The Blackberry Bee’s Knees is one of my new favorite cocktails! It’s made with gin, lemon juice, and a delish homemade Blackberry Honey Syrup! Enjoy this simple yet tasty cocktail for your next happy hour. 

I partnered with Local Hive Honey™ to mix up this Blackberry Bee’s Knees recipe! Recipe and ideas are my own.

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The Blackberry Bee’s Knees

A Bee’s Knees is one of my favorite gin-based cocktails! It’s sweet, tart, and light hitting all the right flavor notes in one sip, and this riff which includes a homemade Blackberry Honey Syrup elevates this cocktail even more! 

This libation is made with only a few ingredients, so it’s important to use quality ones. I used a premium gin, fresh squeezed lemon juice, and a specialty homemade Blackberry Honey Syrup which consists of fresh blackberries, water, and Local Hive™ Oregon Blackberry Honey! 

This unique honey varietal is produced by Local Hive Honey™ and they partner with Oregon beekeepers to bring you this 100% raw and unfiltered local honey with smooth, fruity, and sweet flavors. Pick up this limited edition varietal today and make the amazing Blackberry Bee’s Knees!

What is a Bee’s Knees Cocktail?

A Bee’s Knees is a pretty easy cocktail to make. This libation mixes together 3 ingredients – gin, lemon juice, and honey. That’s it!

The history of a Bee’s Knees is interesting too. It dates back to the 1920s during the Prohibition era. This cocktail was created using “bathtub gin.” Yup, you heard that right. People were creating gin in their bathtubs to conceal the production of alcohol. So, naturally, individuals needed something delicious to pair with this “bathtub gin.” Honey and lemon juice were the answer, and for many, it masked the taste to create something sweet, tart, and boozy!

Ingredients for the Blackberry Bee’s Knees

For this recipe, I did not use “bathtub gin,” I promise! But instead, I crafted it up using quality ingredients, and since you only need a few, you may already have them at home.

Gin: Use a premium gin like Hendricks Gin – which is smooth and easy to sip, yet blends nicely with citrus flavors

Lemon Juice: A squeeze of fresh lemon juice gives just the right balance to the sweet honey and the smooth gin. 

Blackberries: fresh or frozen blackberries can be used for this cocktail.

Local Hive™ Oregon Blackberry Honey: This honey is raw & unfiltered and directly sourced from local beekeepers in Oregon. It’s smooth and sweet with hints of blackberry and lotus. Get this limited edition varietal while you can!

Now, let’s make the Blackberry Bee’s Knees!

How To Make a Blackberry Bee’s Knees

A Bee’s Knees is a simple cocktail, but still boasts lots of flavors! For the Blackberry Bee’s Knees, you’ll want to start by creating the homemade Blackberry Honey Syrup. This will consist of adding blackberries, Local Hive™ Oregon Blackberry Honey, and water to a small saucepan over medium heat, you’ll bring this mixture to a boil. Then, reduce the heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Remove the saucepan from the heat and allow the mixture to cool. Strain it into a jar and keep it in your fridge for 7-10 days. 

Once you have your Blackberry Honey Syrup cooled, add gin, lemon and your Blackberry Honey Syrup to a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until the outside is chilled. Then, strain into 2 cocktail glasses. If desired, garnish with a blackberry and lemon peel. Enjoy!

What is the Best Type of Honey to Buy?

All honey is not created equal! Mass-produced honey (like the one in “bear bottles”) has been blended and filtered which loses its unique flavor and color. 

When looking for honey, raw and unfiltered honey will give you the best and most unique flavors. Interestingly, local honey will have a distinct flavor profile from where it’s made. 

The Blackberry Bee’s Knees is made with a limited edition Local Hive Oregon Blackberry Honey. This honey comes entirely from bees located in the blackberry-lined Oregon’s Willamette Valley. This gives the varietal a bold burst of blackberry flavor.

Local Hive Honey™ is dedicated to a much greater mission than just honey. They’re all about protecting those who share the honey with us – the bees! They partner with the best people in the industry, and ultimately Local Hive Honey™ is able to give back to those partners, the beekeepers who protect the bees and their ecosystems! 

Shop their 23+ honeys here all month long or find a store near you because September is National Honey Month and all year long!

National Honey Month celebrates American Beekeeping, the beekeeping industry and honey. Local Hive Honey™ is committed to supporting American Beekeepers during National Honey Month!

More Gin-Based Recipes

• Grapefruit Eastside Cocktail
• Raspberry Lemonade Cocktail
• Strawberry Rhubarb Cocktail
• Berry Tea Cocktail

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