Spring cleaning can be rewarding on any occasion. Recently, however, emptying the pantry brought an unexpected benefit: cocktail hour invigoration.

Following the lead of the classic of Prohibition, called Bee’s Knees, I simmered the leftovers from various honey jars, along with water and an herb making a syrup that has an exquisite bite. Mix it with lemon juice, and – keeping the simple theme–a zero-proof Gin substitute, the drink is just as good as the original.

Fool’s Gold

This drink has all the power of its old-school ancestor Bee’s Knees.

Ingredients

• 1 cup honey
• 1 cup of water
• Three sprigs of fresh rosemary
• 3/4 ounces lemon juice
• 1 1/2 ounces non-alcoholic Gin like Ritual, Monday, or Spirit Gin

Directions

1. Make the syrup of honey and rosemary: In a small saucepan, mix honey and water and bring it to a boil over moderate temperature. Stir until the love dissolves, and then add two rosemary sprigs. Remove from the heat and let it steep for at least 30 minutes. Eliminate the rosemary and let the syrup cool down to room temperature. Syrup can be kept in a tightly sealed container in the fridge for two weeks.
2. Mix the drink: Fill an ice-filled shaker. Add 3/4 ounce honey-rosemary syrup, lemon juice, and non-alcoholic vodka. Shake vigorously until chilled, then strain into the glass of a coupe. Serve with a sprig of rosemary.