This Lavender Gin Cocktail is as delicious as it is beautiful! Blue gin and lemon juice give it a beautiful light purple color with an ombre effect. It's easy to make but it looks and tastes fancy enough to be served at a high-end bar! Surprise your guests at your next gathering with this stunning gin cocktail that's sure to be a hit!
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Why This Recipe Works
Beautiful changing color - This cocktail is made with blue gin (Empress 1908). This gin is blue thanks to butterfly pea flower extract. Butterfly pea flower not only has a beautiful bright blue color but it also has color-changing properties! The color of the gin turns purple or pink when you add anything acidic (lemon juice in our case) which is what makes this cocktail so magical! Lemon juice is drizzled on top as a finishing touch and the cocktail slowly changes color.
Light and floral - Lavender syrup works really well with gin in this cocktail. Gin goes really well with any floral or citrus syrups. You could also use Hibiscus Simple Syrup or Rose Simple Syrup. The syrup gives this drink a subtle light floral flavor that makes it the perfect cocktail for spring and summer.
Ingredients
- Gin - The recipe uses Empress 1908 gin which is made with butterfly pea flower that gives the gin its beautiful blue color. The color naturally turns pink when you add acid which allows you extra creative with your cocktails!
- Lavender syrup - You can make your own lavender syrup or you can use store-bought. I like using Monin lavender syrup but any brand you like works! You can also use other floral syrups like Rose Simple Syrup or even elderflower liqueur if you don't have syrup. Keep in mind you might have to add a pinch of cane sugar or maple syrup to make the drink sweeter.
- Lavender bitters - To double up on the lavender flavor, I add lavender bitters to the cocktail. If you can find them, this is a delicious addition and I highly recommend it but if not, they can be left out.
- Sparkling water - The cocktail is topped up with sparkling water to add some bubbles. It also dilutes the drink and makes it easier to drink. Soda water, club soda, or tonic water all work. I opt for sparkling water because it doesn't have any added sugar.
- Fresh Lemon juice - Freshly squeezed lemon juice is poured over the cocktail at the end to create an ombre effect where the cocktail gradually turns from blue to purple and pink.
Non-alcoholic Version
You can use a non-alcoholic spirit like Seedlip or your favorite one that mimics the botanical flavor of gin or you can just omit it.
To give the mocktail the same beautiful color, use steeped butterfly pea flower tea or add a small pinch of butterfly pea flower powder to hot water and stir until mixed and add that to your shaker.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Add gin, lavender syrup, and lavender bitters to a cocktail shaker.
- Add a handful of ice.
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- Shake the cocktail vigorously for a few seconds until very cool to touch.
- Fill a tall glass with ice and pour the cocktail over the ice.
- Top up the drink with sparkling water but leave 1-2 inches of room.
- Slowly pour the lemon juice on top and garnish with a lemon slice.
- Serve with a straw and stir to mix everything before enjoying. The cocktail will slowly turn purple and pink as it mixes.
Serving Suggestions
If you want to make the cocktail taste a little stronger, you can serve it in a double old-fashioned glass instead of a tumbler glass and add less sparkling water.
I like serving it with a slice of lemon but you can also do a lemon twist or leave the lemon out completely. Any edible fresh purple flower would also be a nice touch if you have them on hand.
Storing
If you made your own lavender simple syrup, you can store it in the fridge in an airtight jar for up to 2 weeks. The cocktail itself is best served and consumed right away.
FAQs
Yes! You can use any gin you have and prefer but you'll have to also add either butterfly pea flower steeped tea or powder to achieve the same color effect.
Yes, if you make it with just steeped blue tea, it will have the same beautiful blue color and when you add lemon, it will turn purple. To get the same flavor, I recommend using non-alcoholic spirit like Seedlip.
Yes, you can use lime juice. It will have the same effect on changing the color of the cocktail. Use freshly squeezed lime juice whenever possible.
Simmer 1 cup of cane sugar with 1 cup of water and 1 tablespoon of dried lavender for about 10 minutes. Make sure it's culinary lavender. You can also use lavender extract for a more fragrant syrup. An extract can be hard to find but store-bought lavender syrups tend to be much stronger because they use an extract.
Other Floral Cocktails
I don't have any other gin cocktails on the blog at the moment but if you're looking for similar floral flavors, definitely give the four cocktails below a try! To see all the latest ones, see Cocktails.
Print📖 Recipe
Lavender Gin Cocktail
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 1x
- Category: Cocktail
- Method: No Cook
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegan
Description
This Lavender Gin Cocktail is made with Empress 1908 gin and lemon juice which gives it its beautiful pink color. It's simple, easy, and refreshing!
Ingredients
- Handful of ice
- 2 oz Empress 1908 gin*
- 1 oz lavender syrup
- 1-2 dashes lavender bitters
- Sparkling water
- 1 oz freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Lemon slice for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Add gin, lavender syrup, and lavender bitters to a cocktail shaker.
- Add a handful of ice.
- Shake the cocktail vigorously for a few seconds until very cool to touch.
- Fill a tall glass with ice and pour the cocktail over the ice.
- Top up the drink with sparkling water but leave 1-2 inches of room.
- Slowly pour the lemon juice on top and garnish with a lemon slice.
- Serve with a straw and stir to mix everything before enjoying. The cocktail will slowly turn purple and pink as it mixes.
Notes
*Empress 1908 gin has a bright blue color that turns purple and pink when acid is added (lemon juice). If you don’t have it, you can use your favorite gin and a small pinch of butterfly pea flower powder to achieve the same effect.
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Susan says
Beautiful and delicious cocktail! Love the changing color.