Average
Fruity & Sour
5 Minutes
Cocktail Glass
Ingredients
The Apple Bee is a fruity cocktail made with vodka, fresh apple juice, muddled apple and honey. But not just any honey, the Apple Bee cocktail is made with orange blossom honey.
Picture yourself sipping it during a picnic in the springtime or enjoying it in your backyard with friends. The Apple Bee is that kinda cocktail.
How To Make an Apple bee Cocktail
Bar tools you’ll need
Fine Strainer
Jigger
Knife
Muddler
Boston Shaker
Hawthorne Strainer
Blender
How to Mix
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Cut one apple in half, then cut up one half into small enough pieces to muddle.
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Add the apple pieces into a cocktail shaker.
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Use a jigger (or measuring instrument) to add orange blossom honey into the shaker.
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Use a muddler to firmly press down and twist the apple pieces, breaking it up to release its juices. The honey aids in the muddling motion by softening the fruit, making it easier to extract the juice.
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Cut an apple into small pieces and add it to a blender with a bit of water. Blend until the mixture is fully liquefied
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Use the jigger to measure and pour apple juice into the shaker.
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Measure and add Absolut Vodka.
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Add ice cubes into the shaker.
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Seal the shaker and shake vigorously until the outside is frosty.
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Open the shaker and place a Hawthorne strainer over it. In your other hand, hold a fine mesh strainer above a cocktail glass.
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Pour the cocktail into the glass through both strainers.
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Garnish with a single apple slice, either by placing it directly into the glass or by perching it on the rim.
All About the Apple Bee Cocktail
The Apple Bee is a lesser-known cocktail made with vodka, fresh pressed apple juice, muddled apple pieces and orange blossom honey. It’s then shaken with ice and served in a cocktail glass and garnished with an apple slice.
Like springtime. The Apple Bee tastes like an apple orchard, with some floral and citrus sweetness courtesy of the the orange blossom honey. The vodka adds a smooth, neutral base, tying all the flavors together beautifully
Unfortunately, there’s no known documented history or stories about this little known cocktail.
- Double strain your Apple Bee
To ensure a smooth and refined drink, use both a Hawthorne strainer and a fine mesh strainer (or a sieve or tea strainer). This technique helps eliminate any unwanted ice shards, resulting in a perfectly polished cocktail. - Homemade apple juice
Skip the supermarket stuff and make your own apple juice. If you want your drinks to taste like the ones you get at a bar, you’ve got to use fresh ingredients. The stuff you find at supermarkets often has sugar and other preservatives. Use a blender, juicer or a centrifugal juicer to make your own apple juice.For our Apple Bee cocktail, we like to use Granny Smith apples, which have a distinct tartness. However, feel free to experiment with different apple types. See the FAQ section below to learn more.
- Experiment with different apple varieties to make your apple juice
One fantastic way to shake up your Apple Bee cocktail and create a new variation is by experimenting with different apple types for your apple juice.Each variety will bring its own unique flavor to the mix. Check out the FAQ below for a quick rundown on the flavor profiles of common apple varieties.
- Apple Screwdriver
The Apple Screwdriver is made with one part vodka and two-three parts apple juice. That’s it. Served in a highball glass filled with ice cubes, it’s a classic no-fuss twist on a Screwdriver cocktail. - Add lemon juice
If you want to add a little tartness and some acidity to your drink, add 10 ml of lemon juice to the recipe. - Experiment with honey
While we think orange blossom honey is perfect for an Apple Bee cocktail, feel free to change play around with different honey types to create new and interesting accents. - The Knee’s Bees
The Knee’s Bees is a vodka variation of the classic gin cocktail, the Bee’s Knees, invented by Absolut Global Brand Ambassador, Ricardo ‘Rico’ Dynan. It mixes Absolut Vodka, lemon juice and honey syrup. Another perfect spring drink. Take a look at the recipe for The Knee’s Bees. - Appletini
The Appletini is a modern classic cocktail that has its heyday in the 1980s but is a classic that we think deserves more praise. An Appletini (aka Apple Martini) is made with vodka, apple liqueur, apple juice, lemon juice and simple syrup. Check out the recipe for an Appletini. - Virgin Appletini
This Appletini mocktail is a perfect springtime sipper made with apple juice, lemon juice, simple syrup, shaken with ice and strained into a chilled martini glass. Discover the recipe for a Virgin Appletini.
- We recommend serving the Apple Bee in a chilled cocktail glass or martini glass.
- To garnish, we recommend a slice of apple placed directly into the glass or perched on the rim of the glass. For a little extra something, sprinkle some cinnamon on your apple slice.
- Experiment with different apple varieties to garnish your drink, like Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or Fuji. Each adds a unique color and flavor twist to your cocktail.
- If you love the taste of cinnamon and apple (and who doesn’t?), garnish with a cinnamon stick and an apple slice.
Apple Bee FAQ
The spirit base of an Apple Bee is vodka.
That’s entirely up to you! It depends on the flavor profile you’re aiming for. Different apple varieties can create distinct tastes. Here’s a quick breakdown:
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Granny Smith: Juice some Granny Smiths for a tart, crisp flavor that adds a refreshing kick to your drink.
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Honeycrisp: If you’re after sweetness, Honeycrisp juice will bring a juicy, sweet vibe to your cocktail.
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Fuji: Fuji apples offer balanced sweetness and a firm texture, making for a smooth, satisfying juice.
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Pink Lady: With their sweet-tart profile, Pink Lady apples create a lively, nuanced juice that brightens up your drink.
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Gala: Gala apples deliver mild sweetness and a pleasant aroma, adding a gentle fruity note to your cocktail.
Orange blossom honey is typically sweeter than regular honey and carries subtle citrus notes from the orange blossom flowers.
Yes, but keep in mind that orange blossom honey is sweeter and has delicate citrus notes, which might be lost if you opt for a different type of honey.
Experiment with different types of honey to create different nuances to your drink.
An Apple Bee is made with vodka, apple juice and orange blossom honey, whereas an Appletini is made with vodka, apple liqueur, apple juice, lemon juice, and simple syrup.
