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🌸 Spring · Cocktail & Mocktail

Lavender Lemon Spritz

Built on homemade lavender syrup from the garden, this spritz is floral, bright, and easy to make once you have the syrup in the fridge. The syrup keeps for three weeks — make a big batch.

🌸 Lavender Vodka or Non-Alcoholic Spring 5 min
Lavender Syrup Video
Coming Soon
Jump to: The Recipe Lavender Syrup Garden Notes Tips Pairings Related FAQ

The Recipe

Lavender Lemon Spritz

Both versions start with the same lavender syrup. The cocktail adds vodka and prosecco; the mocktail swaps in sparkling water and a touch of honey.

  • 1 oz vodka
  • 🌸 ¾ oz lavender syrup (recipe below)
  • ¾ oz fresh lemon juice
  • 3 oz prosecco
  • Splash of soda water
  • Garnish: lavender sprig + lemon wheel
  • 🌸 ¾ oz lavender syrup
  • ¾ oz fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tsp honey
  • 4 oz sparkling water
  • Garnish: lavender sprig + lemon wheel
Combine vodka (or skip), lavender syrup, and lemon juice in a shaker with ice. Shake well and strain into a wine glass or tall glass over ice. Top with prosecco or sparkling water — pour slowly down the side to preserve the bubbles. Garnish with a lavender sprig and lemon wheel. Serve immediately.

Make the Syrup

Homemade Lavender Syrup

This is the heart of the drink. Fresh or dried lavender both work — dried is more concentrated, so use less. The video above walks through the full process.

Syrup Recipe
Lavender Simple Syrup
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 cup white sugar
  • 🌸 2 tbsp dried lavender buds (or 4 tbsp fresh flowers)
Combine water and sugar in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir until sugar fully dissolves — don't boil. Remove from heat. Add lavender buds and steep 20–30 minutes — taste at 20 minutes and continue if you want more floral intensity. Strain through a fine mesh sieve, pressing gently on the buds. Cool completely, bottle, and refrigerate.
Keeps refrigerated 2–3 weeks · Makes about 1.5 cups · Use in spritzes, lemonade, and gin cocktails

In the Garden

Growing Lavender

Lavender is the most rewarding plant in the bar garden when conditions are right. The key is drainage — lavender will not survive in wet or heavy soil.

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Best Zones
Zones 5–9. English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) is the hardiest and most culinary. In zone 5 mulch heavily in winter. In zones 9+ afternoon shade helps.
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When to Plant
Spring after last frost. Space 18–24 inches apart — good air circulation prevents fungal issues. Plant in raised beds or add grit to heavy soil for drainage.
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When to Harvest
May–July when buds are just opening — not fully bloomed. Cut in the morning. Never cut into old woody growth. Dry extras hanging upside down for year-round syrup.

Bartender Notes

Tips for getting it right

Syrup Strength
Taste the syrup before you build the drink
Lavender intensity varies depending on how fresh your flowers are. Taste the syrup first. If it's mild, use a full ounce in the cocktail. If it's strong, stick to ¾ oz. The floral note should be present but not overwhelming.
Prosecco vs Soda
Pour carbonation slowly down the side
Whether you're using prosecco or sparkling water, pour it gently down the inside of the tilted glass. This preserves the bubbles and keeps the drink lively all the way to the bottom.
Lemon
Fresh juice only — squeezed that day
Bottled lemon juice will flatten the drink. Lavender is delicate — it needs the brightness of fresh lemon to shine. Juice the lemon right before you build the drink for best results.
Garnish
The lavender sprig is more than decoration
Lay a fresh lavender sprig across the rim of the glass. The fragrance hits as you drink, which elevates the experience significantly. If your lavender is dried, a lemon twist does the same job.

Serve It With

Food & Occasion Pairings

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Food
Soft cheeses — brie, burrata, fresh chèvre. Shortbread cookies. Lemon tart. Light salads with citrus dressing. Anything with honey.
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Occasion
Brunch, garden parties, bridal showers, Mother's Day. Any spring gathering where you want something beautiful and approachable for a crowd.
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Best Time
Late afternoon through early evening. The floral note pairs beautifully with the golden hour. This is a warm-weather drink — serve it cold, serve it outside.

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

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    Drink responsibly. Every mocktail on this site is just as good as the cocktail version. Enjoy the garden. Enjoy the bar. Be safe, be kind, and look after each other.