The Bee’s Knees was built to solve one problem, and one problem only: bad gin.

During Prohibition, bathtub gin tasted like turpentine (today, bad gin tastes like rubbing alcohol in my opinion. I won’t name any names, but you all have had one in a G&T before). Bartenders added lemon juice and honey syrup to mask it. It only took three ingredients to fix this liquor, and the drink went on to outlast the reason it was invented.

My version adds a fourth ingredient to liven things up. While I love a classic Bee’s Knees, sometimes a little variety is nice. This Empress gin version pairs well with cherry blossom syrup because it already has sakura in its botanical list.

Instead of layering a floral note on top of a neutral spirit, you’re doubling down on the botanicals already there. The syrup and the gin end up working together instead of fighting for attention, which really doesn’t make a great drink if you can’t figure out what it should taste like.

What’s Actually in a Bee’s Knees?

A classic Bee’s Knees is gin, lemon juice, and honey syrup, shaken with ice and strained into a coupe.

Honey syrup is just honey thinned with warm water so it dissolves instead of clumping at the bottom of your shaker. All you have to do is mix equal parts honey and hot water, stir until smooth, and then let it cool. Keep it in the fridge for up to two weeks.

The Empress Blossom version keeps that structure and adds cherry blossom syrup for a floral layer underneath the honey. If you haven’t made your own, I’ve got a cherry blossom simple syrup recipe that walks through three different (but easy!) methods. to make it at home.

Floral Elixir Co. also makes a solid store-bought version if you’re short on time or can’t source preserved sakura blossoms. Just make sure your syrup doesn’t taste like candy. It should be lightly floral, not like a sucking on a Jolly Rancher candy.

Make It Your Own with a Twist on the Recipe

Thyme-Infused Honey Syrup: Swap the plain honey syrup for a thyme-infused version. Steep a few fresh thyme sprigs in your honey syrup while it’s still warm, then strain before using.

I grow thyme in my own garden and often reach for this swap. It shifts the drink from purely floral to more herbal. I’ve also got a full thyme simple syrup recipe if you want to make a larger batch to use in other drinks, like a Thyme Honey Lemon Whiskey Sour.

Mocktail Version: All you need is lemon juice, honey syrup, cherry blossom syrup, and soda water to top it. Build the drink over ice in a highball glass instead of shaking and straining. You lose the gin’s botanical echo, but the honey and cherry blossom combination still carries the drink, similar to the Cherry Blossom Bee’s Knees.

What Glass to Use

Use a coupe, not a martini glass. The wide, shallow bowl keeps a shaken drink cold longer and doesn’t let the aromatics escape as fast as a V-shaped glass does. This coupe set is what I usually use (unless I’m dipping into my vintage glass collection), and this one is a good option if you want something with a bit more of a vintage shape.

For the shake itself, I use a Boston shaker and a fine-mesh strainer to catch any small ice chips before they end up in the glass. A citrus juicer makes the lemon juice step faster if you’re making more than one round. If you end up making extra honey or cherry blossom syrup, 4 oz glass mason jars are perfect for storing in the fridge or freezer.

If you want to see everything I use behind my own bar, my Amazon shop has the full list, tools included.

More Bee’s Knees Variations

The Bee’s Knees works with plenty of seasonal swaps. Here’s a few I’ve built:

• Lavender Bee’s Knees
• Earl Grey Lavender Bee’s Knees
• Hot Honey Bee’s Knees
• Persimmon Bee’s Knees
• Cherry Blossom Bee’s Knees

If cherry blossom syrup is new territory for you, my simple syrups page has the full collection, and my cocktail garnish guide covers what to float on top if you want something beyond a lemon twist.

A single dried cherry blossom or edible flower is always easy, though, especially if you have a little pot of Johnny Jump-Ups growing outside or on the windowsill.

Other Cherry Blossom Cocktails to Make This Season

Cherry blossom syrup doesn’t keep forever, so once you make a batch, here’s where else to use it:

• Sakura Drift Martini
• Lychee Sakura Martini
• Petal & Stone Sour
• Strawberry Sakura Smash
• Cherry Blossom Green Tea Spritz
• Lychee Blossom Spritz
• Pink Grapefruit Sakura Sour
• Cherry Blossom French 75

For more cocktail recipes built around what’s in season, my full cocktail recipes archive is organized by spirit and by season.

The Bee’s Knees has survived a hundred years by staying simple. This version just gives you another reason to make it in the spring.

Empress Blossom Bee’s Knees Recipe

Glass: Coupe
Yield: 1 cocktail

Ingredients:

• 2 oz Empress 1908 gin
• 0.75 oz cherry blossom syrup
• 0.5 oz honey syrup
• 0.75 oz fresh lemon juice

Instructions:

1. Add the gin, cherry blossom syrup, honey syrup, and lemon juice to a cocktail shaker.
2. Fill with ice and shake until well chilled, about 15 seconds.
3. Strain into a chilled coupe glass.

Variations:

• Thyme Twist: Use a thyme-infused honey syrup in place of plain honey syrup.
• Mocktail: Combine lemon juice, honey syrup, and cherry blossom syrup over ice in a highball glass, then top with soda water.

Notes: Double-strain if you want to catch any small ice chips from the shake. Empress 1908 gin already contains cherry blossom in its botanical blend, which is why it’s the recommended spirit here over a more neutral gin.