Lilac Gin Lemonade
Lilac gin lemonade combines homemade lemonade (sweetened with lilac-infused simple syrup) with gin for a drink that's sweet, tart, delicately floral, and totally refreshing.
Servings: 6
Calories: 203kcal
Equipment
- Strainer
- Juicer
- Pitcher (glass or ceramic is best)
- 6 Collins glasses or other large cocktail glasses
Ingredients
Lilac Simple Syrup:
- 2 cups fresh lilac flowers packed
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 ½ cups cold water
Lilac Lemonade:
- 6 large lemons (about 1 ½ cups (355 ml)lemon juice)
- 2 cups cold water
- lilac simple syrup
Lilac Gin Lemonade Cocktail:
- Ice cubes
- 5 ¼ cups lilac lemonade
- 9 ounces gin (I recommend Empress 1908 Indigo Gin)
- lemon slices for garnish
- lilac blossoms for garnish
Instructions
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.2 cups fresh lilac flowers
- Add sugar and water to a small saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar is fully dissolved.1 cup granulated sugar, 1 ½ cups cold water
- Add the lilac blossoms to the pot of simple syrup and let the flowers infuse the syrup as it cools, at least 1 hour.
- Once the syrup is completely cool, strain the syrup to remove the flowers. Store the syrup in an airtight container in the fridge until ready to make the lemonade.
Make the lilac lemonade.
- Juice the lemons and add the juice to a pitcher. You can strain the juice to remove the pulp and any small bits of seeds, if you wish.6 large lemons
- Add the strained lilac simple syrup to the pitcher with the lemon juice.lilac simple syrup
- Add water to the pitcher and stir to combine.2 cups cold water
Make the lilac gin lemonade cocktails.
- To make one cocktail, add ice cubes to a glass and top with 7 ounces (207 ml) of the lilac lemonade.Ice cubes, 5 ¼ cups lilac lemonade
- Top the lemonade with 1 ½ ounces (44 ml) of gin. Stir to combine (for the best taste) or leave the gin layered on the top of the drink (for the most visual appeal).9 ounces gin
- Garnish with lemon slices and lilac blossoms and serve!lemon slices, lilac blossoms
Video
Notes
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.
I 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.
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.
Nutrition
Calories: 203kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Sodium: 14mg | Potassium: 1mg | Sugar: 24g | Iron: 0.02mg
