As has been well publicised, honeybee numbers are in decline. This year is the worst Andre has experienced since he began beekeeping in 2007. It became apparent that Charles and Tim had both come to the same conclusion – namely that the growing prevalence and popularity of premium spirits had not been matched by what was on offer in the tonic category.

If you divide one drink between two Champagne glasses and fill the rest with bubbly, you’ll find yourself with a French 75.

BEE-GINNING SHOP

Early in the book I spoke in disparaging terms of the Bee's Knees. This, however, was because as it originally came out during prohibition days it consisted of equal parts of lemon juice, honey, and gin. If made as a variation of the standard Gin Sour, merely substituting honey for the sugar syrup, it is acceptable. David A. Embury, The Fine Art of Mixing Drinks, 1948 When Andre takes out the first honey frame covered with bees there is a collective intake of breath from the group. It is incredible to see these creatures at work and I feel rather privileged. Andre is passionate about protecting the honeybee and describes them as ‘unsung heroes’. There are 270 species of bee in the UK, of which just under 250 are solitary bees. They are vital to pollinate crops and many of the trees and flowers that provide habitats for wildlife. It is estimated that one third of the food we consume relies on pollination, mainly by bees. Andre continues: ‘When scout bees find a good source of nectar or pollen they tell the other bees of their discovery by doing a special dance on the honeycomb called the waggle dance which communicates the distance and direction of the source.' Cardona and Son Spirit Co was launched two years ago and with the success of its Hitchin Honey Gin and Hitchin Honey Spiced Rum, in the summer they launched Hitchin Elderflower and Borage Honey Gin. Andre is working on a clementine and spiced gin for Christmas.

To make honey simple syrup, simply warm the two together in the microwave or on the stovetop until you can easily whisk them together. That’s it! Leftover honey syrup will keep well in the refrigerator, covered, for up to two weeks. Gin Considerations But the focus is also to continue to spread the message about the importance of bees. ‘We've loved introducing people to our honeybees over the summer - it's been so rewarding to watch people interacting with honeybees for the very first time. Frank Meier's ownership is reasserted in his 1936 book, The Artistry of Mixing Drinks, where the recipe is accompanied by a design that signifies the recipe was one of his own.Nectar is very high in water, so the honey bees collectively flap their wings to drive off the water until its moisture content is reduced from approximately 90% to 18% at most — though this can vary. If the water content is too high, the honey will ferment. But these incredible creatures instinctively know when the nectar is sufficiently dry enough to create the perfect consistency of honey. They are also spotlessly clean, creating propolis to sterilise the hive, a substance that has been used for centuries for its healing properties. ‘It’s got lots of wonderful and antibacterial properties to it, so the hive is one of the cleanest places on earth.' A total winner with Mediterranean tonic and a sprig of sage if you’ve got one nearby. What's the story?

He hopes to expand the business nationally with a percentage of profits used to support local biodiversity projects, as well as continuing to build new hives and cultivate raw honey.We learn some fascinating facts. Ninety eight per cent of the hive is female. The queen lays around 1,000-2,000 eggs a day and the bees hatched in late August and September will live through the winter - creating heat by flexing their wings. Bees are so important to our ecosystem and it's imperative we do everything we can to protect them. One thing we can all do to help is to create pollinator friendly habitats. Whether that's not mowing all of your lawn, planting wildflowers or even installing a bee hotel. The more pollen and nectar we can make available for our pollinators the more chance they have of survival.’