Paper Station Bistro’s Bees Knees

Bottoms Up

By Lynda Wheatley | Dec. 12, 2020

Like the Sidecar, the Gin Rickey, and the French 75, the Bees Knees cocktail is a Prohibition Era compote that, in the proper hands, could be very dangerous.

At Harbor Springs’ Paper Station Bistro (145 E. Main St.) three simple ingredients make their Bees Knees ($12) a prime example of this deliciously sweet and delightfully potent vintage drink. 

Theirs starts with uber-clean and crisp Hendrick’s Gin, which is a kind of masterpiece in and of itself. That crystal clear liquor is then mixed with lots of ice, a squeeze of fresh lemon, and a dollop of floral honey. Shaken then poured, the sting of this Bees Knees is warming and relaxing, the rich honey and lemon offering a magic carpet of sweetness that ushers in the bracing perfection of their partnership with Hendrick’s small-batch gin.

We highly recommend trying one but use caution if tackling two: The Bistro’s Bees Knees go down with exceptional ease. Holiday shopping in Harbor Springs? Buzz on in to Paper Station Bistro … or take one on the wing. Find out more at www.paperstationbistro.com.