Lavender Cocktails: Fresh, Floral Recipes You’ll Love

Lavender cocktails have been blooming in popularity for all the right reasons. With their soft colour, gorgeous aroma, and subtle floral flavour, these drinks are popping up everywhere—from trendy cocktail menus to backyard happy hours. Whether you’re keen to elevate your weekend sips or impress guests with a little something gorgeous, lavender is a fabulous choice. In this guide, you’ll learn how to use it at home and get five standout cocktail recipes to try. 

What are lavender cocktails?

Lavender drinks are floral cocktails made with fresh or dried lavender, or, most commonly, a lavender sugar syrup. The distinct aromatic note of the flower adds a subtle lift to drinks, setting the scene for a prettily layered experience that’s both flavourful and fragrant. 

Lavender pairs beautifully with gin, vodka, tequila, white rum, and mezcal. It softens sharp edges, balances citrus, and brings out deeper flavour notes depending on the base spirit. 

Some of the most popular styles include spritzed coolers, floral spins on the Margarita, and laid-back lemonade mixes. In short, lavender is versatile, easy to prep, and ideal for anyone looking to add a delightful dash of aromatic goodness to their cocktail game. 

More flower power: 10 Crème de Violette Cocktails to Try in 2025 

How to make lavender syrup at home

INGREDIENTS 

• 1 cup water  

• 1 cup granulated sugar  

• 2-3 tablespoons dried lavender flowers (culinary grade)  

METHOD 

1. Combine water and sugar in a saucepan. Heat over medium heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves   
2. Add the dried lavender flowers and simmer for 5 minutes.  
3. Remove from the heat and let the syrup cool to room temperature.  
4. Strain out the lavender flowers and transfer the syrup to a clean jar or bottle.   

Let your lavender syrup cool to room temperature before pouring it into a clean, airtight container. This helps prevent condensation, which can water down the flavour. Once cooled and sealed, store it in the fridge, where it should keep for up to two weeks. Don’t forget to label your jar with the prep date and flavour to track freshness and avoid mix-ups when making your lavender syrup cocktails.  

Get schooled: The Complete Guide to Sugar Syrups 

Best spirits for lavender cocktails

Lavender plays well with a wide range of spirits, but some pairings just hit better than others. 

Gin is a natural match for lavender. Coming to the party with its own botanical backbone, a gin like Bulldog (opens in new window) layers beautifully with floral flavours, giving you a crisp, aromatic base that feels effortlessly elevated in lavender gin cocktails.  

Vodka offers a clean, neutral canvas. If you want lavender to take centre stage, a smooth option like SKYY (opens in new window) lets the floral notes really pop, especially in lemonade-based lavender vodka drinks or citrusy highballs. 

Tequila, particularly in a twist on the Margarita, balances the herb’s soft floral profile with a vibrant, zesty edge. Try Espolòn (opens in new window) for a fresh, punchy combo that sings in warm weather. 

Mezcal brings the drama. Its earthy, smoky character adds contrast that keeps a floral drink from going too sweet or delicate. Montelobos (opens in new window) is a great pick if you want to create bold, lavender-infused drinks with a softer finish. 

PRO TIP! Lavender loves citrus and bitters. Pair it with grapefruit, lemon, or orange for lift, and explore lavender-friendly bitters like orange, grapefruit, or even a hint of cardamom to round out floral cocktails.  

Pretty tasty: 13 Tasty Elderflower Cocktails You’ll Adore 

5 Lavender cocktail recipes to try at home

1. Lavender Gin Fizz

This sensational sipper blends fragrant lavender with the bold juniper of gin, giving a floral spin to the Ramos Gin Fizz style you know and love. Light, airy, and beautifully aromatic, it’s a true summer showstopper.

Ingredients

• 30 ml Bulldog Gin (opens in new window)

• 20 ml Lemon juice

• 20 ml Lavender sugar syrup

• 1 Egg white

• Soda water, to top

• Ice

Method

1. Add gin, lemon juice, lavender sugar syrup, and egg white to a cocktail shaker without ice

2. Dry shake for 15 seconds

3. Add ice and shake again for 30 seconds

4. Strain into your serving glass

5. Top with soda water

6. Serve

Also see: Master Culinary Cocktails (Top Recipes & Techniques You Need) 

2. Lavender Margarita  

Let’s dress up the Mexican classic in a pretty floral jacket, shall we? This Lavender Margarita keeps all the tart, citrusy charm of the original but adds a soft, fragrant lift from lavender syrup. It’s elegant, colorful, and perfect for summertime sipping.

