12 Beautiful Crème de Violette Cocktails to Try at Home

If you’re on the lookout for delightful and distinctive liqueur-based drinks, we’d highly recommend crème de violette cocktails. This versatile spirit effortlessly elevates everything from slow sippers to decadent desserts, bringing a splash of color and sophistication 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 with a hint of sugar and water. The end result? A sweet, deeply floral flavor paired with a rich purple hue that’s ideal for crafting truly memorable clinkers. 

The crème de violette 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 steal the spotlight. It pairs best with clear spirits like gin, vodka, or sparkling wine, which let the delicate violet notes shine without muddying the flavors. For well-balanced violet liqueur recipes, match its soft 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 overdo it.

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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-glamor allure. At first sip, you are met with a captivating floral bouquet that is quite unlike anything else in the cocktail world. This, in combination with the heady sweet-yet-sour flavor 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 Cocktail

If you’re wondering what to mix with gin at your next soiree, this crème de violette gin cocktail should be at the top of your list. Add 1.5 oz Bulldog Gin, 0.5 oz crème de violette, 1 oz lemon juice, 0.75 oz simple syrup, 0.5 oz ginger juice, and 3 dashes of bitters to a cocktail shaker. Shake all ingredients with ice until well chilled. Strain the drink into a chilled, sugar-rimmed glass and serve to enjoy immediately.

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3. Crème de Violette Sour

Sour cocktails are very much on trend right now, and the Crème de Violette Sour is a gorgeous example of this classic cocktail genre. As far as crème de violette cocktail recipes go, it’s a little trickier than most, but still 100% worth your while.  

Add one fresh egg white, 1 oz crème de violette, 1 oz simple syrup, 1 oz Bulldog Gin, and 1 oz lemon juice to a cocktail shaker. Dry shake for 15 seconds, then add ice, and wet shake for a further 15 seconds. Double strain into a serving glass and enjoy! 

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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. Add 2 oz Espolòn Tequila Blanco, 1 oz crème de violette, 1.5 oz fresh lime juice, and 1 oz simple syrup to a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until frosty, and strain into a serving glass with a salted rim. 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 line-up. To make a Violet Lady, add 2 oz Bulldog Gin, 1 oz lemon juice, 0.75 oz Cinzano Vermouth Bianco, 0.5 oz crème de violette, and 2 dashes of orange bitters to a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until nicely chilled, fine strain into a coupe glass over fresh ice, and serve.   

6. Purple Reign 75

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

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7. Blackberry Vodka Martini

Keen to make a big old splash at your next summertime shindig? Roll out the Blackberry Vodka Martini, honey. Place 6-8 blackberries at the bottom of a cocktail shaker and muddle. Add 2 oz SKYY Vodka, 0.5 crème de violette, and 0.5 oz fresh lemon juice, along with some fresh ice, and shake until nice and cold. Strain into a Martini glass and garnish with a fresh blackberry or a sprig of mint. Cheers! 

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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. To make a Blue Moon, fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add 2 oz Bulldog Gin, 0.5 oz crème de violette, and 0.5 lemon juice. Shake and strain into a cocktail glass, garnish with a lemon slice, and sip at leisure. 

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9. Violette Squeeze

A sparkly, lemony cocktail laced with a delicate violet aroma? Don’t mind if we do! Combine 1.5 oz fresh lemon juice, 1.5 oz Bulldog Gin, 3 oz crème de violette, and 1 oz simple syrup in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake well, and strain into a tall serving glass. Top off with 6 to 8 oz of club soda, garnish with a fresh lemon slice, and serve. 

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10. Prison Blues

Temptingly tropical, the Prison Blues cocktail combines a unique line-up of ingredients that somehow all work together like a motley crew of bandits in a heist movie. Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice. Add 1 oz crème de violette, 1 oz coconut rum, and 0.75 oz Espolòn Tequila Reposado, shake well, strain into a chilled serving glass, and enjoy! 

11. Violet Fizz

Looking for a floral liqueur drink that hits all the right notes? The Violet Fizz is bright, bubbly, and just a little bit 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.

Add 1.5 oz Bulldog Gin, 0.5 oz crème de violette, 1 oz fresh lemon juice, and 1 tablespoon egg white to a cocktail shaker. Dry shake for about 15 seconds to get things frothy, then add ice and shake again until well chilled. Strain into a tall glass over ice and top with soda water. A lemon twist garnish seals the deal.

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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. Pour 0.75 oz crème de violette into a chilled flute and slowly top with 5 oz Champagne Lallier. Garnish with a lemon twist to round it all off.

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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 color of your drink and keep those deep purple tones front and center. If you’re serving something fizzy, go for tall, slender glassware to show off the bubbles and hue. 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 tag us on Instagram, and 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.