Lavender Vodka Lemonade - Sparkling Cocktail

My beginner-friendly boozy lemonade is a breeze to make, bringing floral and refreshing flavors in equal measure. 

💌 Why I Love This Recipe

• Gourmet Feel: Feels like an expensive cocktail but can be made affordably at home.
• DIY Touch: Features the simplest ever homemade lavender syrup (full recipe included)
• Calming & Aromatic: Lavender is known for its calming properties and pairs beautifully with lemonade.
• Small or Big Batch: Can be made in small batches for a couples' night in or in a large pitcher for big family gatherings.  

Last but not least, it's also incredibly easy to customize to taste. For example, add more lavender syrup, drizzle it with extra sweetener, use less vodka, or switch to still lemonade if desired.

🛒 Ingredients

Here are the 6 ingredients you'll need to make this lavender lemonade cocktail recipe: 

• Lavender Buds: We'll use culinary-grade lavender buds to make simple lavender syrup.
• Sugar: Used to make the lavender simple syrup. This sweet base will balance out the tartness of lemon.
• Lemon juice: I recommend using freshly squeezed lemon juice.
• Vodka: Use your favorite vodka to give this a boozy twist. See notes below for a mocktail version. 
• Lemon Slices: Fresh lemon slices add a burst of citrus flavor and are perfect for garnishing.
• Lemonade (fizzy/sparkling): This will add a fizzy element to our drink. Can be replaced with soda water.

Pro tip - Instead of shop-bought lemonade, you can use my homemade lemonade concentrate and serve it with sparkling water.

🧊 Equipment

To make this lavender vodka lemonade, you’ll need the following:

• Small Pot: For making the lavender simple syrup.
• Fine Mesh Strainer: To strain the lavender buds from the syrup.
• Cocktail Shaker (or a glass with a lid): For mixing the ingredients.
• Tall glass: For serving the cocktail.
• Ice Cubes: To keep the drink cool without diluting it.
• Mason Jars: For storing leftover lavender syrup.

👣 Steps

Tip: This is just a super quick overview. See the recipe card at the bottom of this blog post for detailed instructions and exact ingredient details.

Combine Ingredients. In a small pot, combine water, sugar, and lavender buds.

Heat. Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat while stirring regularly. When it starts to simmer, remove from heat.

Steep. Leave to steep for 30 minutes until thick and syrupy. Pour through a fine-mesh sieve into a mason jar.

Mix. Mix 1 tablespoon of lavender syrup, vodka, and lemon juice in a cocktail shaker. Shake until mixed.

Fill & Pour. Fill your tall glass with ice cubes. Pour the cocktail mixture directly from the shaker.

Top off. Pour lemonade on top. Add garnishes (lemon slices, lavender) & enjoy.

Hint - If you're serving this lavender cocktail at a large gathering, I suggest preparing the lavender syrup ahead of time. This will take the stress away from hosting and mean you can spend more quality time with your friends. 

💡 Chef’s Tips

• Fresh Lemon Juice: Use freshly squeezed lemon juice for the best flavor.
• Chill Ingredients: Ensure the lemonade is chilled and your lavender syrup has cooled down.
• Adjust Sweetness: Always adjust this cocktail according to your taste preference.
• Presentation: When it comes to cocktails, decoration is everything - don't forget to garnish with fresh lavender sprigs and lemon slices.
• Serve & Sip: Don't let the drink stand around for too long or the ice cubes will start diluting it.

Double the lavender - if you want to go the extra mile, you can make some lavender-infused ice cubes to double up on the flavor.  

🤔 Frequently Asked Questions

🫐 Variations

• Blueberry: Add a handful of fresh blueberries (or other berries) to the cocktail shaker. This will give the drink a lovely pinkish hue.
• Herbal: Muddling a few leaves of mint or basil before adding the rest of your ingredients will provide an extra boost of freshness.
• Rosemary: Serve with some fresh rosemary or add a few drops of rosemary syrup. Remember a little goes a long way!
• Earl Grey: Swap out some lavender syrup for this beautifully smooth Earl Grey syrup.

📦 Storage

• Lavender Syrup: Store any leftover lavender simple syrup in a mason jar or airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
• Cocktail: Store the mixed cocktail (without lemonade or ice) in a large airtight container. Stir well before serving, add ice, and finish off with the lemonade.

👏 More Cocktails

If you're a lover of fruity plant-based cocktails check out my:

• Floral Lychee Mojito
• Minty Tequila Smash
• Blueberry Gin Cocktail

Do you have questions about this lavender vodka lemonade? Simply get in touch below! I aim to answer all comments within 48 hours. 

Tried this recipe? If you leave a comment or star rating below, this would help me out A LOT. More comments & ratings directly support my blog and mean I can keep providing free recipes.