Venues across the state of Rhode Island celebrated Bee’s Knees Week in September, an annual initiative spearheaded by Caledonia Spirits of Vermont. Each year, bars and restaurants create Bee’s Knees cocktails and creative variations featuring the company’s Barr Hill Gin, which is made with raw northern honey. For each cocktail sold, Caledonia Spirits supports initiatives aimed toward protection and preservation, protecting pollinators and raising awareness about their importance to the planet and its well-being. Caledonia Spirits donates 10 square feet of bee habitat for every photo of a Barr Hill Gin Bee’s Knees cocktail shared on social media and every bottle of Barr Hill Gin sold equals an additional 20 square feet pledged. With more than 700,000 square feet pledged and planted over the past seven years, the goal is to reach one million planted by those participating in 2024’s national efforts. The brand is distributed in Rhode Island via Horizon Beverage Co.
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- Bellini Providence’s The Beatrice crafted a Bea’s Knees, a name play honoring Beatrice Paolino, the inspiration for the hotel and the bar’s location. The cocktail is made with Barr Hill Tom Cat Gin, Ancho Reyes, honey syrup and lemon.
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- Tiny Bar’s Madi Drain, who placed third overall at the regional Royal Jelly Cocktail Competition at Barr Hill in August, crafted the Mitsubachi (Japanese for “honeybee”) made from Hakutake Shiro Kome Shochu, Barr Hill Gin, Kombu Honey, lemon juice and ginger root.
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- Pasta Beach in Providence crafted the Italian Bee, made of Barr Hill Gin, lemon, fig and honey simple syrup.
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- Troop in Providence crafted a Barr Hill Gin, honey-maple switchel cordial, hint of lemon, absinthe-rinsed cocktail.
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- A classic Bee’s Knees cocktail at Riffraff Bookstore + Bar in Providence.
