The Bee's Knees (with a Twist)
With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, I find myself inspired by love in all its forms. Familial love, dear friendships, self love, and, of course, sweet, romantic love. My husband and I will proudly be celebrating our 20th wedding anniversary this June. Though 20 years together is impressive, nothing quite exemplifies love more than a pair of bright and shiny newlyweds. I am delighted to give a nuptial nod to my colleague, Craig Light, and his gorgeous new bride, Beth Horton, who tied the knot in the Fall of 2024. As Old Mill Road’s Digital Marketing Manager, Craig is at the forefront of everything we do and I work with him closely each week to promote our nearby businesses and capture exciting, local stories. One of my favorite collaborations is the Southern VT Beer Crawl piece we wrote for Stratton Magazine’s Fall ‘23 issue. As you peruse through our Vermont publications, you’ll see some of Craig’s photos, shining a spotlight on the people and businesses that make our region thrive. You’ll definitely feel the love through his lens.
~Megan Demarest, Editor of The Guide​
Beth doesn’t seem to need a spotlight in order to shine, and can often be found behind the bar at The Crooked Ram in Manchester, welcoming guests for brunch and dinner, and serving up creative, memorable concoctions (see my article on The Crooked Ram in Manchester Life Magazine 2024). Knowing that Beth loves to experiment with libations, I asked her to share a Valentine-appropriate, wedding-inspired cocktail recipe for our readers, and she did not disappoint! She even gave me a little background on her romantic history with Craig. “We were both young, working at Bromley, and we came together first over our love of snowboarding. We fell in love quickly and were together for 10 years before deciding to get married on our ten year anniversary- October 10, 2024. It was during peak foliage in Wilmington, surrounded by our family and close friends.” Awwww…we’re all so happy for you, Beth & Craig! Enjoy your first year together, and cheers to 20 more and beyond.
The Night Flower
A cocktail recipe by Beth Horton
Being a bartender, one of the most frequently asked questions I get is “What is your favorite drink?” It’s simple, a Bee's Knees. Gin, preferably Barr Hill, lemon, and honey simple syrup. When the cocktail program first started at The Crooked Ram, I knew I had to bring one of my recipes in, a riff on a Bee's Knees. We ended up naming it “The Night Flower.” I use Barr Hill gin, lemon, a chamomile-infused honey, Lillet, and an egg white. Honey simples are the easiest to make because there is no need to cook the honey down like you would with a normal simple sugar. You just add the boiling water to the honey itself. I like to do a 2:1 ratio– 2 parts honey to 1 part water. It’s the best way to encapsulate the thick honey flavor. After mixing the honey and water together, steep chamomile into the mixture just like you would with your tea, but let it sit for a little longer (about 20 minutes) to really get that chamomile flavor.
Now for the fun part– mixing your cocktail! In a shaker (or a mason jar with a lid), combine your ingredients (see below). Without ice, shake your heart out. It will give your drink that nice, foamy layer on top. Then, add ice to the shaker to chill the cocktail down and shake again for another 20 seconds. Strain into a cold cocktail glass and enjoy with your Valentine or Galentine!
Ingredients
1 ½ oz. Barr Hill Gin
½ oz. Lillet (fortified French wine)
½ oz. chamomile-infused honey (make as described above)
¾ oz. lemon juice
1 egg white
Jenn Perry Photography - jennperry.photography