This Lemon Lavender Cocktail is perfect for spring and summer. So, refreshing, delicious, and easy to make!
You can also easily make this into an alcohol-less version very easily by leaving out the alcohol and having a wonderful lavender lemonade drink. This can then be served for all the family or guests, whether they drink or not. The simple syrup you’ll make will leave you with plenty enough that you can make this a few times or double or triple the recipe for more servings so easily.
I love this drink and it’s personally something I order while I’m out all the time. I’m super excited to bring this to you guys and hope you enjoy it as much as I do. Such a good recipe to enjoy for Easter, Mother’s Day, or any brunch-time celebration.
Also, this was a part of a fun Easter tablescape, be sure to check out those other posts: Small Batch Carrot Cupcakes, Easter Tablescape, and Pressed Flower Easter Eggs.
Table of Contents
Lavender Lemonade Vodka Cocktail
This simple drink is made up of just a few ingredients. And so easy to make, everyone can make it. You’ll impress even yourself.
What you’ll need:
- Lemons
- Water
- Vodka
- Lavender simple syrup
- Ice
- Optional garnish
You’ll add all these together, stir, and pour over ice. We’ll go over in the next couple of steps how you make that simple syrup and what other uses it has.
Lavender Simple Syrup
Lavender Simple Syrup is fairly easy to make and it wonderful addition into cocktails. You need just 3 ingredients for this.
- Culinary grade lavender
- Granulated sugar
- Water
In a small sauce pan you’ll take your sugar and cover it in water and mix. Then over a medium low heat, occasionally stirring, you’ll heat until the sugar is dissolved. Turn down the heat to the lowest setting, add in your lavender, cover, and let steep for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and strain!
Where to Buy Culinary Lavender
Culinary lavender can be purchased online or in stores. Some common brands you could find in grocery stores or purchase from their online shops would be Morton & Bassett or Spicely Organic Spices. You can also go to World Market, where they sell their own brand of culinary dried lavender. On Etsy you’ll also find many brands selling culinary lavender. Be sure you look for the culinary-approved ones and read reviews. If you’re in a pinch, you can also use most lavender tea leaves.
You might be wondering, what’s culinary lavender? How is it different from lavender I can purchase from the flower market? Well, culinary lavender is specially grown to be consumed. No pesticides are used in the farming process and the way the lavender has been processed and dried is completely safe to eat. Please only use culinary lavender in this recipe or if you grow your own, you can try that too.
And I added in a piece of edible flower lavender from Gourmet Sweet Botanicals. Again, do not just use any lavender. Your homegrown stems if you don’t use pesticides would work great. Some grocery stores and nurseries sell small potted plants and you could use those as well. Just make sure it hasn’t come in contact with anything dangerous and rinse well.
Lavender Syrup Uses
Now you’ve made this simple syrup and you might be thinking…okay, well I made that drink, but I want to try something else with the rest of this simple syrup. Great! There are a lot of uses. Be sure you’re only adding it to unsweetened items to bring some sweetness to them.
- Cocktails/mocktails sweetener
- Lemonade sweetener
- Tea sweetener
- Coffee/latte sweetener
- Yogurt parfait
- Smoothie sweetener
- Sweetening fruit salad (“nature’s cereal”)
- Poaching fruit
- Cake soak (to give moisture back to a cake)
And if you want to make a lot, you can bottle it up or make other varieties and gift it!
Lavender has calming properties as well as a wonderful taste. Adding it into drinks could be a great way to bring some calm into your day.
Cocktail Tools
Cocktail tools vary for many recipes. This one is verily simple, so you’ll only need a few.
- Citrus Press – my favorite is from William Sonoma. You can also just squeeze this by hand if you don’t have one or use a juicer.
- Cocktail Strainer – this is to keep the lemon seeds from getting into your drink. Here is a nice one from Target. You can use any sieve strainer you have on hand.
- Cocktail Pitcher – you could use a shaker for this recipe, but it does just as well in a pitcher being stirred. You will need one that fits about 2.5 cups of liquid.
- Cocktail Stirrer – again, if you don’t have one a long spoon will do just fine! Here’s one I own from Crate & Barrel that has a muddler on the other side so it’s dual-use.
- Jigger – this measures out your vodka, if you don’t have one a measuring cup will do just fine. And here is the one I own from Target.
FAQs
Culinary lavender can be purchased online or in stores. Some common brands you could find in grocery stores or purchase from their online shops would be Morton & Bassett or Spicely Organic Spices. You can also go to World Market, where they sell their own brand of culinary dried lavender. On Etsy, you’ll also find many brands selling culinary lavender. Be sure you look for the culinary-approved ones and read reviews. If you’re in a pinch, you can also use most lavender tea leaves.
Sure. If you do decide to use lemonade, use unsweetened lemonade and replace both the lemon juice and the water. It should still be delicious! You don’t want to use sweetened or adding in the simple syrup with just be overwhelming amounts of sugar. You wan to make sure it’s balanced.
This is my base recipe for all my simple syrups (except my honey simple syrups). I do this same exact recipe as the base of water and sugar, then I add in my herb or flower. You can do this with mint, basil, rosemary, thyme, hibiscus, chamomile, citrus peels, teas, and so much more. Your time with them may vary, but usually between 3-10 minutes. But some will be too strong if left in for too long. So, play with it and see what works for you. These are fun to make and add to different foods. And a great gift to give friends and family.
Other Cocktails to Try
Love this Recipe?
Did you make this recipe and just love it? Awesome! If you have a quick minute and could leave a star rating and comment below, I would appreciate the support and knowing your feedback! And if you’re over on Instagram, be sure to tag me in your photos!
Ingredients
Lavender Simple Syrup
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup water
- 1.5 tablespoon lavender
Lavender Lemonade Cocktail
- ⅓ cup lemon juice about 2-3 lemons
- 6 tablespoon lavender simple syrup add 1-2 extra tablespoon for more sweetness
- 2 cups water
- 3 oz vodka*
- ice
- lavender stems optional
Instructions
Lavender Simple Syrup
- In a small saucepan you’ll take your sugar and cover it in water and mix. Then over medium-low heat, occasionally stirring, you’ll heat until the sugar is dissolved. This usually takes about 5-10 minutes.
- Turn down the heat to the lowest setting, add in your lavender. Cover slightly and let sit for 5-7 minutes (7 minutes will make it stronger lavender flavor).
- Strain out lavender and pour into airtight container and place in the refrigerator. Use within a few days.
Lavender Lemonade Cocktail
- In a cocktail pitcher add your lemon juice, simple syrup, water, and vodka. Mix well.
- Pour drink over ice into a glass. Garnish with lavender stems if you wish. Serve and enjoy!
Jackie says
The lavender garnish in your pictures, are they dried or fresh lavender? Can you use either, that is, dried or fresh? If you can use fresh, where do you get it?
Amanda Wilens says
These are fresh! I get mine from Sweet Gourmet Botanicals!