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This rosemary bee’s knees drink is made with rosemary honey syrup, lemon juice, and gin. It’s a sweet and sprightly botanical cocktail!
When we travel, I love picking up some locally produced honey.
Like Wilson’s wildflower honey from the Adirondacks in New York, or mountain honey from Honeyville in Durango, Colorado.
And I’m always looking for ways to make that honey shine. There’s honey bourbon salmon, honey balsamic brussels sprouts, and honey-sweetened peanut butter granola.
But you know what else is a fun route to take?
Cocktails!
This rosemary bee’s knees cocktail is all about the honey! Rosemary and honey work perfectly together.
What Is a Bee’s Knees Cocktail?
Traditionally, a bee’s knees is made with honey simple syrup, lemon juice and gin.
In this recipe, we’re adding rosemary to the honey syrup.
What Type of Gin Should I Use?
If possible, use a botanical or floral gin.
We used Honey House Distillery’s Colorado Botanical Gin.
Another favorite gin cocktail is this pink gin with rhubarb! For more fun experiments in drink making, check out the book Wild Drinks and Cocktails by Emily Han.
Can I Use Raw Honey?
You can! Keep in mind that you’ll be heating the honey, which may take away some of its nutritional benefits.
But it will still taste fabulous!
How to Make Rosemary Bee’s Knees
First, you’ll need to concoct the rosemary honey syrup, which you can do ahead of time if you want.
Heat the honey, water and rosemary just until they begin to steam (but not boil).
Now take the syrup off the heat and let it cool and steep for about 10 minutes.
Strain out the rosemary. You now have a batch of rosemary honey syrup that you can store in the fridge and use within a month or so.
Ready to make rosemary bee’s knees cocktails?
Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Then add a little rosemary honey syrup, lemon juice and gin to the shaker.
Shake vigorously for about 30 seconds, or until the mixture is cold.
Finally, strain the drink into chilled martini or coup glasses. Add a rosemary sprig or lemon twist as a garnish, and enjoy!
Rosemary Bee’s Knees
Equipment
Ingredients
Rosemary Honey Syrup*: (See Recipe Notes)
- 4 ounces honey
- 4 ounces water
- 2-inch sprig fresh rosemary (Or use 1 tablespoon dried rosemary)
Rosemary Bee's Knees:
- ½ ounce rosemary honey syrup
- 1 ounce lemon juice (~ ½ a lemon), seeds strained out
- 2 ounces gin (Preferably a botanical gin)
- Sprig of fresh rosemary (for garnish) Or garnish with a lemon twist
Instructions
Rosemary Honey Syrup:
- Add the honey, water and rosemary to a small pot. Heat over medium-low heat until the liquid is hot and beginning to steam. (There is no need to bring the syrup to a boil.)Remove syrup from heat cool for 10 minutes. (This allows the rosemary more time to infuse flavor into the syrup.)
- Strain out the rosemary. Store syrup in a glass jar (or airtight container) in the fridge. Use within a month.You should have enough syrup for 8 cocktails.
Rosemary Bee's Knees:
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add ½ ounce syrup to the shaker, along with the lemon juice and gin.
- Shake vigorously about 30 seconds or until the mixture is cold. Strain into chilled martini or coup glasses. Add the rosemary sprig or lemon twist as a garnish.
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