finally, the proportions of lemon juice and honey are more suggestion than gospel - feel free to tweak the amounts until you strike the perfect balance of sweet and tart to satisfy your palate. Take the time to get it right. Because you’re not in a rush to go anywhere anyway…
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Bee’s Knees
2 oz gin (I used Plymouth)
¾ oz lemon juice, freshly squeezed
¾ oz rich honey syrup (recipe below)
lemon twist, to garnish
cocktail shaker, strainer, ice, coupe glass (chilled)
Steps
combine all ingredients (except garnish) in cocktail shaker without ice
shake until honey syrup dissolves completely
half-fill with ice and shake until well chilled
strain into chilled coupe glass and garnish
Rich honey syrup
combine two parts honey with one part warm water
stir until honey dissolves completely; cool to room temperature
store in refrigerator (keeps up to two weeks)
