Lavender Simple Syrup

Here’s how to make lavender simple syrup! This easy DIY adds a subtle floral flavor to craft cocktails and drinks of any kind.

Here’s a way to infuse big flavor into all of your drinks: Lavender Simple Syrup! Lavender is a unique ingredient to add to your cooking: it adds a subtle floral essence to the flavors. It adds just the right element to the French seasoning blend herbes de Provence, and takes fruit desserts to the next level, like this blueberry crisp. So why not add it in drinks too? Add just the right amount and it takes your cocktail or mocktail from good to outstanding. Here’s how to make this easy DIY recipe!

Ingredients for lavender simple syrup

All you need for this lavender simple syrup are 3 ingredients: two of which you likely already have on hand!

• Sugar
• Water
• Lavender blossoms

Use fresh or dried lavender blossoms!

You can use either fresh lavender blossoms or dried to make lavender simple syrup. Dried lavender is easiest to find and lasts for up to 1 year in a cool, dry place like your spice drawer. But if you run across fresh lavender blossoms at a farmers market or are growing them in your garden, you can use that too! You’ll just need the blossoms, not the green leafy sprigs.

The sugar to use

You can use a few different types of sugar for making simple syrup! Here’s what to know:

• Granulated sugar is the standard option. It works best because it makes a clear-colored simple syrup. We’d suggest using it here, unless you’d like to make it with…
• Organic cane sugar or coconut sugar also work. They are browner in color than white sugar, so they turn the simple syrup a yellow brown color. This doesn’t affect the flavor at all, it’s just darker in color. The lavender blossoms do impart a subtle purple color, so it’s nice to make with granulated sugar so that you can see a hint of purple when you make a drink.

How to make lavender simple syrup: a few tips

You can make a simple syrup with many different herbs and spices! The main idea is to make a simple syrup and then let it sit at room temperature to let the flavors infuse. Here’s what to know (or jump right to the recipe below):

• Use equal parts water and sugar. For the recipe below, we used ½ cup of each. This results in 10 tablespoons, which to us is more than enough for a specialty ingredient. (You’ll use about 1 tablespoon per drink, depending on what you’re making.)
• Bring to a simmer with lavender, then remove heat and sit for 20 minutes. Add the lavender blossoms and let it sit! You’ll be amazed by how much flavor you’ll get after just 20 minutes.
• Strain and refrigerate. Strain out the lavender blossoms, and you’re good to go. The syrup is good for 1 month refrigerated.

5 drinks to make with lavender simple syrup

Lavender simple syrup imparts a beautifully subtle floral flavor into drinks! This flavor is usually associated with summer, but you can also drink it any time of year. Here are a few ideas for drinks to make:

1. Lavender Lemonade

Make homemade Lavender Lemonade lavender syrup to taste. Easy peasy! Make it into a mocktail by adding soda water.

2. Lavender Collins

• 2 ounces gin
• 1 ounce lemon juice
• ¾ to 1 ounce lavender simple syrup
• ½ cup soda water
• Ice (try our clear ice!)

Add the ingredients to a cocktail shaker with 4 ice cubes. Shake well until chilled. Strain into an ice filled glass, and top off the glass with soda water. Garnish with a lemon wheel and lavender sprig. (See Tom Collins or Lavender Gin Cocktail for more.)

3. Lavender gimlet

• 2 ounces gin
• ½ ounce lime juice
• ½ ounce lavender simple syrup

Add ingredients to a cocktail shaker. Fill with ice and shake until cold, then strain into a glass. (See Gin Gimlet for more.)

4. Lavender French 75

• 1 ½ ounces gin
• ¾ ounce lemon juice
• ½ ounce lavender simple syrup
• 3 ounces champagne (1/2 glass)*

Place the gin, lemon juice, and syrup in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake 15 seconds until cold. Strain the liquid into a champagne flute. Top off the glass with champagne. (See French 75 for more.)

5. Lavender Gin Fizz

• 2 ounces gin
• ¾ ounce lemon juice
• ½ ounce lavender simple syrup
• 1 egg white
• Soda water

Place the gin, lemon juice, syrup and egg white in a cocktail shaker. Shake vigorously for 15 seconds.
Fill the shaker with ice and shake for 30 seconds until cold. Strain the drink into a glass and top with the soda water; the egg white foam forms on top. (See Gin Fizz for more.)

More simple syrup recipes

You can make craft cocktails and mocktails with all sorts of simple syrup recipes! Here are some more ideas:

• Mint Simple Syrup Great for mojitos, gimlets, and the classic Southside.
• Ginger simple syrup Adds a zingy flavor to a sour, the Penicillin, and more.
• Rosemary simple syrup This pine-scented syrup works with bourbon and in a Greyhound.

This lavender simple syrup recipe is…

Vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free, and gluten-free

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