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This refreshing Lavender Collins is a fresh twist on a Tom Collins cocktail, with homemade lavender syrup, gin, lemon juice and a splash of sparkling water.
Oh hey you guys. It’s Friday, did you know that? I’m guessing you knew that. Since its Friday I decided to whip up this little cocktail that has been a favorite of mine for the last few years. I first had it at a now closed restaurant in Portland called Fratelli. It really is the ideal summer drink. I love gin, especially in the summer time. Paired with lemon juice and sparkling water you have a refreshing Tom Collins. But add some fragrant lavender syrup and you have a drink that will transport you to a lush garden with the sun streaming through the trees…
Alright, I may be getting a little dramatic with my drink descriptions. But you should drink this on a patio, or at least open the window and close your eyes and imagine that you are on a patio. It was a drink made for sunny days, or maybe days that you wish were sunnier.
The lavender syrup is pretty simple to make, although it does have two steps. Don’t be tempted to just throw everything in the pot together like you might normally do with other simple syrups. Following the two steps really gives you a noticeably stronger lavender flavor. The extra step is well worth it. Try to use the best quality lavender you can find – you will get a much better color and flavor that way. Oh and your house is going to smell amazing while making this syrup too.
Other cocktails you may like…
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Lavender Collins
Ingredients
- 1 ½ ounces gin
- 1 ounce lemon juice
- 1/2 ounce lavender syrup see below
- sparkling water
For Lavender Syrup
- 1/4 cup dried lavender
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup plus 3 tablespoons water
Garnishes (Optional)
- lemon slices
- lavender sprigs make sure they are clean and non-toxic
Instructions
To Make The Lavender Syrup:
- Add 1/2 cup water and 1/4 cup lavender to a sauce pan, bring to a boil. Simmer for 3 minutes, then remove from heat and allow to steep for 20 minutes. Strain out flowers and discard.
- In a clean saucepan, add 1/2 cup of sugar and 3 Tablespoons water. Bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve sugar. Simmer for 3-4 minutes, then stir in lavender liquid. Whisk until fully combined, remove from heat and transfer to a storage container.
To Make Drink:
- Add gin, lemon juice and lavender syrup to a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until cold, then strain into a glass filled with ice. Top with a splash of sparkling water, then gently stir. Garnish with lemon slices and lavender sprigs.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Lavender Syrup from Food and Wine
Now please excuse me, but I’m going to go sip on a few of these, and maybe even make some bacon wrapped dates to serve on the side. Happy Friday!
Can you save the lavender syrup in the fridge for repeated use?
Hi Emily – yes, it should last 1-2 weeks!
Thank you for this!
My friend and I had each, separately, developed a liking for this drink at a restaurant, and when it went off the menu, discovered our shared disappointment. I found the recipe here and used it to surprise my friend one warm Friday evening. We were both ecstatic! I did add a teaspoon of creme de violette to each drink, since I found that as an optional ingredient while researching. With or without, it’s amazingly good.
Yay, I’m so happy to hear that Connie! Love the addition of creme de violette.
Hi, any suggestions on making the lavender syrup with fresh lavender instead of dried? Or do you think it would be better the pick it and let it dry out ahead of making the syrup?
Hi Lucy – I’ve never tried it so I can’t be sure! I think it would probably be fine to use fresh in place of dried here.
Made this tonight. It was so refreshing and lovely. I used lavender syrup that I have on hand that I purchased in the past. So I didn’t make my own. We also used Ginger ale because we were out of carbonated soda. Overall though it was still so refreshing and delicious!
Wonderful, I bet it is great with ginger ale! So glad you loved it.
How much lavender syrup does this make?
Hi Heather – it makes about 1 cup.
Hi. I recently made a beautiful violet simple syrup. Would it be an ok substitute for the lavender syrup? Thanks!
Hi Lisa – I bet that would taste great! Let me know how ti turns out!
Do you usually use club soda or normal sparkling water like Perrier or s. Peregrine?
Hi, any kind of sparkling water will do! Club soda has some sodium I think, regular sparkling water would be better.