Bee’s Knees Cocktail

The slang phrase “bee’s knees” emerged in the 1920s, coinciding with the Prohibition era in the United States, and quickly gained popularity as a term denoting something or someone excellent. This linguistic flourish reflects the spirit of the times, where flappers danced to jazz music, and society began to embrace a new sense of liberation and creativity. The Bee’s Knees cocktail effortlessly encapsulates this ethos, serving as a liquid embodiment of the era’s rebellious and stylish nature.

Credit for the creation of the Bee’s Knees is often given to Frank Meier, an Austrian-born bartender who plied his craft at the illustrious Hôtel Ritz Paris during the 1920s. The story goes that, during Prohibition, the unpleasant taste of homemade bathtub gin was often masked with sweeteners and citrus. Meier, recognizing the need for a drink that could elevate the subpar spirits of the time, crafted the Bee’s Knees as a testament to his mixological prowess.

As said, the Bee’s Knees captures the zeitgeist of the Prohibition era, where innovation was born out of necessity. The constraints of the time, such as the substandard quality of available spirits, led to the creation of cocktails that masked the rough edges of their components. This cocktail, with its seamless integration of ingredients, emerged as a testament to the ingenuity of mixologists in overcoming the challenges of the era.