The Business

The Business is a simple yet elegant gin cocktail that perfectly balances sweet and sour. It's essentially a variation of the Bee's Knees, using lime juice instead of lemon and adding a couple of dashes of Angostura bitters. The honey syrup provides a rich sweetness that complements the botanical notes of the gin, while the bitters add a layer of aromatic spice, making it a sophisticated and highly drinkable cocktail.
The Business

Preparation

Preparation time: 3 minutes

Preparation time
Difficulty

Drink Classification

The Business is categorized as a modern classic cocktail. It falls into the "sour" family of drinks, characterized by a spirit base, a sour component (lime), and a sweet component (honey).

Serving

Served "up" without ice in a chilled coupe or cocktail glass, this is a crisp, cold drink. Its alcohol content is standard for a shaken sour-style cocktail.
Serving size
120-150 ml / 4-5 oz
Alcohol content
20-25% ABV
Alcohol strength
Serving temperature
Cold
Glass type
Coupe
Glass treatment
Chilled

Backstory

Created in the mid-2000s at the New York City bar Little Branch, a part of Sasha Petraske's influential cocktail empire. The drink is a testament to the "less is more" philosophy, taking a classic template (the sour) and making a small but significant tweak. It quickly became a favorite among bartenders and patrons for its balanced and refreshing character.
Origin
Created in New York City, USA, around the mid-2000s at the bar Little Branch.

The Business

The drink is consistently known as "The Business." There are no common alternative names or translations for this modern classic cocktail.
Original name
The Business
Alternative name
The Business Cocktail

Characteristics overview

It has a bright aroma of citrus and gin botanicals, with a perfectly balanced sweet and sour flavor profile. The texture is smooth and the aftertaste is clean and crisp.
Flavor
Gin botanicals, fresh lime, honey sweetness, aromatic spice
Aroma
Citrus, juniper, warm spice, honey
Taste balance
Balanced sweet and sour
Aftertaste
Clean, crisp, with a hint of spice
Fizziness
None
Color appearance
Pale yellow, slightly cloudy
Texture
Smooth, crisp, light-bodied
Seasonality
Refreshing, summery, all-season

Flavor intensity & Experience

The flavor is bright and balanced, with prominent sour notes from the lime cut by the rich sweetness of honey. The alcohol is present but not overpowering, with a subtle spicy bitterness on the finish.
Sweetness
Saltiness
Sourness
Bitterness
Spiciness
Fruitiness
Creaminess
Carbonation

Ingredients

You'll need London Dry Gin, fresh lime juice, honey syrup, and a few dashes of Angostura bitters. The honey syrup can be easily made at home by dissolving honey in hot water.
  • London Dry Gin60 ml / 2 oz
    A classic, juniper-forward gin works best.
  • Fresh Lime Juice22.5 ml / 0.75 oz
    Must be freshly squeezed for best results.
  • Honey Syrup22.5 ml / 0.75 oz
    To make, mix 2 parts honey with 1 part hot water until dissolved. Let cool before use.
  • Angostura Aromatic Bitters2 dashes
    Essential for the drink's signature spicy character.

Ice type

  • Cubed

Mixing equipments

Standard cocktail shaking equipment is required, including a shaker, a jigger for measuring, and strainers to ensure a smooth texture.
  • Cocktail shaker
  • Jigger
  • Hawthorne strainer
  • Fine-mesh strainer

Instructions

The method involves chilling a glass, shaking all ingredients with ice, and then double-straining into the glass to serve.
1. Chill your coupe or cocktail glass in the freezer or by filling it with ice water.
2. Prepare the honey syrup by mixing two parts honey with one part hot water and stirring until dissolved. Allow it to cool.
3. Add the gin, fresh lime juice, honey syrup, and Angostura bitters to a cocktail shaker.
4. Fill the shaker with cubed ice.
5. Secure the lid and shake vigorously for 12-15 seconds, until the outside of the shaker is well-chilled.
6. Discard the ice from your chilled glass.
7. Double-strain the contents of the shaker through a Hawthorne strainer and a fine-mesh strainer into the chilled glass.
8. Garnish with a lime wedge or wheel.

Garnishing

A simple lime wedge or wheel is the typical garnish, complementing the drink's primary citrus flavor.
  • Lime wedge or wheel, on the rim

Dietary Information

This cocktail is vegetarian but not vegan due to the use of honey. It is naturally free from dairy, eggs, gluten, and caffeine.
✓ Contains alcohol
✓ Caffeine-free
✓ Dairy-free
✓ Egg-free
✓ Soy-free
✓ Nut-free
✓ Gluten-free
✕ Vegan-friendly
✓ Vegetarian-friendly

Nutrition information

This drink has a moderate calorie and sugar content, mostly derived from the honey syrup and alcohol.
Calories
Approximately 190-220 kcal / 795-920 kJ
Calories level
Carbohydrates
Approximately 15-18 g
Carbohydrate level
Sugar
Approximately 14-17 g
Sugar level

Occasions

This is a versatile cocktail suitable for almost any occasion, from a sophisticated pre-dinner aperitif to a refreshing drink on a warm day. Its straightforward nature makes it perfect for casual get-togethers.
  • Pre-dinner drink
  • Summer gathering
  • Cocktail hour
  • Casual sipping

Pairing suggestions

The Business pairs well with light, savory, or salty foods that can stand up to its tartness. Think seafood appetizers, tangy cheeses, or simple bar snacks. It's an excellent aperitif to stimulate the appetite before a meal.
  • Light appetizers
  • Seafood dishes like ceviche or shrimp cocktail
  • Salty snacks like olives or nuts
  • Goat cheese

The Business: A Modern Classic Gin Cocktail

The Business is a refined and refreshing gin sour that stands as a modern classic from the New York cocktail revival. Its simple composition of gin, lime, honey, and bitters creates a perfectly balanced drink that is both crisp and complex. Easy to make and universally appealing, it's a sophisticated upgrade to the Bee's Knees and an excellent choice for any occasion requiring a well-crafted cocktail.

Similar cocktails

Bee's Knees

Uses lemon juice instead of lime and omits the bitters.

Southside

A gin sour that uses lemon or lime juice and incorporates fresh mint.

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