The Green Bee | A Bee’s Knees Cocktail Made with Rosemary Honey Syrup

The Green Bee is a variation of a Bee's Knees cocktail but with the extra addition of rosemary. If you love gin, honey, and herbal tones, you'll love this riff.

The Green Bee is a variation of a Bee’s Knees cocktail but with the extra addition of rosemary. If you love gin, honey, and herbal tones, you’ll love this riff.


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I love a classic Bee’s Knees. It’s so easy to make (just 3 ingredients!) and really gives the gin a chance to shine. This fall, I’ve been on a big herbal kick. I’ve made my rosemary sage simple syrup three times now and have been using it in just about every cocktail recipe I think it could work in. There’s something so warming about use rich savory herbs like rosemary and sage in cocktails.

I knew that honey and rosemary worked together, so I made a honey rosemary simple syrup. And what better way to use a honey syrup than in a Bee’s Knees?

The Green Bee is a variation of a Bee's Knees cocktail but with the extra addition of rosemary. If you love gin, honey, and herbal tones, you'll love this riff.

To make the honey rosemary syrup, add 1/4 cup of honey, 1/4 cup of water, and 2 sprigs of rosemary to a small saucepan. Heat until the honey is dissolved and turn off the heat. Allow the rosemary to steep in the syrup until it cools. Remove the rosemary and pour into a small lidded container. Store in the fridge.

As I mentioned earlier, simple classic cocktails like the Bee’s Knees give gins a real chance to shine. The limited ingredients won’t overshadow the unique taste of whatever gin you’re using. Choosing a more herbal gin in The Green Bee is a great call because of the addition of the rosemary. But pick what you like. I actually used a botanical rum in place of gin in the drink shown in these pictures.

If you’re a fan of simple, straightforward, and herbal cocktails, this Green Bee recipe is for you.

The Green Bee is a variation of a Bee's Knees cocktail but with the extra addition of rosemary. If you love gin, honey, and herbal tones, you'll love this riff.

Ingredients for a Green Bee

  • 2 oz gin
  • 3/4 oz rosemary honey syrup*
  • 3/4 oz lemon juice, freshly squeezed

How to Make a Green Bee

Add gin, rosemary honey syrup*, and lemon juice to a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake well. Strain into a coupe glass. Garnish with an additional rosemary sprig.

*To make the honey rosemary syrup, add 1/4 cup of honey, 1/4 cup of water, and 2 sprigs of rosemary to a small saucepan. Heat until the honey is dissolved and turn off the heat. Allow the rosemary to steep in the syrup until it cools. Remove the rosemary and pour into a small lidded container. Store in the fridge.

Green Bee

A Bee's Knees cocktail with rosemary honey syrup.
Prep Time 3 mins
Course Drinks
Servings 1

Equipment

  • cocktail shaker

Ingredients
  

  • 2 oz gin
  • ¾ oz rosemary honey syrup*
  • ¾ oz lemon juice, freshly squeezed

Instructions
 

  • Add gin, rosemary honey syrup*, and lemon juice to a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
  • Shake well, about 20 seconds.
  • Strain into a coupe glass.
  • Garnish with an additional rosemary sprig.

Notes

*To make the honey rosemary syrup, add 1/4 cup of honey, 1/4 cup of water, and 2 sprigs of rosemary to a small saucepan. Heat until the honey is dissolved and turn off the heat. Allow the rosemary to steep in the syrup until it cools. Remove the rosemary and pour into a small lidded container. Store in the fridge.
Keyword Bee’s Knees, black lemon, gin, honey, honey simple syrup, lemon juice, rosemary, rosemary honey syrup
The Green Bee is a variation of a Bee's Knees cocktail but with the extra addition of rosemary. If you love gin, honey, and herbal tones, you'll love this riff.