Ingredients

• 60 ml Espolòn Blanco Tequila

• 30 ml Lime juice

• 20 ml Grand Marnier

• 15 ml Lavender sugar syrup

• Ice

• Lime wheel or lavender sprig, for garnish (optional)

Method

1. Add tequila, lime juice, Grand Marnier, and lavender sugar syrup to a cocktail shaker with ice

2. Shake until well chilled

3. Strain into a frosty Margarita glass

4. Garnish with a lime wheel or lavender sprig if desired

5. Serve

More zest this way: Cosmopolitan Variations (Modern Twists on the Classic Cocktail) 

3. Lavender Lemonade Vodka Cooler

Looking for a summery sipper? You’re sorted. This lavender-kissed lemonade is bright, floral, and effortlessly easy to shake up for warm days and long hangs.

Ingredients

• 60 ml SKYY Vodka (opens in new window)

• 30 ml Lemon juice

• 30 ml Lavender simple syrup

• Sparkling water, to top

• Ice

• Lemon wheel or lavender sprig, for garnish (optional)

Method

1. Add SKYY Vodka, lemon juice, and lavender simple syrup to a cocktail shaker with ice

2. Shake until frosty

3. Decant into a Collins glass over fresh ice

4. Top with sparkling water

5. Garnish with a lemon wheel or lavender sprig if desired

6. Serve

Cheers, dears! 13 Craft Cocktails to Make at Home 

4. Lavender Mojito

Light, floral, and minty, this Lavender Mojito is an easy warm-weather twist on the classic and a guaranteed crowd-pleaser for summer hosting.

Ingredients

• 45 ml Wray & Nephew White Rum (opens in new window)

• Juice of 1 lime

• 15 ml Lavender syrup

• 5 Large mint leaves

• Soda water, to top

• Ice

• Mint sprig or lavender sprig, for garnish (optional)

Method

1. Add mint leaves and lavender syrup to a cocktail shaker and muddle gently

2. Add rum and lime juice, then shake briefly with ice

3. Pour into a tall glass over fresh ice

4. Top with soda water

5. Give it a gentle stir

6. Garnish with mint or lavender if desired

7. Serve

Read next: 21 Delicious Spring Cocktails (2025) 

5. Lavender Paloma

A zesty clinker that’s earthy and floral? Absolutely. This Lavender Paloma brings smoky mezcal, bright citrus, and soft lavender together in the dreamiest summer sip.

Ingredients

• 60 ml Montelobos Mezcal (opens in new window)

• 45 ml Grapefruit juice

• 30 ml Lavender syrup

• 30 ml Lime juice

• Soda water, to top (optional)

• Ice

• Grapefruit wedge or lavender sprig, for garnish (optional)

Method

1. Add mezcal, grapefruit juice, lavender syrup, and lime juice to a cocktail shaker with ice

2. Shake until well chilled

3. Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice

4. Top with a splash of soda water if you like

5. Garnish with a grapefruit wedge or lavender sprig if desired

6. Serve

Learn more: The Ultimate Guide to Using Herbs in Cocktails 

Garnishing and presentation tips

A little goes a long way with lavender, so keep it subtle. Garnish your cocktails with a small, fresh lavender sprig or a few edible flowers for visual flair. These delicate touches add elegance, without overwhelming the drink. For a polished finish, use clear or lightly tinted glassware to show off the soft colour of your cocktail. Lavender can lean soapy if overdone, so always taste as you go, and when in doubt, go for less. 

Lavender cocktails are proof that small touches can transform simple drinks into sensory standouts. With just a bit of syrup and the right spirit, you can bring floral flair to your home bar without breaking a sweat. Try the recipes, play with pairings, and make it your own. Want more cocktail inspiration? Sign up for the newsletter to stay in the Mix and be sure to visit the Bulldog Gin (opens in new window) and Espolòn (opens in new window) websites for more blooming good ideas.