Lavender Elderflower Gin Sour

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I've got just the thing for those of you looking for a refreshing sipper come springtime! This Lavender Elderflower Gin Sour is the perfect balance of floral botanical notes and delightful tartness - a truly delicious cocktail to enjoy as you welcome warmer days.

With fragrant lavender syrup complimenting subtle elderflower liqueur, combined with gin and fresh lemon juice, each sip will transport your taste buds far away. This festive and elegant cocktail will surely bring delight wherever it's served, whether at happy hour or brunch!

Side view of two lavender elderflower gin sour cocktails with bottle of indigo gin on marble surface.

Elderflower and lavender are a delicious pairing in this delightful cocktail made with gin, elderflower liqueur, lavender simple syrup, lemon juice, and aquafaba. The subtle floral sweetness is balanced perfectly in a blend of flavors to take you from winter to spring.

Aquafaba, when shaken up, takes on a delicate, frothy texture that adds to the smoothness of this elegant cocktail that's perfect for your next special occasion!

I was inspired to create this cocktail recipe with lavender and elderflower, a variation on my Plum Ginger Gin Sour cocktail I made over the fall.

Serve this refreshing cocktail with these easy-to-make Vegan Cranberry Cream Cheese Bites for a delicious appetizer and cocktail combination!

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What is a gin sour?
Ingredients
How to make a Lavender Elderflower Gin Sour
How to make a lemon twist
Substitutions
Variations
Equipment
Storage
Expert tip
FAQ
More Gin Cocktails
Pairing
Recipe

What is a gin sour?

A classic cocktail, a traditional gin sour contains gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, and egg white. The sourness and tartness of the lemon juice complement the sweetness of the simple syrup, making the perfect balance of sweet and sour!

I have replaced simple syrup with lavender syrup in this delightful variation of a gin sour.

To make this recipe vegan, I replaced egg whites with aquafaba, the bean water from a can. Then, it's shaken up with the remaining ingredients to create foam. It's optional, but it adds a lot to the smoothness and elegance of this cocktail!

Side view of two lavender elderflower gin sour cocktails on marble surface.

Ingredients

Here are the simple ingredients you will need for this easy-to-make lavender simple syrup:

Sugar - I used organic vegan cane sugar, which is vegan.
Water
Lavender - culinary dried lavender buds - I found mine locally at Natural Grocers. Be sure to use culinary lavender. You can find it locally at health food stores or online.

These are the ingredients you need to make the Lavender Elderflower Gin Sour cocktail:

Gin - I used Empress 1908 Gin, a delicious gin. It's my favorite! Find Empress Gin near you! This premium gin gets its all-natural unique indigo color from the infusion of butterfly pea flowers post-distillation. Feel free to use your favorite dry gin.
Aquafaba - The high protein of this bean water from a can of chickpeas is a fantastic replacement for egg white in the classic recipe. Save the chickpeas for this Chickpea Quinoa Salad or Chickpea Tuna Salad.
Elderflower liqueur - I used St. Germain.
Lemon juice - fresh citrus juice is best. The tartness of the lemon complements the lavender syrup nicely!
Lavender simple syrup (instructions are below) - a variation of simple syrup perfect for the coming of spring!
Citrus for garnish, optional
Lavender sprigs for garnish, optional. We grow lavender in a large pot in our yard!

See the recipe card for quantities.

How to make a Lavender Elderflower Gin Sour

It's easy to make this variation of a gin sour cocktail. First, make the lavender simple syrup, let it cool, and then make the cocktail.

For the lavender simple syrup

This delicious recipe makes approximately a cup of lavender syrup.

In a small saucepan, combine water, sugar, and lavender buds.
Heat on medium and occasionally stir until the sugar dissolves.
Remove from the heat and let sit for 30 minutes. Let cool and refrigerate for up to 2 weeks.

For the lavender elderflower gin sour cocktail

First, you will do a dry shake. Add all the ingredients without the ice to the cocktail shaker and shake to mix the ingredients thoroughly. Then, add the ice and shake again.

