Sharkbait’s Cocktail of the Week: He’s Got Bees!

Oh yes. Just like Gob himself, I’ve got bees again this week. I came across a list of summer drinks to enjoy by the fire. The Bee’s Elbow caught my eye, and decided to mix it up for you all this week. Before I get into the drink, can I go on a rant here for a second?

Good.

Now, drink people. Can we cool it on the Bee references here? Just because a drink has honey (or honey syrup) in it, doesn’t mean it needs bee reference. Be better.

Now, I present the Bee’s Elbow:

2 oz Gin
2 oz Local Honey
1 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
Mint Leaves
Cracked Ice
Club Soda to Top

Muddle 6-8 mint leaves in a cocktail shaker. Crack ice with a hammer so that the middle (the coldest part of the ice) is exposed. Add to shaker. Combine gin, honey (if too thick, warm honey up a little bit), and fresh lemon juice in a shaker. Shake until you cannot hold the shaker in your hands anymore! It should be too cold to handle. Add fresh ice to a lowball glass and strain. Top with club soda to fill, and garnish with mint leaves.

I get mint on the nose immediately. It helps when you have a giant mint leaf sitting there as a garnish, on top of the 7 leaves I muddled in the shaker, and apparently did a poor job of straining out. If you can, definitely use fresh mint. Using the fresh stuff really makes a difference.

Initially I thought the soda water would detract from the overall flavor palate. However, it added a nice fizz and didn’t water it down noticeably. Another benefit to the soda is it keeps the drink light and drinkable, so one can imbibe a few in a sitting. As one is want to do…

In the sip, I get a good deal of sweetness from the honey. Which is a welcome change from the simple syrups I’ve mainly been using in these drinks. I particularly enjoy how the pure honey is less saccharine than honey syrup. The gin is noticeable, but not overpowering. It still retains enough of a kick to remind you that yes, there is booze in this. Once again, the fresh mint flavor makes an appearance, this time adding a nice, bright flavor. I want more of that in warm weather drinks.

The lemon however does get a little lost in all of this.  I can detect some lemon flavor and acidity cutting through the middle towards the end, but it doesn’t stand out like I thought it would. I would add maybe a half ounce more, just to bring it out a little bit.

It is very close to, but not exactly like a bees knees. In fact, it’s like a Bees Knees hooked up with a Whiskey smash. The offspring clearly resembles its gin parent. I think a family reunion is in order before the summer is out.

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Sharkbait
Sharkbait has not actually been bitten by a shark, but has told people in bars that he was for free drinks. Married to a Giants fan, he enjoys whisk(e)y, cooking, the Rangers, and the Patriots.
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Horatio Cornblower

I was just outside and apparently stepped on a bee, resulting in a now throbbing toe and one less bee in the world, since their stinger tears off their ass end. Hope it was worth it, you kamikaze pollinator you.

Moose -The End Is Well Nigh

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Fronkenshteen

French Cup Final about to begin. With a smattering of fans in the stands!

ballsofsteelandfury

I find it hilarious that they crammed all the fans into two sections and left the rest of the stadium empty..

Btw, that was a vicious tackle on Mbappe. He’s lucky he doesn’t have a broken ankle.

Fronkenshteen

Neymar got crushed early, too.

Moose -The End Is Well Nigh

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Moose -The End Is Well Nigh

I’m thinking the Murder Hornet cocktail would be slightly different.

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Moose -The End Is Well Nigh

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Horatio Cornblower

The Chinese guy does all the work while the rich white guy bursts in after for the grand entrance.

Just like the railroads!

Brick Meathook

Hey, who’s paying the bills around here?

Moose -The End Is Well Nigh

The Chinese will win the long game, although Chiang Kai-shek fucked things up a bit.

Moose -The End Is Well Nigh

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Moose -The End Is Well Nigh

Sounds intoxicatingly refreshing…. which is the best refreshing.

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Horatio Cornblower

I like how almost all cocktails are basically ways to get shit-faced on gin without having to actually taste gin.

Moose -The End Is Well Nigh

Well, not just gin. Prohibition was the explosion of mixed drinks because shitty booze and sort of booze was all that was attainable in most parts.

Wakezilla

I was literally just thinking about whether there were drinks that had honey in them. Sounds good!

There needs to be a drink called the Bee’s knees and a Killer Bee, which will contain so much alcohol, it’ll fuck you up

Moose -The End Is Well Nigh

I pretty have to.

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Moose -The End Is Well Nigh

The ghost pepper thing sounds realistic; a Killer Bee drink would have to leave you hurting.

ballsofsteelandfury

What we need is a drink called the Bee’s Fart!

ballsofsteelandfury

Exactly!

yeah right

Is that the yellow crap that gets all over my car when I’m parked at work?

Moose -The End Is Well Nigh

Depends on how you are having sex.