What to Mix with Crème de Violette: Recipes & Tips

If you’re on the lookout for distinctive liqueur-based drinks that are a little unexpected, we highly recommend crème de violette cocktails. This versatile spirit can elevate everything from slow sippers to decadent desserts, bringing a splash of colour and character to any table.  

What is crème de violette?

Crème de violette is a liqueur infused with the essence of violet flowers. The delicate blooms are macerated in a neutral spirit like vodka or grain alcohol, then sweetened some sugar that’s dissolved in water. The end result? A sweet, deeply floral flavour and a rich purple hue that’s ideal for crafting truly memorable clinkers. 

Crème de violette’s story can be traced back to 19th-century France. Once the belle of the ball across Europe and the United States, the lavender-hued liqueur lost a smidge of its initial sparkle in the mid-20th century, becoming a rare find. But then, lo and behold, crème de violette made a triumphant return in recent years, thanks to the resurgence of the craft cocktail scene.  

Today, it’s no longer a relic of a romantic past; this liqueur is enjoying a serious revival arc, playing a starring role in both classic and contemporary cocktails. 

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How to use crème de violette in cocktails

Knowing how to use crème de violette in cocktails is key to unlocking its full charm without letting it become too overpowering. It pairs best with clear spirits like gin, vodka, or sparkling wine, which let the delicate violet notes shine without muddying the flavours. No matter what violet liqueur recipe you try, it’s all about balance. Contrast its sweetness with bright citrus juice, a splash of dry vermouth, or a few dashes of bitters. These sharper elements stop the drink from leaning too syrupy and keep things crisp.

When it comes to glassware, coupe glasses work well for spirit-forward violet cocktails, while flutes are ideal for bubbly builds like the Violette Royale. The goal? Let the vibrant hue and floral aroma speak for themselves; no need to add frills.

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1. Aviation Cocktail

Arguably one of the most famous cocktails with crème de violette, the Aviation is a dreamy drink with plenty of old-world allure. At first sip, you are met with a captivating floral bouquet that’s quite unlike anything else in the cocktail world. This, in combination with the heady sweet-yet-sour flavour of gin and cherry liqueur, makes for a very striking cocktail indeed. 

Bulldog Gin is a stellar choice for an Aviation Cocktail, thanks to its smooth, balanced profile. Its citrus and floral botanicals, including lavender and lotus leaves, enhance the classic notes of crème de violette and maraschino liqueur.

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2. Gin & Violet

The Gin & Violet is a floral, citrusy stunner that pairs the smooth bite of gin with the delicate sweetness of crème de violette, finished with a zesty kick of lemon and ginger.

Ingredients

• 45 ml Bulldog gin
• 15 ml Crème de violette
• 30 ml Lemon juice
• 20 ml Sugar syrup
• 15 ml Ginger juice
• 3 dashes bitters
• Sugar, to rim the glass
• Ice

Method

1. Rim a serving glass with sugar and set aside
2. Add the gin, crème de violette, lemon juice, sugar syrup, ginger juice, and bitters to a cocktail shaker with ice
3. Shake until chilled
4. Strain into the prepared glass and serve immediately

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3. Crème de Violette Sour

Sour cocktails are having a moment, and the Crème de Violette Sour is a stunning twist on classic cocktails in this genre. As far as crème de violette cocktail recipes go, it’s a little trickier than most, but still 100% worth your while. 

Ingredients

• 1 Fresh egg white
• 30 ml Crème de violette
• 30 ml Sugar syrup
• 30 ml Bulldog Gin
• 30 ml Lemon juice
• Ice

Method

1. Add the egg white, crème de violette, sugar syrup, gin, and lemon juice to a cocktail shaker
2. Dry shake for 15 seconds
3. Add ice and shake again for 15 seconds
4. Double strain into a serving glass and serve immediately

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4. Violet Margarita

The best Margarita cocktail for folks who love all things floral, the striking Violet Margarita always leaves a lasting impression.

Ingredients

• 60 ml Espolòn Tequila Blanco
• 30 ml Crème de violette
• 45 ml Fresh lime juice
• 30 ml Sugar syrup
• Fresh violets, to garnish
• Salt, to rim the glass
• Ice

Method

1. Rim a serving glass with salt and set aside
2. Add tequila, crème de violette, lime juice, sugar syrup, and ice to a cocktail shaker
3. Shake until frosty
4. Strain into the prepared glass
5. Garnish with fresh violets and serve

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5. Violet Lady Cocktail

We already adore the Pink Lady and the White Lady, so it’s a great pleasure to add yet another femme fatale to the lineup. 

