Cherry Bee’s Knees Mocktail
This Cherry Bee’s Knees Mocktail is a bright, tart, and refreshing alcohol-free drink made with fresh cherries, honey syrup, tea, and lemon. Ready in just 5 minutes, it’s a balanced mocktail that feels elevated enough for celebrations but easy enough for everyday sipping.
If you love bright berry mocktails, you’ll want to try my Raspberries & Cream Mocktail and Strawberry Southside Fizz Mocktail next.
This mocktail is episode 4 of our Barely Buzzed series; you’re going to want to check out this Creamy Limoncello Cocktail and my Bruleed Orange Hot Toddy. These drinks are all enjoying the flavor and ritual of a special occasion sip, just less or no buzz.
Quick Look: Cherry Bee’s Knees Mocktail
- ⏱ Prep Time: 5 minutes
- ⏳ Total Time: 5 minutes
- 🍽️ Servings: 1
- 🍒 Flavor Profile: Bright, tart, lightly floral, refreshing
- 👌 Difficulty: Easy, perfect for entertaining and special occasions
SUMMARIZE & SAVE THIS CONTENT ON
There’s something so satisfying about crushing and muddling fresh cherries when they’re perfectly ripe, you can get loads of juice out of them which is what makes this cherry mocktail so incredible. The combination of muddled fresh cherries, honey syrup, lemon, and chilled tea creates a drink that feels balanced and sophisticated without being complicated. It’s especially perfect for baby showers, brunches, or warm weather entertaining.
This recipe is part of my Barely Buzzed series, where I share low and no-alcohol cocktails that are pretty and delicious. If you love flavorful drinks without a buzz, try my Creamy Limoncello Cocktail or Tropical Mocktail (Refreshing Pineapple Coconut Drink).
Jump to:
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Bright and balanced: Juicy cherries, honey, and lemon create a refreshing sweet-tart flavor.
- Beautiful presentation: Fresh cherries, edible flowers, and a lemon twist make this mocktail feel elevated.
- Easy to customize: Adjust the sweetness, tea, or floral notes to suit your taste.
- Perfect for entertaining: Ready in minutes and easy to scale for parties or showers.
Recipe Ingredients
See the recipe card for quantities.
- Pitted cherries: I prefer to use fresh cherries but frozen cherries or cherry juice can work just as well.
- Honey syrup: Combine equal parts pure honey and hot water.
- Chilled tea: Green tea or chamomile both work beautifully
- Lemon juice: Freshly squeezed lemon juice is best.
- Orange blossom water: Adds a delicate floral note. A little goes a long way.
Substitutions & Variations
- No fresh cherries? Try my Spritzy Tart Cherry Juice Mocktail made with tart cherry juice.
- Orange blossom water swap: Try it with rosewater or almond extract.
- Coconut water version: Swap chilled tea for coconut water.
- Make it a cocktail: Add in a 1 ½ oz of gin to make it a full on classic Bee’s Knees cocktail.
How to Make Cherry Bee’s Knees Mocktail
Step 1: Pit the cherries and add them to a cocktail shaker with honey syrup. Muddle well until the cherries release their juices.
Step 2: Add chilled tea, lemon juice, orange blossom water, and ice. Shake well until chilled.
Step 3: Strain the mocktail into a chilled glass and garnish with cherries, flowers and a lemon twist. Enjoy!
Watch How to Make this Recipe
Carolyn’s Tips
- Go easy on the orange blossom water: It’s very potent, so start small and adjust to taste.
- Taste before serving: Adjust lemon or honey syrup depending on how sweet your cherries are.
- Use chilled ingredients: Cold tea and chilled glasses keep the drink crisp and refreshing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sweet cherries like Bing cherries work best because they release plenty of juice and have balanced sweetness.
Yes. You can scale the recipe and prepare it ahead of time. Store it in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours.
Yes! Let them thaw slightly before muddling so they release more juice.
More Mocktails to Try
⭐ If you loved this recipe, I would SO appreciate it if you would give this recipe a star review below. Also, be sure to share it on Instagram and tag me @thesocialsipper!
Cherry Bee’s Knees Mocktail
Ingredients
- 3 fresh cherries, pitted
- ¾ oz honey syrup, use 1 oz for a sweeter drink
- 2 oz chilled tea, chamomile or green tea recommended
- ¾ oz lemon juice
- Dash orange blossom water
- Edible flowers, for garnish
Equipment
Instructions
- To a cocktail shaker, add cherries and honey syrup. Muddle until the cherries are broken down.
- Add tea, lemon juice, orange blossom water and ice. Shake until well chilled.
- Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. If desired, garnish with cherries, edible flowers and a lemon twist.
Notes
- Go easy on the orange blossom water: It’s very potent, so start small and adjust to taste.
- Taste before serving: Adjust lemon or honey syrup depending on how sweet your cherries are.
- Use chilled ingredients: Cold tea and chilled glasses keep the drink crisp and refreshing.
