The Bee Durham is Kingfisher’s signature and most popular cocktail. The nuanced riff on the Bee’s Knees calls for wax-washing gin as the base spirit, a simple and inventive technique for added texture.
The Bee Durham
Sean Umstead and Michelle Vanderwalker | Durham, North Carolina
Ingredients
Serving: 1
- 2 ounces beeswax-infused gin, preferably Bombay Sapphire (see Editor’s Note)
- 1 ounce fresh lemon juice
- 3/4 ounce honey syrup (see Editor’s Note)
Garnish: lemon peel or lemon wheel
Directions
- Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker.
- Add ice and shake until chilled.
- Double-strain into a ceramic cup or rocks glass over ice.
- Garnish with a lemon peel or lemon wheel.
Editor's Note
Beeswax-Infused Gin
Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add 1/2 ounce of food-grade beeswax to a 16-ounce Mason jar. Seal the jar finger-tight. Add the jar to boiling water. (The jar will float.) When the beeswax has melted, use canning tongs to remove it from the water. Place the jar on its side on a clean dish towel, and use another dish towel to gently roll the jar back and forth until the wax has coated the sides of the jar. Once the wax has solidified, add gin up to the neck of the jar, reserving some airspace at the top. There is no need to coat the top of the jar, but if some wax gets on it, it is fine. Let gin steep for a minimum of 3 days. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve.
Honey Syrup
Combine 2 parts honey with 1 part hot water in a jar or bowl. Shake or stir to dissolve completely. Kingfisher recommends using a floral, lighter honey.