Based on the Bee’s Knees Cocktail, this lemonade version has notes of lavender for a botanically-inspired garden cocktail and easy summertime sipping.
How about a cocktail for the weekend?
It felt like summer this week with thunderstorms rolling through and temps near 90 . . .
time to cool off with a lemonade cocktail!
“The Bee’s Knees” cocktail features gin, lemon juice and honey.
The cocktail is credited to Frank Meier, an Austrian-born bartender
who plied his trade at the Hôtel Ritz Paris during the 1920s.
The phrase “bee’s knees” was a popular expression of the Prohibition era
used to refer to something that was excellent or the best.
Fun fact: The addition of honey in the cocktail rather than sugar was said to
help mask the taste of subpar (bathtub!) gin prevalent of the era.
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Regular readers my know my love of all things bee! 🐝
I used a Ball Honeybee Keepsake Mason Jar for sipping!
The pint jars have plenty of room for ice and lemonade!
Here are the ingredients you’ll need:
This recipe makes 2 cocktails, adjust to your taste.
🐝 1/4 cup hot water
🐝 1 teaspoon dried culinary lavender buds
🐝1/4 cup honey of choice, I used Savannah Bee Company Lavender Honey for more lavender flavor
🐝 4 oz. gin, I used Hendrick’s Gin, 2 oz. per cocktail
🐝 Lemonade of choice, I used Lorina Sparkling Lemonade
To make:
Mix hot water and dried lavender blossoms in bowl; let steep 5 minutes.
Strain lavender and whisk in 1/4 cup honey.
Add honey syrup and gin into cocktail shaker with ice.
Shake well and strain into a jar or glass over ice, top off with lemonade.
Garnish with lemon and a sprig of lavender if desired.
I used Hendrick’s Gin, which is a combination of cucumber and rose,
along with a subtle balance of 11 other botanicals. . .
perfectly suited for a garden cocktail!
Not a gin fan? Substitute vodka or serve as a
lavender lemonade mocktail without alcohol.
Garnish with a slice of lemon, sprigs of lavender
and floral straw for a festive sipping!
The winners of my
Ball 140th Anniversary and Mason Jar Giveaway are:
Terri E and Peggy O.
Bee’s Knees Lavender Lemonade
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup hot water
- 1 teaspoon dried culinary lavender buds
- 1/4 cup honey
- 4 ounces Hendrick's gin or gin of choice 2 oz. per cocktail, adjust to taste
- Lemonade of choice
- lemon slices
- lavender sprig for garnishing if desired
Instructions
- Mix hot water and dried lavender blossoms in bowl; let steep 5 minutes.
- Strain lavender blossoms and whisk in 1/4 cup honey.
- Add honey syrup and gin into cocktail shaker with ice.
- Shake well and strain into 2 glasses over ice; fill glasses with lemonade of your choice. Garnish with lemon slice and sprigs of lavender if desired.
Notes
- To avoid a medicinal or bitter flavor from lavender, use a culinary / food grade lavender.
- You can make up a batch of honey syrup and store in a jar in the refrigerator up to a week.
- Not a fan of gin, substitute vodka or omit the alchohol to make a mocktail.
Thanks to all who entered!
Bee Kind.
Find out what you can do to help pollinators, HERE.
Thank you for your visit, sharing with:
Between Naps on the Porch
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Mary…lavender, lemonade and honey…sounds delicious can’t wait to try it. I love anything lavender…two of my favorite lavender recipes are lavender potato soup and lavender brownies. I was in Hobby Lobby yesterday and saw two different plates with bees on and thought of you. 😀. I suppose after reading your musings for several years I think of you as a friend.😀😀
Peace
Cindi
That’s so sweet Cindi! ❤️I’m overdue a visit to Hobby Lobby, I’ll have to check them out. 🐝 I hope you try the lemonade since you’re a lavender fan!
What a lovely summer cocktail Mary, I love the pretty way you styled it! The bee Ball jar is perfect!
Jenna
Your cocktail sounds so refreshing, Mary with the lavender and lemon. Putting it in your bee jar and with the beautiful floral straw makes for the sweetest presentation.
This sounds wonderful. Thanks so much for including a mock tail version. I love you blog. Give the girls a love from me.
Sounds Devine, we are going to give it a try, thank you.
This sounds perfect for our already warm days! As always, your presentation is fabulous…Happy weekend, Mary 🐝💛🐝
Must try. It sounds so refreshing.
I absolutely adore lemon and lavender together. I would love to try this yummy sounding drink. As always, I learn something new visiting your blog. Thank you for sharing!!!! You are the bee’s knees, Mary!
Sounds like a wonderful summer cocktail! Thank you for sharing!
Mary, so excited to be a winner of the bee jars! They will be used for many things including this bees knees drink! It sounds so good. I’m ordering the ingredients to mix it up right away! Thank you for the giveaway. It’s very kind of you to share such fun gifts.
I do a lot of needlework and am doing a sampler called the humming of the bees. It’s a fun summer project and will fit right in with the bee theme!!
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WINNERS!!! Now I can copy the drink recipe!!! 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻♥️
That sounds really good, with either gin or vodka. Did you love it, Mary? I like your sources for the mix too!
Hi Rita, I did! It’s my kind of summer cocktail and it’s easily adjusted to your taste. Happy Mother’s Day to you ♥
~Hi Mary ~
The drink sounds refreshing, can not go wrong with Lavender & lemons ! the Bee jars are too cute !!
Have a good evening !
Paula~ Indiana
I have been working in the garden since 6:30 am, all I can say is do you deliver? Bee quick please 😍