Add the gin, aquafaba, lemon juice, and lavender simple syrup to a cocktail shaker.
Shake for 30 seconds. Add a cup of ice, then shake again.
Strain into a chilled coupe glass or your favorite cocktail glass.

Side view of two cocktail glasses filled with lavender elderflower gin sour before garnish.

Garnish with lemon twists, if desired, or lavender sprigs. Want to know how to make lemon twist garnishes? Read on!

If skipping the aquafaba, skip the dry shake and shake with ice.

How to make a lemon twist

Cut into the lemon rind with a swivel peeler or vegetable peeler, going around the entire lemon.
Cut a rectangle approximately 5 to 6 inches long and an inch wide. Remove any excess pith.
Cut a narrow strip approximately 5 mm wide (less than a quarter-inch). Wind it around something narrow like a cocktail stick and let it rest on a damp towel with something to lightly hold it in place, like a pinch bowl. After 15 minutes, your lemon twists should be good to go.

Note: You can make the lemon twists ahead of time. If you have any extras, keep them curled around the cocktail sticks and place them in an airtight container on a slightly damp paper towel. Refrigerate for up to one week, and you'll have lemon twists waiting for you when you need them!

Substitutions

Aquafaba - if you don't have a can of chickpeas to get the bean water from, try a can of butter beans. I usually select a brand that has unsalted canned chickpeas. The aquafaba makes a lovely foam when shaken and adds an interesting visual element to the cocktail; it is optional!
Gin - if you don't care for gin, use vodka instead.
Elderflower liqueur - use elderflower syrup instead, such as Belvoir.
Lemon juice - use lime juice instead, although lemon juice is classic.
Lavender syrup - try simple syrup instead or agave nectar.
Garnish - add a lime or orange twist to the rim of the glass instead of garnishing with lemon.

Variations

If you want this gin sour cocktail to be a bit sweeter or sourer, adjust the lavender simple syrup and lemon juice to your taste.

Mocktail - skip the gin; replace it with sparkling water, soda water, ginger beer, or club soda.
Angostura bitters - add a few drops on top of the foam. Or try lavender bitters! Orange bitters would be a lovely alternative.

See my autumn variation of a gin sour in this Plum Ginger Gin Sour!

Equipment

Cocktail shaker - I love this hybrid cocktail shaker because I have no more freezing hands or leaks! The jigger is in the cap.
Cocktail glasses such as coupe glasses or Nick and Nora glasses.
Cocktail picks to wrap the citrus around- I love these elegant signature cocktail picks from Empress 1908 Gin!
Cutting board
Chef's knife or paring knife
Citrus juicer
Vegetable peeler

Storage

This Lavender Elderflower Gin Sour cocktail is best enjoyed right after it is made.

Store the lavender simple syrup in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.

Expert tip

It makes a difference to use fresh, quality ingredients!

Use a quality gin; I love the botanical flavors and beautiful natural indigo color of Empress 1908 Gin. Adding any acidity, such as citrus juice or tonic water, transforms it into a beautiful pink color.

If you'd like to try Empress 1908 Gin, look for it near you.

FAQ

Can I use fresh lavender?

I don't recommend it because I've made the simple syrup with dried culinary-grade lavender buds, which have a lovely floral flavor.

Can I make this cocktail ahead of time?

First, you can make the lavender simple syrup ahead of time. Then, make the cocktail immediately before enjoying it for the best results.

How strong is this lavender elderflower gin cocktail?

It's moderately strong. It's more potent than a glass of wine but not as strong as a martini.

Why is Empress 1908 Gin indigo?

Butterfly pea blossom is added to Empress 1908 Gin in the final distillation process, imparting subtle earthy notes and an all-natural indigo hue.

More Gin Cocktails

Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:

Pairing

These are my favorite dishes to serve with this cocktail:

I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we did! If you make this recipe, please take a moment to ★★★★★ star-rate it and leave a comment below. Follow me on Instagram and Facebook, and share your creation with me! Tag me @resplendentkitchen and hashtag #resplendentkitchenrecipes.