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Apple Bee’s Knees Mocktail

5 from 1 vote
Time: 35 minutes
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The classic Bee’s Knees got a makeover! This refreshing Apple Bee’s Knees Mocktail is made with apple cider, lemon, a delicious cinnamon honey syrup, and bubbly tonic water. Shake one up for yourself or to serve at your next fall party. Cheers!

For more apple mocktails that use cider recipes, try my Apple Cider Slush, Apple Cider Mule Mocktail, or a pitcher of this Apple Cider Sangria Mocktail!

Apple Bee's Knees Mocktail in coupe glass garnished with honeycomb and marigolds.

What is a Bee’s Knees Drink?

This drink goes way back, like back to the prohibition. To mask the flavor of bad gin, they added lemon and honey to it making a Bee’s Knees cocktail.

Bee’s Knees was also popular slang used to refer to something outstanding or excellent. Because it is so delicious I had to put my non alcoholic spin on it!

For more classic mocktail favorites, try my Moscow Mule Mocktail, Gin and Tonic Mocktail, or this Dirty Martini Mocktail!

This Apple Bee’s Knees Recipe Is The Bee’s Knees

  • Packed with fall flavors: apple cider and cinnamon! I have added cold apple cider and a delicious cinnamon honey infused simple syrup to it.
  • It is an alcohol free mocktail. Now everyone can enjoy it and you won’t even miss the alcohol in this one.
  • Perfect for entertaining because of it’s story: See the look on your party guests face when you tell them it is a prohibition cocktail made a mocktail. HA! The irony!

Let’s Mix One Up Together! Watch This Super Quick Video:

Apple Bee’s Knees Mocktail Ingredients

  • Apple Cider: I always buy my apple cider at local farms (yay for supporting local) but you can also get it at your grocery store too. If you have apples and some extra time, you can even make your own spiced apple cider in the slow cooker as well.
  • Lemon Juice: Freshly squeezed is best, bottled just doesn’t cut it in this drink recipe.
  • Tonic Water: This added a bubbly light sensation to the mocktail. I like using Fever Tree but you can use any brand you prefer. If you want to swap out the tonic water, I recommend club soda or neutral flavored sparkling water.
  • Cinnamon Honey Syrup
    • honey: Again, I recommend using local honey (mine came from my neighbor’s bees).
    • cinnamon sticks: Be sure your cinnamon sticks are food grade. You can find them in your grocery store’s spice aisle.
    • water: Tap, filtered, or bottled water works. Use what you prefer.
  • OPTIONAL: Raw honeycomb garnish.

Don’t forget to grab your favorite glassware (I use coupe glasses) and cocktail pins for holding your garnish in place.

How To Make An Apple Bee’s Knees Mocktail

This is a very short summary of the steps, the recipe card will have more details. Pretty soon you will have a delicious Apple Bee’s Knees Mocktail in no time!

  1. Prepare your Cinnamon Honey Syrup.
  2. Add all the ingredients into a cocktail shaker, jar, or lidded container.
  3. Shake vigorously until your mocktail is well combined.
  4. Pour into glasses (I like using coup glasses).
  5. Garnish with a hunk of honey comb (like I did) or a lemon slice.
Overhead shot of apple bee's knees mocktails to see the bubbly tops of them.

Homemade Cinnamon Honey Syrup

Raw honey does not mix into cold drinks at all (it gets clumpy and weird). To fix this problem we make a honey simple syrup (infused with a few cinnamon sticks) by heating together honey and water on the stove. This makes it easier to mix into our Bee’s Knees while giving it added sweetness and flavor.

  1. Add equal parts honey, cinnamon sticks, and water to a saucepan.
  2. Heat over medium, stirring occasionally, until the mixture comes to a boil (but do not let it boil).
  3. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 10 to 20 minutes.
  4. Remove from heat and allow the Cinnamon Honey Syrup to cool to room temperature.
  5. Store in a glass jar or lidded container.

Leftover Cinnamon Honey Syrup can be stored covered in the refrigerator for about 2 weeks to a month. I like using it in my tea, cold brew coffee, and even in my Greek yogurt.

Two mocktails in coupe glasses with a cocktail pin of fresh honeycomb, surrounded by red and orange mums.

Non Alcoholic Spirits To Add To Your Mocktail

I absolutely love using zero proof spirits every chance I get! Here are a few of my favorites to use in this bee’s knees mocktail.

