Have you ever heard the slang term “the bee’s knees”? It was used in the 1920s during the Noble Experiment to describe something really cool and hip. The cocktail itself appeared sometime during Prohibition. The recipe appears in cocktail books printed after 1936, which helps back this theory. It is fairly easy to make—the trick is to use honey syrup instead of honey itself, as honey will not dissolve when shaken with ice in a cocktail. We suggest Cadenhead’s Old Raj saffron-infused gin, at 55 percent alcohol by volume. Some authorities claim this cocktail can also be made with rum. If you’re game, we suggest the Flor de Caña four-year-old clear rum, which adds the perfect amount of grassiness and earthiness to the overall flavor profile.

　　

Ingredients

makes 1 drink

　　2 ounces Cadenhead’s Old Raj gin 55

　　1 ounce Honey Syrup (page 155)

　　3/4 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice

　　1 lemon twist, for garnish

　　

Step 1

Pour the gin, syrup, and juice into a mixing glass. Add large cold ice cubes and shake vigorously. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass and garnish with the lemon twist.

　　

tasting notes

Step 2

Dominant Flavors: citrus and honey

　　

Step 3

Body: mouthwateringly crisp

　　

Step 4

Dryness: medium

　　

Step 5

Complexity: medium

　　

Step 6

Accentuating or Contrasting Flavors: juniper and saffron

　　

Step 7

Finish: medium with bitter orange overtones

　　

Step 8

Glass: cocktail

　　Reprinted with permission from Speakeasy: The Employees Only Guide to Classic Cocktails Reimagined by Jason Kosmas and Dushan Zaric, © 2010 Ten Speed Press. Buy the full book from Amazon or Bookshop.