Ingredients

• 60 ml Bulldog gin
• 30 ml Lemon juice
• 20 ml Cinzano Vermouth Bianco
• 15 ml Crème de violette
• 2 dashes orange bitters
• Ice

Method

1. Add the gin, lemon juice, vermouth, crème de violette, and orange bitters to a cocktail shaker with ice
2. Shake until well chilled
3. Fine strain into a coupe glass over fresh ice
4. Serve immediately

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6. Purple Reign 75

The Purple Reign 75 cocktail is a regal twist on the classic French 75. This elegant drink combines the herbaceous flavours of gin, lemon juice, and champagne with a touch of floral sweetness and a mesmerising purple hue—perfect for special occasions where you want to make your guests feel like royalty. 

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7. Blackberry Vodka Martini

Keen to make a splash at your next summertime shindig? Roll out the Blackberry Vodka Martini, honey. 

Ingredients

• 6–8 Blackberries
• 2 oz SKYY Vodka
• 0.5 oz Crème de violette
• 0.5 oz Fresh lemon juice
• Blackberry or mint sprig, to garnish
• Ice

Method

1. Muddle the blackberries in a cocktail shaker
2. Add vodka, crème de violette, lemon juice, and ice
3. Shake until well chilled
4. Strain into a Martini glass
5. Garnish with a fresh blackberry or a sprig of mint

8. Blue Moon

This sky-hued gin cocktail is making waves at trendy brunch tables around the globe, and it’s easy to understand why. It’s daring and dapper, yet super feminine. 

Ingredients

• 60 ml Bulldog Gin
• 15 ml Crème de violette
• 15 ml Lemon juice
• Lemon slice, to garnish
• Ice

Method

1. Add the gin, crème de violette, and lemon juice to a cocktail shaker with ice
2. Shake until chilled
3. Strain into a cocktail glass
4. Garnish with a lemon slice and serve

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9. Violette Squeeze

A sparkly, lemony cocktail laced with a delicate violet aroma? Don’t mind if we do! 

Ingredients

• 45 ml Fresh lemon juice
• 45 ml Bulldog Gin
• 90 ml Crème de violette
• 30 ml Sugar syrup
• 180 ml Soda water
• Lemon slice, to garnish
• Ice

Method

1. Add the lemon juice, gin, crème de violette, sugar syrup, and ice to a cocktail shaker
2. Shake well until chilled
3. Strain into a tall serving glass
4. Top with soda water
5. Garnish with a lemon slice and serve

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10. Prison Blues

Temptingly tropical, the Prison Blues cocktail combines a very unique lineup of ingredients that somehow all work together like a motley crew of bandits in a heist movie. 

Ingredients

• 30 ml Crème de violette
• 30 ml Coconut rum
• 20 ml Espolòn Tequila Reposado
• Ice

Method

1. Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice
2. Add the crème de violette, coconut rum, and tequila
3. Shake well until chilled
4. Strain into a chilled serving glass and serve

11. Violet Fizz

The Violet Fizz is bright, bubbly, and just a little cheeky. It’s a great way to explore the playful side of crème de violette cocktails, especially if you like your drinks with a little lift.

Ingredients

• 45 ml Bulldog gin
• 15 ml Crème de violette
• 30 ml Fresh lemon juice
• 1 tbsp Egg white
• Soda water, to top
• Lemon twist, to garnish
• Ice

Method

1. Add the gin, crème de violette, lemon juice, and egg white to a cocktail shaker
2. Dry shake for 15 seconds to froth
3. Add ice and shake again until well chilled
4. Strain into a tall glass over ice
5. Top with soda water
6. Garnish with a lemon twist and serve

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12. Violette Royale

The Violette Royale is one of those cocktails with crème de violette that’s pure main character energy. It’s luxe without being high-maintenance—just a couple of ingredients and you’re sipping like royalty.

Ingredients

• 20 ml Crème de violette
• 150 ml Champagne Lallier, chilled
• Lemon twist, to garnish

Method

1. Pour the crème de violette into a chilled flute
2. Slowly top with Champagne Lallier
3. Garnish with a lemon twist and serve

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Tips for garnishing and serving

If you’re going to mix purple cocktails, you might as well make them look as good as they taste. Edible flowers are a natural choice, think violets or pansies for a nod to the liqueur’s floral roots. Lemon twists add a hit of citrus and pop beautifully against the lilac hue, while cocktail cherries give a retro vibe that works especially well in vintage-style floral gin cocktails.

Presentation-wise, clarity is everything. Use clear ice whenever possible to amplify the colour of your drink and keep those deep purple tones front and centre. If you’re serving something fizzy, go for tall, slender glassware to show off the bubbles. And if you ever find yourself short on the real deal, a good crème de violette substitute might be a homemade violet syrup; just remember it’ll be sweeter and less nuanced. Either way, serve it like you mean it.

There you have it—twelve amazing crème de violette cocktails to try at home. We’d love to see your creations, so remember to sign up for our newsletter for more tasty inspiration to create dazzling DIY drinks. In the meantime, visit the Bulldog Gin and SKYY Vodka websites to stock up on ingredients for epic clinkers.