Non Alcoholic Gin: A traditional bee’s knees has gin in it so you could easily add an ounce or two of non alcoholic gin (instead of tonic water) to this drink. I recommend using Monday Gin (my favorite), Free SpiritsLyre’s, or Ritual.

Non Alcoholic Bitters: These really give depth and amp up the flavors! I add a dash or two of All the Bitter aromatic bitters (You can get 10% off by using my code ENTIRELY10)!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)

What does Bee’s Knees taste like?

Bee’s Knees is a wonderful balance of honey and lemon. In this recipe I have added notes of cinnamon and apple cider to make it even more unique and delicious. It is bubbly, light, and the perfect drink for fall.

Is a Bee’s Knees drink sweet?

Yes and no, it is in between sweet and sour. You can easily make this recipe to suit your taste preferences: add more lemon juice for a sour drink or more cinnamon honey syrup for sweeter. If you are looking for a stronger apple cider flavor add more of that.

How do I make a Bee’s Knees cocktail?

To make this recipe a cocktail you will substitute the tonic water for 2 ounces of gin or 2 ounces of vodka (depending on your taste preference). A traditional Bee’s Knees cocktail is made with gin.

Top of Apple Bee's Knees Mocktail with a cocktail pin of fresh honeycomb. A coupe glass of marigolds in the background.

More Mocktail Recipes You Might Enjoy:

Other Simple Syrup Recipes to Try:


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Enjoy Entirely, Elizabeth
Apple Bee's Knees Mocktail in coupe glass garnished with honeycomb and red marigolds.

Apple Bee’s Knees Mocktail

Elizabeth Swoish
This easy and refreshing Apple Bee's Knees Mocktail is perfect for fall entertaining. It is made with simple ingredient and all you have to do is shake, pour, and garnish. Did I mention it comes with a Cinnamon Honey Syrup recipe?!
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cinnamon Honey Syrup 30 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Course Beverage
Servings 2
Calories 211 kcal

EQUIPMENT

INGREDIENTS
 
 

  • 8 ounces apple cider
  • 8 ounces tonic water - or zero proof gin*
  • 2 ounces lemon juice - about 1 lemon
  • 3 ounces cinnamon honey syrup
  • honeycomb - raw, used for garnish

Cinnamon Honey Syrup

  • ½ cup honey
  • 1-2 cinnamon sticks - food grade
  • ½ cup water

INSTRUCTIONS
 

  • Into a cocktail shaker add apple cider, tonic water, lemon juice, and cinnamon honey syrup.*
  • Shake vigorously for about 30 seconds or so. Pour into two coupe glasses and garnish with honey comb.

Cinnamon Honey Syrup

  • To a small saucepan add honey, cinnamon sticks, and water.
  • Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat (but do not allow it to boil). Reduce to low heat and simmer for 10 minutes.
  • Remove from heat and allow the cinnamon honey syrup to cool to room temperature.
  • Take out the cinnamon sticks before pouring the syrup into an airtight glass bottle or lidded container.

VIDEO

RECIPE NOTES

*Chill the apple cider, tonic water, lemon, and cinnamon honey syrup. Alternatively, use room temperature ingredients with the addition of ice to chill the drink.
 

Cinnamon Honey Syrup Storing Information:

  • Refrigerated in an airtight container or glass jar, up to one month.
  • Freeze into cubes and then in a plastic bag, up to a year.
 

Zero Proof Spirits to Add:

  • Non Alcoholic Bitters: These really give depth and amp up the flavors! I add a dash or two of All the Bitter aromatic bitters (You can get 10% off by using my code ENTIRELY10)!
 

How to Make This Apple Bee’s Knees a Cocktail:

  • Substitute the tonic water for 2 ounces of gin.

Metric conversions are calculated automatically. I cannot guarantee the accuracy of this information.

Tried this recipe?Feel free to share a rating and comment below. Don’t forget to tag me on social media, or use the hashtag #EntirelyElizabeth – I would love to see what you’ve made!
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By Elizabeth Swoish on October 4th, 2022
Elizabeth Swoish holding a camera up to her eye taking a photo.

About Elizabeth Swoish

Elizabeth Swoish is the founder and CEO of Entirely Elizabeth. She is a self-taught foodie and mocktail enthusiast with a business degree in data analysis. Read Elizabeth's food journey or connect on your favorite social media channels.

1 thought on “Apple Bee’s Knees Mocktail”

  1. 5 stars
    Ohh this was so perfect! I just bought some of the Monday zero proof gin and I was looking for some new ways to use it. This was so good!! Thanks for the idea.

    Reply

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