Bee's Kiss recipe
A velvety vintage rum cocktail marrying rich aged spirit, floral honey, and luxurious heavy cream.
Method: Shake and fine strain ·
Glass: Chilled coupe glass ·
Time: 3 min ·
Difficulty: Beginner ·
Family: Tiki & Tropical
Ingredients
- 2 oz Aged rum (Barbados or Jamaican rum recommended)
- 0.75 oz Honey syrup (3 parts honey to 1 part hot water)
- 0.75 oz Heavy cream (Fresh and high fat content)
How to make a Bee's Kiss
- Add the aged rum, honey syrup, and heavy cream into a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
- Shake vigorously for approximately 15 seconds to thoroughly chill and emulsify the cream.
- Double strain the mixture through a fine-mesh strainer into a chilled coupe glass.
- Garnish with freshly grated nutmeg and serve immediately.
Garnish
Garnish with a light dusting of freshly grated nutmeg across the foam.
Pro tip
For the best emulsion, shake the ingredients vigorously without ice first or ensure your ice is large and dry to prevent excessive dilution while aerating the heavy cream.
History of the Bee's Kiss
Emerging during the mid-20th century cocktail revival, the Bee's Kiss belongs to a storied lineage of cream-based shaken drinks that bridge classic sour templates with decadent textures. While exact origin details remain somewhat obscure in historical bartending literature, culinary historians often link its creation to the broader mid-century fascination with honey-sweetened libations following the success of prohibition-era predecessors like the Bee's Knees. By substituting gin with rum and adding rich dairy, bartenders crafted a velvety nightcap that remains celebrated for its luxurious balance of cane spirit depth and silky sweetness.
Flavour profile
Creamy, Sweet, Rich, Smooth
Variations
- Spiced Bee's Kiss — Substitute spiced rum for aged rum and add a dash of cardamom bitters for added warmth.
- Coffee Bee's Kiss — Add a quarter ounce of coffee liqueur to the shaker to introduce a mocha depth.
Practise making the Bee's Kiss in the free Virtual Bar game.