The Bee's Knees is a classic Prohibition-era cocktail. It's made with gin, lemon juice, and honey syrup. The lemon and honey were supposed to help mask the unpleasant taste of the illicit gin (distilling standards for an illegal industry weren't very high). When something back then was super cool, it was the "bee's knees," hence, the name.
For this re-imagined Bee's Knees, I made a lavender honey syrup using some lavender essential oil. Since bees are naturally drawn to lavender, I thought it would be fun. I also used Empress 1908 gin from Victoria Distillers in Victoria, British Columbia. They use butterfly pea flowers to color the gin a deep purple. When you add lemon juice to it, it becomes a lovely shade of pink.
Just remember to do your research before using essential oil in food or beverage. You want to use very small quantities, and make sure you're using a high-quality essential oil.
LAVENDER BEE'S KNEES
2 oz. Empress 1908 gin
3/4 oz. freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/2 oz. lavender honey syrup
Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker. Add ice and shake 25 seconds. Strain into a coupe. Garnish with dried lavender and a lemon peel twist.
To make lavender honey syrup, combine equal parts honey and warm water in a small jar. I use about 1 ounce of honey. Stir or shake until the honey is dissolved. Add one drop of lavender essential oil. Refrigerate overnight and shake well before using. The essential oil will not stay suspended in the water, so you have to shake it each time you use it.
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