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    Home » Drinks

    Rosemary Bee’s Knees

    Published: Sep 30, 2022 · Modified: Feb 27, 2023 · Leave a Comment

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe Save Recipe Saved!
    This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    This rosemary bee’s knees drink is made with rosemary honey syrup, lemon juice, and gin. It’s a sweet and sprightly botanical cocktail!

    Rosemary bees knees cocktails in martini glasses.

    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.

    Two jars of wildflower honey.
    Local Honey

    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.

    Bottle of Colorado botanical gin.
    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).

    Honey, water and rosemary in a small pot.
    Heat Honey, Rosemary + Water

    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.

    Bottle of gin, lemon halves, cocktail shaker, and jar of rosemary honey syrup.
    Add Rosemary Honey Syrup, Gin + Lemons to Cocktail 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 bees knees cocktails in martini glasses.
    Print Recipe Save Recipe Saved!
    5 from 1 vote

    Rosemary Bee’s Knees

    This rosemary bee's knees drink is made with rosemary honey syrup, lemon juice, and gin. It's a sweet and sprightly botanical cocktail!
    Author: Sarah Trenalone
    Prep Time5 mins
    Cook Time10 mins
    Total Time15 mins
    Course: Drinks
    Cuisine: American
    Diet: Gluten Free, Vegetarian
    Servings: 1 cocktail
    Calories: 187kcal
    Freezer Friendly?
    No
    Will It Keep?
    No
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • Cocktail shaker

    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.)
      Honey, water and rosemary in a small pot.
    • 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.
      Bottle of gin, lemon halves, cocktail shaker, and jar of rosemary honey syrup.
    • 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.
      Rosemary bees knees cocktails in martini glasses.

    Notes

    *Faster Cook Time: The Rosemary Honey Syrup can be made ahead of time to shorten the recipe time to 1 minute.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 187kcal (9%) | Carbohydrates: 15g (5%) | Protein: 0.2g | Fat: 0.4g (1%) | Saturated Fat: 0.2g (1%) | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Sodium: 3mg | Potassium: 57mg (2%) | Fiber: 1g (4%) | Sugar: 12g (13%) | Vitamin A: 64IU (1%) | Vitamin C: 12mg (15%) | Calcium: 29mg (3%) | Iron: 1mg (6%)
    Tried this recipe?Leave a comment and rating below!
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    About Sarah Trenalone

    Sarah is the primary creator at Champagne Tastes. She's a photographer, food writer and traveler, and is certified in Backcountry Kitchen and Backcountry Navigation from the Colorado Outward Bound School and Identifying Wild Plants from Backpacker.

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    Hi, I'm Sarah! I'm a traveler who loves to eat.   Follow along to join me on my next adventure-- in food or on the road.

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