Now through Oct. 1, 21 Atlanta restaurants will be participating in the first ever Bee's Knees cocktail week ; a nationwide effort to help raise money and awareness for honey bee conservation.
Chef Zach Meloy, Better Half
Better Half's Buzzin' in the Free World cocktail keeps the soul of the classic alive using that local Cleveland honey in the syrup with a hint of lavender. It's garnished with local bee pollen.
C-100, 349 14th St. NW, Atlanta. 404-695-4547, betterhalfatl.com.
Brandon Ley and Johnny Martinez, Georgia Beer Garden
" Bee's Knees cocktail week gives us a chance to continue giving back to our community and farmers. Without honey bees, there would be no hops for making beer," Ley says of why a beer garden is involved in this cocktail-focused charity week.
The Wild Honey Goat cocktail is a fairly classic take on the Bee's Knees but adds one key ingredient, a saison from Roswell's Abbey of the Holy Goats brewery called Goats in the Garden. The farmhouse-style ale's citrus notes and slight effervescence gives the drink a shandy-like quality. General manager, Ian Carlson says the saison is brewed with elderflower which plays well with the juniper and honey contained in Barr Hill gin used in the cocktail.
420 Edgewood Ave. SE, Atlanta. 404-458-5690, georgiabeergarden.com.
Lead bartender, Don Pirone, Bellina Alimentari
Socrates Philosophies keeps it classic, only adding a spritz of lavender as an aromatic garnish before serving.
Ponce City Market, 675 Ponce De Leon Ave. NE #131, Atlanta. 404-330-9933, bellina-alimentari.com.
Manager, Katie McDonald, Wrecking Bar Brewpub
Wrecking Bar's Plight of the Bumblebee is what McDonald calls an "ode to honey." The honey in the cocktail carries hints of wildflower, sagebrush and orange blossoms.
"I wanted to bring out the bright, floral notes [of Barr Hill gin] with the Lillet blanc and orange flower water while grounding the cocktail with a bit of earthiness from the yerba mate- (South American tea leaf-like mixture ) infused raw honey."
292 Moreland Ave. NE, Atlanta. 404-221-2600, wreckingbarbrewpub.com.
Visit drinkbeesknees.com/venues for the full list of participating Atlanta restaurants.
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