I've got just the thing for those looking for a refreshing sipper come springtime! This Lavender Elderflower Gin Sour is the perfect balance of floral botanical notes and delightful tartness - a 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 you. This festive and elegant cocktail will surely bring delight wherever it's served, whether at happy hour or brunch!

Elderflower and lavender are delicious 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!
Try this Hugo Spritz, Strawberry Elderflower Gin Fizz, or Blood Orange French 75 for more delightful cocktails!
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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.
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. 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 this Lavender Elderflower Gin Sour Cocktail Recipe
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.
- 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
I don't recommend it because I've made the simple syrup with dried culinary-grade lavender buds, which have a lovely floral flavor.
First, you can make the lavender simple syrup ahead of time. Then, make the cocktail immediately before enjoying it for the best results.
It's moderately strong. It's more potent than a glass of wine but not as strong as a martini.
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.
Recipe
Lavender Elderflower Gin Sour Cocktail Recipe
Equipment
- Cocktail glass chilled
- Paring knife or chef's knife
- citrus squeezer
- vegetable peeler
- Empress 1908 Gin cocktail picks optional
Ingredients
For the lavender simple syrup
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 tablespoon culinary dried lavender buds
For the Elderflower Lavender Gin Sour
- 3 oz gin
- 1 oz elderflower liqueur
- 1 ½ oz lemon juice up to 2 oz
- 1 ½ oz lavender simple syrup see below
- 1 ½ oz aquafaba
- Ice
- 2 lemon twists garnish
Instructions
For the lavender simple syrup
- In a small saucepan, combine water, sugar, and lavender buds.1 cup water, 1 cup sugar, 1 tablespoon culinary dried 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 4 weeks.
For the Lavender Elderflower Gin Sour
- Place gin, elderflower liqueur, lemon juice, lavender simple syrup, and aquafaba in a cocktail shaker. Shake for 30 seconds.3 oz gin, 1 oz elderflower liqueur, 1 ½ oz lemon juice, 1 ½ oz lavender simple syrup, 1 ½ oz aquafaba
- Add ice and shake for 30 seconds more. Pour into chilled coupe glasses. Garnish each glass with a lemon twist. Cheers!Ice, 2 lemon twists
Notes
- This recipe makes approximately one cup of lavender simple syrup. Use extra simple syrup for moistening cake, in lattes, and more!
- Store the lavender simple syrup in the fridge for 2 to 4 weeks.
Nutrition
Resplendent Kitchen offers nutritional information for recipes contained on this site as a courtesy. Although resplendentkitchen.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information from online calculators, these figures are estimates.
Deborah
Simply glorious photos, dear. I had to follow you to see more!
Emily
Thank you so much, Deborah, I appreciate your support! I hope you get a chance to try this gin sour, it is so delicious!
Amy
Wow! This drink is so beautiful and looks so tasty!
Emily
Thanks so much, Amy, I really appreciate it!
Tayler
I adore lavender, so I was thrilled to find this recipe. I made a couple last night and they were to die for!
Emily
Thank you, Tayler, I am so glad you enjoyed these cocktails!
Sharon
This was an incredibly unique cocktail gin cocktail recipe that I'm sure will be made on repeat.
Emily
Thank you very much, Sharon, I'm happy to hear it! Thank you for taking the time to leave a review.
Sara Welch
This cocktail has me dreaming of spring! Crisp and delicious with the perfect amount of kick! Easily, a new favorite drink!
Emily
Thanks very much, Sara! I'm so glad to hear it!
Ned
Woah! Awesome! My wife loves this! I should make it for her again soon. Thank you!
Emily
Thanks, Ned, that makes my day! I'm so happy to hear it!
Whitney
This a gorgeous drink!! Perfect for my next ladies night!
Emily
Thank you so much, Whitney! That sounds perfect!
Tyanne
Love the step by step. So easy to make!
Emily
Thanks so much, Tyanne. I'm glad the instructions were helpful!
Alexandra
Well, cheers to this delicious drink - this cocktail is perfection. I grow some lavender at home, and am always looking for new ways to use it. This is a drink I will be making on repeat. It's beautiful and tastes fantastic.
Emily
Thank you so much, Alexandra, I'm so glad you enjoy this lovely cocktail! Thank you for taking the time to leave a review, I really appreciate it!
Nora
I am a total fan of elderflower! These paired with lavender, just gorgeous! Thanks for the great cocktail. Will I offer my upcoming guests right away!
Emily
Thank you so much, Nora! This is a new favorite around here!
Debra
We loved everything about this....especially the color! OMG...this is my new fancy drink recipe to serve when I have friends over.
Emily
Thank you, Debra, I'm so glad you enjoyed it! It's our new favorite!
Andrea
I love how refreshing this cocktail turned out! Perfectly tart and delicious!
Emily
Thank you so much for your wonderful comment, Andrea! I am thrilled to hear that you found this cocktail recipe refreshing and delicious. It's always great to hear positive feedback, and I'm glad that my recipe was able to hit the spot for you. Cheers!
Stephanie
I usually avoid gin at all costs - but decided to try this drink recipe anyway. Wow! The lavender and elderflower make this a stand out recipe I hope to serve again. p.s. mine don't look as nice as yours but I was still happy with the taste and look of the drink.
Emily
Thank you for taking a chance on my lavender and elderflower gin cocktail recipe, Stephanie, and for your kind words about it! I'm so happy to hear that you found it delicious and that the flavors and look of the drink were a hit with you!
Connie
Fragrant and delicious - so different!
Emily
Thank you, Connie! I'm thankful for your feedback!