Video about Bee’s Knee on my YouTube channel.
The phrase “Bee’s Knee” made its debut in the 18th century, serving as a synonym for something exceedingly small. After all, bees do indeed have rather tiny knees, making the expression quite fitting.
Later, the expression vanished from everyday language, only to make a comeback in the early 20th century, albeit with an entirely different connotation – referring to something that doesn’t exist at all.
This resurgence joined the ranks of other popular expressions from the era, like ‘the cat’s pajamas’ and ‘the snake’s hips,’ all signifying something utterly non-existent. Which didn’t quite align with logic, as bees indeed possess knees, and they have plenty of them.
In the early 1920s, the meaning of “Bee’s Knee” underwent yet another transformation, becoming synonymous with something remarkable or astonishing. Perhaps, the very essence of a bee’s knee had enchanted the person who first breathed life into this new interpretation.
During this same period, a cocktail by the same name emerged onto the scene, coined by the brilliant and charismatic Frank Meier. Born in Austria and perfecting his bartending skills at the famed New York’s Hoffman House Hotel, Meier found himself at the cusp of Prohibition in the United States.
It’s possible that the idea for the Bee’s Knee cocktail grew during his final year in the USA, mirroring the typical outcomes of the Prohibition era. During those years, people devised sophisticated means to mask the harsh taste of illegally crafted spirits, ultimately delivering a plethora of elegant cocktails when quality spirits returned to the market.
However, the Bee’s Knee didn’t linger; in 1921, Frank Meier ventured back to Europe and become a head bartender at the famous Hotel Ritz in Paris. Almost immediately, he unveiled the Bee’s Knee, soon followed by a host of his other creations, many of which are now regarded as cocktail classics. In 1936, Meier published the best cocktail recipes in the book “The Artistry of Mixing Drinks.”
During the dark days of Nazi occupation in Paris, Meier, despite being Jewish, remained in the city, continuing his work at the Ritz Hotel, which had been transformed into Nazi headquarters. Information, he collected, aided the French resistance and British spies, saving many lives.
Get back to his delightful creation, the Bee’s Knee.
The cocktail is an upgraded version of gin sour. Basic gin sour consists of gin, lemon juice, and sugar. Meier substituted sugar with honey, that makes the cocktail softer, less sweet, and more aromatic.
Here is my hint for you: experimenting with various types of honey can help you discover your personal preference for this classic cocktail.
Recipe from “The Artistry of Mixing Drinks.”
Ingredients:
-2 oz/ 60 ml London Dry Gin
-3/4 oz/22.5 ml fresh lemon Juice
-teaspoon/5 ml Honey
You can use Honey syrup (1:1 honey and water), it is easy to dissolve. In this case – two teaspoons.
Process:
Pour all the ingredients into a cocktail shaker over ice and shake. Strain into the chilled cocktail glass and enjoy.
Garnish –lemon zest (optional).
Drinkware:
Cocktail glass
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