The Bee Sting: A Complete History & Classic Recipe

Spicy, floral, and irresistibly mischievous, the Bee Sting is the fiery cousin of the Bee’s Knees—a cocktail that takes the classic gin-honey-citrus template and electrifies it with heat. It’s part Prohibition homage, part modern craft riff, and all attitude. Where its predecessor is soft and sunny, the Bee Sting bites back: honey warms, chili burns, and gin lifts everything into a buzzing, aromatic harmony. Balanced sweetness, bright citrus, and lingering spice make it one of the most compelling contemporary honey cocktails in the modern canon.

I. Origins

A spicy spin on a Prohibition classic

The Bee Sting is a contemporary riff on the Bee’s Knees, the beloved Prohibition-era cocktail made with gin, lemon, and honey. The original Bee’s Knees emerged in the 1920s as a way to mask poor-quality bathtub gin with honey’s luxurious sweetness and lemon’s brightness.

But the Bee Sting is not a historical drink—it is a modern creation, widely adopted in the early 2000s craft revival, when mixologists began exploring the interplay of heat and sweetness. The addition of chili (often jalapeño, serrano, or infused honey) gave the classic an edge that suited modern palates.

Why add spice?

The logic is simple and ancient:

• Honey + spice = culinary magic

• Chili accentuates acidity

• Heat balances sweetness

• Spice adds texture and length

• Gin’s botanicals glow under heat

The Bee Sting isn’t just hotter—it’s deeper, layered, and more expressive.

II. Historical Evolution

Early modern appearances

Evidence of Bee Sting–style riffs surfaces in:

• Craft bar menus circa 2004–2010

• Cocktail competitions featuring infused syrups

• Culinary-forward bartending where chili and botanical spirits converged

It quickly became a bartender favorite because it:

• Showcases technique

• Is easy to batch or modify

• Appeals to adventurous drinkers

The rise of spicy cocktails

The Bee Sting sits within a lineage of spicy modern classics:

• The Spicy Margarita

• The Penicillin (with its ginger heat)

• The Trinidad Sour (with bold Angostura spice)

As diners embraced spicier food and bolder flavors, the Bee Sting thrived.

Stabilizing into a recognized modern template

By the mid-2010s, the Bee Sting had become a semi-codified contemporary recipe:

• Gin

• Lemon

• Honey (or honey-chili syrup)

• Chili infusion or fresh slices

• Optional bitters

While ratios vary, the structure is now widely recognized.

III. Ingredients & Technique

Gin

A Bee Sting demands a gin with enough backbone to stand up to honey and heat. Ideal choices:

• London dry (classic and crisp)

• Citrus-forward contemporary gin

• Floral gin if using a milder chili

Avoid overly exotic gins that compete with spice.

Honey

Honey is essential—not a sweetener to swap casually. It contributes:

• Body

• Aroma

• Floral notes

• Length

Honey syrup (1:1 honey to warm water) is nearly always used to ensure proper integration.

Heat

Bartenders typically use:

• Fresh jalapeño (clean, green heat)

• Serrano (brighter, sharper heat)

• Honey-chili syrup (balanced, controlled)

• Tinctures (precise and potent)

The spice should complement, not dominate.

Citrus

Fresh lemon juice mirrors the Bee’s Knees and sharpens honey’s roundness.

Technique

Shake hard. Honey needs force to emulsify, and chili benefits from rapid extraction.

IV. Cultural Significance

A study in contrast

The Bee Sting is beloved for the same reasons spicy food resonates:

• Sweetness and heat in harmony

• Refreshment and warmth simultaneously

• A sensory narrative—soft entry, bright mid-palate, spicy finish

It’s a cocktail that feels alive.

A star of the modern craft era

The Bee Sting embodies modern mixology’s priorities:

• Fresh ingredients

• Culinary cross-pollination

• Clear structure with expressive twists

• Respect for classic templates

It’s both familiar and daring—a perfect gateway drink for newcomers seeking something exciting.

A drink that tells a story

The name itself is genius:

• “Bee” nods to honey.

• “Sting” signals spice.

• Together, they promise sweetness with danger.

It is instantly memorable and deeply marketable.

V. How to Make the Classic Version Today

Below is the contemporary craft standard—balanced, bright, and perfectly stinging.

Recipe — The Classic Bee Sting

Ingredients

• 2 oz (60 ml) gin

• 0.75 oz (22 ml) fresh lemon juice

• 0.75 oz (22 ml) honey syrup (1:1)

• 2–3 thin slices fresh jalapeño or serrano

• Optional: 1 dash orange bitters or aromatic bitters

Method

1. Add chili slices to a shaker.

2. Add gin, lemon juice, and honey syrup.

3. Shake hard with ice for 10–12 seconds.

4. Double strain into a chilled coupe.

5. Garnish with a thin chili wheel or lemon peel.

Specs

• Glass: Coupe

• Ice: None (served up)

• Garnish: Chili slice or lemon peel

• Style: Modern spicy honey sour

Technique Notes

• Remove seeds for milder heat; leave them in for a punchier sting.

• Muddle very lightly only if the chili is mild—over-muddling causes vegetal bitterness.

• Adjust honey levels based on chili heat and gin intensity.

• For a perfectly smooth profile: use honey-chili syrup instead of fresh peppers.

Variations & Lineage

• Smoked Bee Sting: Add mezcal in a small split base with gin.

• Hot Honey Bee: Substitute hot honey syrup for both sweetness and spice.

• Garden Bee: Add a basil leaf to the shake for herbal brightness.

• Bee Sting Highball: Shake ingredients and top with soda for a tall, crushed-ice version.

• Bee’s Knees: The original, non-spicy ancestor.

Service & Pairing Tip

• Perfect with tacos, grilled chicken, Thai dishes, or anything citrusy.

• Excellent as a pre-dinner drink—stimulates appetite beautifully.

• Ideal for warm weather or rooftop service.

VI. Modern Variations & Legacy

The Bee Sting as a template

Today, bartenders use the Bee Sting as a framework for experimenting with:

• Spicy syrups

• Chili-infused honey

• Flavored gins

• Tropical modifications

• Culinary pairings

It has become a “bartender’s creativity test,” much like the Daiquiri or Old Fashioned.

Why the Bee Sting endures

• Universally appealing

• Balanced but bold

• Easy to riff

• Perfect for menus

• Offers an emotional sensory arc

It represents the sweet spot (literally) between classic structure and contemporary innovation. Expect the Bee Sting to remain a modern favorite for decades to come.