The Bee’s Knees—gin, lemon juice, and honey—became an emblem of necessity. Its sweetness hid the harshness of home-distilled spirits, preserving the illusion of quality.

In funding terms, every cocktail crafted this way stretched resources. Less liquor per customer meant longer-lasting profits. Better-tasting drinks meant repeat business. And in speakeasies backed by organized crime, repeat business wasn’t just income—it was protection, too. Success was its own security.