Celebrate one of Hollow Knight’s few friendly faces with a Bee’s Knees variation featuring extra sting.
You’ll need
- 1.50 oz (45ml) 1919 Gin
- .75 oz (20ml) Lillet Rose
- .50 oz (15ml) lemon juice
- .50 oz (15ml) honey simple syrup
Add all ingredients to a shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously to chill. Strain into your vessel. Serve!
“Garama!”
– Hornet, basically saying the equivalent of “b-baka!”
Every time someone says they don’t like a particular genre of game, you can be sure they have an exception. Anti-strategists might enjoy a dabble in Stellaris, and people who aren’t fans of city-builders might have a go on City Skylines now and then. For me, I don’t really enjoy platformers—and my exception to that rule is Hollow Knight.
See, I didn’t really give Hollow Knight a chance until recently. It was one of those games I said “huh, I’m really glad it’s doing well, and it’s a cool-looking game, but I think I’ll just go play Skyrim or Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead for another dozen hours instead”. I’m nothing if not consistent.
However, when redditor OberynMelonLord requested a drink from the game, I knew it was about time I finally redeemed my Humble Bundle key and gave it a go. And I’m very, very glad I did.
At it’s heart, Hollow Knight is a well-built, well-designed game—but far more importantly, it’s cute as heck. The plotline is terrifyingly dark, but the characters sing and dance and make little cute noises the entire time. They won me over, even as I was struggling to beat the easiest boss—and no character won me (or the rest of community) over more than one of the few friendly faces you find in Hollow Knight: Hornet.
Hornet now has her own game in Hollow Knight: Silksong, so I thought it was about time she got her own drink too.
If you like honey-infused cocktails, try the Estus inspired by Dark Souls next!
This variation on a Bee’s Knees was the result of a great deal of experimentation, particularly with gin choice. I settled on 1919 Gin, which is a New Zealand craft spirit, because of its use of Manuka honey as a botanical in its creation. It combines beautifully with the honey simple syrup and the Lillet rose, and all together they create a drink that is fruit-sweet, but still packs a sharp sting.
Very aromatic, pretty much a bouquet in the glass—I highly recommend trying to use 1919 Gin if you can get a hold of it (come to New Zealand if you can’t find it in your own country, and I’ll buy you a drink). If not, feel free to use another gin—just make sure it’s one of your favourites, as this is a gin-forward drink.
If you want to keep seeing video-game-inspired cocktails and get a hold of some exclusive recipes, head on over to Experience Bar’s Patreon page and consider slinging me a credit or two. You help keep this blog going!