The Frog Blog

As previously mentioned, several months ago we kicked up our cocktail program a notch and introduced a Classic Cocktail of the Week.  I know it’s not an original idea.  Places have been doing this for years. (A colleague accused me of stealing the idea from him. LOL!)  Not original but still a good idea for a whole bunch of reasons.

We decided to do it because we thought our Bartenders could use some training in everyone making the same drinks the same way.  There is a lot of ego in drink making!  Not wanting to bruise any, and still knowing that just like with the food menu, cocktail consistency matters.  Also, as with cuisine, being grounded in the basics is necessary before a cook/chef can go off and improvise (I say).  A bartender (aka “Bar Chef”) needs grounding in classic technique and combinations before they can go off and be a credible improvisational mixologist (I say). Finally, I don’t want my bartenders using our expensive ingredients to experiment on the public. Knowledge is power. Power to the bartender!  Okay…. I am getting a little out there with this…back on track.

So we are working our way through Classic Cocktails, one week at a time.  It goes pretty much like this: One week something fairly common (Daiquiri, Tom Collins, Whiskey Sour), one week something obscure (Aviation, Silver Fizz), or in between (Negroni, Rob Roy, Zombie), throw in an occasional forgotten cocktail (Pompadour) and before know it we have perfected at least a dozen cocktails, all classics. We have a long way to go. It’s fun!  Our bartenders are better for it. Our guests more cocktail savvy too. It’s a win-win

This week we are mixing up a somewhat obscure classic cocktail Winnie-the-Pooh would love; Bee’s Knees. Not many cocktails feature honey as a sweetener; generally it would muck-up the purity of drinks with distinct flavors (Think margaritas and daiquiris. Honey? Yuck!) However, Bee’s Knees is all about the warm, floral flavors of honey.  Honey always works well with lemon, and combined with the herbal tones of Gin, it’s a match! 

A Classic Cocktail Winnie-the-Pooh would love!

Bee’s Knees Recipe

• 2 ounces Gin
• 3/4 ounce Lemon Juice
• 3/4 ounce Honey Syrup
• Lemon peel

 Combine the Gin, Lemon juice, and Honey is a cocktail shaker with ice.  Shake.  Strain into a martini glass and garnish with a lemon peel.  Want to get fancy? Flame the lemon peel (not essential).