Lilac Gin Lemonade

I thought of the idea for this floral gin lemonade cocktail last spring, just as the lilacs in our yard were starting to loose their blossoms. I've waited an entire YEAR for the fresh lilac blossoms to reemerge so that I could share this recipe with you, and it was 100% worth the wait!

This lilac gin lemonade recipe is the lightly floral, slightly tart, sweet and refreshing cocktail recipe we didn't know we needed.

It's simple enough to make, combining homemade lemonade with gin. But this time the homemade lemonade is made with a simple syrup infused with fresh lilac blossoms, taking the flavor of the lemonade to the next level.

Fresh lilac flowers add their lightly sweet and delicate floral flavor to the syrup, which in turn adds a subtle floral sweetness to the lemonade. It's not overpowering, but you'll definitely taste - and smell - it each time you take a sip!

Ingredient Notes & Substitutions

See recipe card at the bottom of this post for full ingredient list and measurements.

Lilac Blossoms - Fresh lilac blossoms infuse the simple syrup with their sweet, floral flavor, adding a fresh taste to the lemonade.

It's important to use lilacs that have not been treated with pesticides. Use untreated lilacs from your own garden or ask a friend or neighbor if you can have a bunch from their bush. Do not use lilacs from public spaces where you can't confirm that they're safe to eat.

If you want to substitute the lilacs, you can use elderflower blossoms for a similarly delicate floral flavor. Or you can add ½ ounce (15 ml) St. Germain elderflower liqueur to each cocktail.

Sugar - Granulated sugar adds sweetness to the lemonade to balance the tartness of the lemons. Dissolving the sugar in water to create a simple syrup helps to create a smooth lemonade with no gritty sugar settling on the bottom of the pitcher.

Lemons - Lemon juice is the key to homemade lemonade. I recommend using freshly squeezed juice rather than bottled for the best flavor.

Gin - I strongly recommend using Empress 1908 Indigo Gin for this recipe. The gin is naturally colored with butterfly pea blossoms, giving it a deep purple-blue color that pairs beautifully with the lemonade and lilacs. However, you can use any type of gin that you like best.

Special Equipment

In addition to essential kitchen equipment (like a saucepan and wooden spoon), I recommend some special tools for making this recipe.

• A strainer, for straining the lilac simple syrup (and the lemon juice, if you like).
• A juicer, for juicing the lemons. A simple, manual juicer is just fine... no need to splurge on a fancy electric juicer.
• A pitcher, for mixing and storing the lemonade. Metal can add a metallic taste to lemonade, so opt for a glass or ceramic pitcher instead.
• Collins glasses or other large cocktail glasses, for serving the cocktails.

Step-By-Step Recipe Instructions

See recipe card at the bottom of this post for detailed recipe instructions.

Step 1: Make the lilac simple syrup. Rinse lilac blossoms to remove any dirt or bugs. Pluck the flowers from their stems and measure the flowers for the recipe. Set aside.

Step 2: Cook sugar and water until the sugar is fully dissolved. Add the lilac blossoms to the pot of simple syrup and let the flowers infuse the syrup as it cools, at least 1 hour.

Step 3: Once the syrup is completely cool, strain the syrup to remove the flowers.

Step 4: Make the lilac lemonade. Juice the lemons and add the juice to a pitcher. Strain the juice, if you wish, to remove the pulp and any small bits of seeds.

Step 5: Add the strained lilac simple syrup to the pitcher with the lemon juice. Add water to the pitcher and stir to combine.

Step 6: Make the lilac gin lemonade cocktails. Add ice cubes and 7 ounces of lemonade to each glass. Top the lemonade in each glass with 1 ½ ounces of gin.

Step 7: Stir to combine, garnish with lemon slices and lilac blossoms, and serve!

Make a Batch Cocktail: To make a batch of this lilac gin lemonade cocktail in a pitcher, add ice cubes and gin right into the pitcher with the lemonade and stir to combine. Provide fresh lemon slices and lilac blossoms for garnishing individual cocktails after they're poured from the pitcher.

Make Ahead Instructions

Lilac simple syrup can be made ahead of time and stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.

Lemonade can be stored in an airtight container or a covered pitcher in the fridge for up to 2 days.

If you want to mix a pitcher of the gin lemonade, the batched cocktail can be stored in a covered pitcher in the fridge for up to 4 hours. Wait to add the ice until just before serving.

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