Lavender is one of those flavors you might associate with grandma’s living room—or the whole idea of a living room, period. It’s floral and vaguely herbal, but also has an eerie association with all things purpley-pink in the world. The good news: lavender tastes great as an addition to alcoholic beverages. That’s right: not only can you find lavender-infused beer and wine at specialty stores, but you can easily make your own cocktails using the stuff. So what are you waiting for? Here are five classic cocktail recipes that are even better when made with lavender!
Lavender Margarita
Ingredients:
- 2 oz tequila
- 1 oz lime juice
- 3/4 oz triple sec
- 1/2 oz lavender syrup
- crushed ice
In a cocktail shaker, combine the tequila, lime juice, triple sec and ½ oz of crushed ice. Shake well and strain into an old fashioned glass filled with crushed ice. Add more crushed ice if necessary to fill the glass about 2/3 full, then add your lavender syrup on top before serving.
Lavender Gin
The Lavender Gin Cocktail is a particularly aromatic cocktail that pairs well with seafood, poultry, and vegetarian dishes.
Ingredients:
- 1 oz dry gin (see recipe)
- 2 oz fresh-squeezed lemon juice (about 1/4 cup)
- 3/4 teaspoon powdered sugar
- 3 dashes Angostura bitters
- ½ oz lavender syrup
Lavender Lemon Drop
Ingredients:
- 2 oz vodka
- 1 oz lemon juice
- 3/4 oz triple sec
- 1/2 oz lavender syrup
Combine vodka with lemon juice, triple sec, and lavender syrup. Shake the ingredients with ice, then strain into a cocktail glass rimmed with sugar.
Lavender Old Fashioned
The Lavender Old Fashioned cocktail is one of the most popular drinks on the menu at New York City’s Pouring Ribbons bar. This recipe uses lavender syrup, which is made by steeping dried lavender buds in simple syrup (1 part water to 2 parts sugar) for about 10 minutes.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz bourbon or rye whiskey
- 1 oz. lavender syrup
- 1/2 oz. lemon juice
- 3 dashes of angostura bitters
Lavender Mai Tai
The Mai Tai cocktail is a blend of rum, lime juice, orange curacao and orgeat syrup. The lavender infusion takes the place of the traditional gin. The easiest way to infuse the flowers is using a mason jar with a lid.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz aged rum
- 1 oz lime juice
- 1/2 oz orange curacao
- 1/4 oz lavender syrup
- 1/4 oz orgeat syrup
Lavender Mojito
Ingredients:
- 2 oz white rum
- 1 oz lime juice
- 3/4 oz lavender syrup
- 8-10 mint leaves
- 1 oz club soda
Muddle mint leaves and lavender sprig in the bottom of the shaker with ice, then add remaining ingredients and shake vigorously to combine (don’t worry about stressing about getting the lavender sprig out after muddling—it’ll stay behind when you strain). Strain over fresh ice in a rocks glass or margarita glass, garnish with a mint sprig, and serve with a straw for extra ease-of-sipping.