A bee's knees spritz is a light and bubbly twist on the classic bee's knees cocktail. Gin, lemon juice, honey, and club soda create a perfectly refreshing beverage that's perfect for summer.
Recipe summary
Flavor: Light, crisp, citrusy, floral.
Similar to: A bee's knees spritz is my lightened up version that was created while testing out the original bee's knees cocktail. This spritz is served over ice and topped with club soda for a refreshing, bubbly experience.
Great for: Spring and summer, lounging poolside.
You may also like: White Wine Spritzer and Lemon Mint Cooler (non-alcoholic)
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Ingredients and substitutions
- Gin - You can't go wrong with a London dry gin. It's a classic that's unsweetened and has an herbal bite. I find that London dry balances well with the sweetness of the honey in a bee's knees. Modern gins are often infused with different spices, citrus, and aromatics, which can pair well with the lemon and honey in a bee's knees.
- Lemon juice - Fresh squeezed lemon juice adds a bright, citrusy flavor that's far superior to bottled lemon juice. Since this cocktail is made with only three ingredients, it's important that each one is of a high quality for best flavor.
- Honey - Use your favorite honey in this recipe. Floral honey or citrus honey can work well depending on the flavors you prefer.
- Water - A small amount of water is added to the honey to create a honey syrup which incorporates more readily into the cocktail when shaken.
- Club soda - A bee's knees spritz is topped with club soda for a light, bubbly flavor. Club soda can be substituted with mineral water or sparkling water.
How to make a bee's knees spritz
- Microwave honey and water until warm and stir to create a syrup. Add to a cocktail shaker filled with ice along with lemon juice and gin.
- Shake until chilled, about 15 seconds.
- Strain into an ice-filled highball glass and top with club soda.
- Optionally, garnish with a lemon peel before serving.
Tips and tricks
Making honey syrup - Add honey and water to a microwave safe bowl, then microwave in 10 second increments until warm and thin. Stir until completely incorporated. If your honey syrup is hot, allow it to cool slightly before adding to the shaker. Hot honey syrup can water down your cocktail.
Shake until frosty - When shaking ingredients in a cocktail shaker, shake until the outside of the shaker is frosty-looking and cold. This should take about 15 seconds.
Use a highball glass - Any cocktail served over ice with a mixer (like club soda) should be served in a highball glass. Here are the glasses I use: Italian Highball Glasses [Set of 6]
Optional garnishes - Garnish your spritz with a lemon slice, peel or twist for a classic look. Other optional garnishes include a sage leaf, edible flowers, or a colored sugar rim.
Frequently asked questions
A bee's knees cocktail is crisp and light with floral and citrus notes. It's refreshing and perfect for hot summer days.
- Fourth of July
- Pool parties
- Barbecues
- Grilling
- Bachelorette parties
- Summer weddings
Yes, simple syrup or maple syrup would work as a substitute. By using simple syrup you'd be making a Tom Collins, which is made with gin, lemon juice, sugar, and club soda.
While this cocktail can technically be built in the glass, the ingredients become more well integrated when shaken in a cocktail shaker. I recommend using a cocktail shaker for best results.
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📖 Recipe
Bee's Knees Spritz
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon honey
- ½ tablespoon water
- 1 ounce lemon juice
- 2 ounces gin
- 3 ounces club soda
Instructions
- Add honey and water to a microwave safe container and heat in 10 second increments until warm. Stir to combine and create a honey syrup.
- Add honey syrup, lemon juice, and gin to a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake until chilled, about 15 seconds.
- Strain into an ice-filled highball glass and top with club soda. Optionally, garnish with a lemon peel before serving.
Equipment Recommendations
Notes
- Honey substitutes: Honey can be substituted with simple syrup to make a gin sour if desired.
- Best gin to use: London dry gin or modern gin works well in this recipe.
- To prepare for a crowd: Make a large batch of honey syrup to prepare multiple cocktails with ease. Add 2 parts honey to 1 part water and microwave until warmed and thin.
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