Books & Booze: Unseen City: The Majesty of Pigeons, the Discreet Charm of Snails & Other Wonders of the Urban Wilderness and A Bee’s Knees

Unseen City by Nathanael Johnson takes a look at the un-noticed natural world that exists all around our urban homes. While we are all stuck in our houses, I thought this would be the perfect time to learn more about where I live. I spent my childhood roaming forests and hunting frogs. My father who was a bit of a mountain man, taking us foraging for puff balls that we would take home and cook for dinner. Now, I live 3000 miles away in a large city in a different country, and on the opposite coast from where I grew up. I know shamefully little about the natural world around where I live. As I sat reading this book on my back porch I was watching in real time the animal behaviors and insect life that Johnson had described. I loved this book, if you’re feeling a bit trapped by our current situation pick this up, you won’t regret it.

I thought a Bee’s Knees would be the perfect cocktail to go with this book. The simplest of cocktails, just three ingredients two of which are local honey and lemons picked from my yard. This a prohibition era cocktail and its simplicity makes it the perfect showcase for the gin that is used. 

Next weeks book is The Wildling Sisters by Eve Chase. As always scroll down to find the recipe to make your own Bee’s Knees.

Bee’s Knees (Robert Simonson)

2 oz. Highclere London Dry Gin
.75 oz. Lemon juice
.5 oz. Honey syrup (1:1 honey and water)

Combine all ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice and shake until chilled. Strain into a coupe glass and garnish with a lemon twist.

Cheers!