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 and Apple Cider Mule Mocktail!
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 spin on it!
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!
Ingredients for Apple Bee’s Knees Mocktail
- 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.
- 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. You can use club soda or sparkling water in it’s place.
- 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.
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!
- Prepare your Cinnamon Honey Syrup.
- Add all the ingredients into a cocktail shaker, jar, or lidded container.
- Shake vigorously until your mocktail is well combined.
- Pour into glasses (I like using coup glasses).
- Garnish with a hunk of honey comb (like I did) or a lemon slice.
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.
- Add equal parts honey, cinnamon sticks, and water to a saucepan.
- Heat over medium, stirring occasionally, until the mixture comes to a boil (but do not let it boil).
- Reduce heat to low and simmer for 10 to 20 minutes.
- Remove from heat and allow the Cinnamon Honey Syrup to cool to room temperature.
- 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.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bee’s Knees Drink
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.
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.
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.
More Mocktail Recipes You Might Enjoy:
- Grapefruit Ginger Beer Mocktail
- Lemon Mojito Mocktail
- Strawberry Daiquiri Mocktail
- Pina Colada Mocktail
- Spicy Jalapeno Margarita Mocktail
- Blue Lagoon Mocktail
- Sunrise Mocktail Spritzer
- Espresso Martini Mocktail
- Strawberry Mojito Mocktail
Other Simple Syrup Recipes to Try:
- Simple Syrup
- Strawberry Simple Syrup
- Jalapeno Simple Syrup
- Cardamom Syrup
- Grenadine (Pomegranate Simple Syrup)
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Apple Bee’s Knees Mocktail
Ingredients
- 8 ounces apple cider
- 8 ounces tonic water;
- 2 ounces lemon juice; about 1 lemon
- 3 ounces cinnamon honey syrup
- honey comb; for garnish
Cinnamon Honey Syrup
- ½ cup honey
- 1-2 cinnamon sticks
- 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
Notes
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.
How to Make This Apple Bee’s Knees a Cocktail:
- Substitute the tonic water for 2 ounces of gin or 2 ounces of vodka.
Metric conversions are calculated automatically. I cannot guarantee the accuracy of this information.
If you make my Apple Bee’s Knees Mocktail, don’t forget to leave this recipe a rating, comment, or like. Tag me on social media using the hashtag #EntirelyElizabeth when sharing your own personal photos making this recipe. I would love to see your version and know your thoughts!
