Lavender Gimlet

The lavender gimlet is a lavender cocktail made from botanical gin, lime juice, and lavender simple syrup. Perfect for a summer cocktail.

This lavender gimlet is a variation on a classic. Back when it was created, the gimlet was a sweet drink made with equal amounts of gin and lime cordial.

a purple lavender gimlet in a lowball glass garnished with lime and lavender.

Over the years, cocktails have become less sweet as tastes have changed. And the gimlet is no exception, whether it’s a lavender gimlet, strawberry gimlet, or cranberry gimlet.

 

Key Ingredient: Lavender

If you haven’t been harvesting and drying your lavender every year, lavender blossoms are readily available online. Just be sure to purchase blossoms that are intended for culinary use.

lavender bushes in a garden.
a bag of dried culinary lavender.

Tips and Tricks for this Cocktail

You can serve your lavender gimlet neat or on the rocks. Using rocks ice, that big ice cube, is more critical than what glass you use. That’s because the large cube has lower surface area and does not dilute your drink as much.

Garnish your lavender cocktail with a lime wheel. And enjoy!

a gimlet garnished with lime wedge and lavender sprig on a backyard patio.

Variations and Substitutions

  • Use a simple syrup instead for a classic gimlet.
  • If a lavender gin cocktail isn’t your thing, make other lavender cocktails by subbing in two ounces of another spirit like vodka, rum, or a tequila gimlet.

FAQs about the Lavender Gimlet

What is a “botanical” gin?

Here’s a good start to understanding gins, from dry to the sweeter botanicals.

Why is that lavender gimlet on the rocks purple?

It was made with Empress1908 gin, which gets its deep violet color from being infused with butterfly pea blossoms.

Is there a right or wrong way to shake a cocktail?

No, go ahead and shake to whatever song you like. But there a few things you shouldn’t do.

I have an overgrown lavender bush in my yard too! When do I harvest the lavender?

Cut off the stems when the flowers have begun to bud, but the flowers have not yet opened.

Recipe

Lavender Gimlet

5 from 2 votes
Category: Drinks
Cuisine: Unspecified
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Servings: 2
Calories: 119kcal
The lavender gimlet is a lavender cocktail made from botanical gin, lime juice, and lavender simple syrup. Perfect for a summer weekend.
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Equipment

  • Cocktail shaker

Ingredients

Lavender simple syrup

  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • ½ cup water
  • 1 tablespoon lavender blossoms

Lavender gimlet

  • 2 ounces gin, ideally a botanical gin like Uncle Val's
  • ¾ ounce lavender simple syrup
  • ¾ ounce lime juice
  • 1 lime wheel for garnish

Instructions

Lavender simple syrup

  • Combine the sugar, water, and lavender blossoms in a small pot and bring to a boil. Once the sugar has dissolved, turn off the heat and let the syrup steep for 30 minutes.
    ½ cup granulated sugar, 1 tablespoon lavender blossoms, ½ cup water
  • Filter the syrup into a small container using a fine mesh strainer.
  • Cool and store in the refrigerator for up to one month.

Lavender gimlet

  • Combine all of the ingredients into a cocktail shaker along with ice and shake for about 10 to 12 seconds.
    2 ounces gin, ideally a botanical gin like Uncle Val's, ¾ ounce lavender simple syrup, ¾ ounce lime juice
  • Strain the gimlet into a martini glass or into a lowball (rocks) glass with an ice cube and garnish with a slice of lime.

Notes

If you are partial to a sweeter lavender cocktail, you can increase the amount of simple syrup in this recipe.

Nutrition

Calories: 119kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Sodium: 5mg | Potassium: 14mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 4IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 2mg | Iron: 1mg
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What’s next

If you make a lavender gimlet, please leave a comment here or rating. Pretty please!

Love cocktails and want to explore more? Read all about classic cocktails and bartender basics, check out my list of essential bar tools for cocktails at home, and join this year’s 52 weeks of cocktails challenge!

Bored with the recipes you’ve been cooking and baking lately? Get inspiration here:

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