Flowery Drinks and Cocktails

Fresh blooms aren’t just a colorful accent for a mantle or table — believe it or not, you can also use them to make incredible mixed drinks!

Floral cocktails are a delicious way to ring in the spring or summer season, whether you serve them for a party or gathering or sip them solo. Read on for some delicious flower-inspired drink recipes!

Best Edible Flowers for Cocktails

When crafting your floral cocktail, it’s important to select blooms that are safe for consumption. Here are some of the best edible flowers for drinks:

• Roses: Rose petals feature notes of strawberry and green apple, adding a soft and elegant touch to various aromatic dishes and beverages. They have a slightly sweet, floral scent and flavor, complementing a range of spirits, including bourbon, vodka, and gin. Roses can make your drink look and taste divine!
• Lavender: Fresh or dried lavender makes an excellent cocktail garnish. Its floral taste and aroma offset the earthy, herbal, and almost minty notes. Certain varieties contain hints of fruit, smoke, and wood. From martinis to Palomas, lavender accommodates a range of mixed drinks and spirits.
• Orange blossom: While it often tastes bitter on its own, orange blossom has a vibrant, complex flavor profile that blends wonderfully in many dishes and drinks. Naturally, it meshes with orange- and citrus-flavored cocktails — perfect for summer!
• Violets: Violets have a distinct sweet and floral taste. Highly fragrant violets, in particular, lend themselves to various fruits and liquors, making them perfect for cocktails.

12 Flowery Drink and Cocktail Recipes

Those blooms are just the start when it comes to floral drinks. Many other edible varieties can add texture and flavor to your beverages! With that in mind, let’s dive into some unique and tasty flower cocktails below.

1. Rose Martini

Perfect for breezy spring afternoons or romantic occasions like Valentine’s Day, this rose martini cocktail puts a light and delicate twist on the typical martini. Expertly combining the flavors of grapefruit, rose, dry vermouth, and gin, this drink serves one and is the ideal blend of sweetness with just the right hint of bitterness. Grab the ingredients and give it a whirl!

Ingredients:

• 1 ounce dry vermouth
• 2 ounces gin
• 3 dashes grapefruit bitters
• 1 teaspoon rose-infused simple syrup
• Rose petal and lemon twist for garnish

Instructions:

1. Pour the dry vermouth, gin, and rose syrup into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake well.
2. Strain the mixture into a chilled cocktail glass.
3. Add your grapefruit bitters, then garnish with your rose petal and lemon twist.

2. Lavender Paloma

This smooth and sweet lavender paloma combines the flavors of fresh grapefruit, mezcal — and of course, lavender — for the ultimate warm weather refresher. This recipe contains two parts — homemade lavender simple syrup and the cocktail. The syrup will yield about half a cup. You can refrigerate the extra syrup for up to two weeks, in case you want to give this beverage another go!

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons lavender
• ½ cup sugar
• 1 tablespoon Maldon sea salt
• 1 tablespoon dried lavender
• 3 ounces grapefruit juice
• 2 ounces mezcal
• 1 slice grapefruit

Instructions:

1. Make the simple syrup by combining the lavender and sugar with half a cup of water in a saucepan. Cook over medium heat for about 3-5 minutes until the sugar dissolves.
2. Let the syrup steep for 20-30 minutes, then strain and discard the lavender. Set it aside to cool.
3. Mix your salt and dried lavender in a small dish. Rub the grapefruit slice around the rim of a glass, then coat the rim in the salt mixture. Fill the glass with ice.
4. Blend the mezcal, grapefruit juice, and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake well, then strain it into the salt-rimmed glass.

3. Floral Old-Fashioned

The chamomile flower contains delicate notes of apple, a honey-like sweetness, and a silky mouthfeel. This floral old-fashioned cocktail fuses the soft flavors of chamomile with malty scotch, creating a smooth yet smoky finish. If you enjoy a hearty whiskey-based beverage with a touch of sweetness, this recipe is calling your name.

Scotch and Angostura bitters offer intense palatability, while chamomile syrup brings a pleasant richness to the mix. Gather these ingredients and give it a try!

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon dried chamomile flowers
• ¼ cup sugar
• 2 ounces single malt scotch
• 3 dashes Angostura bitters
• Edible flowers for garnish

Instructions:

1. Add your dried chamomile flowers, sugar, and ¼ cup of water to a small pot. Cook over high heat for about three minutes until the sugar dissolves.
2. Remove the syrup from heat and let it cool for about 30 minutes. Strain the syrup with a fine-mesh sieve over a bowl, then discard the flowers.
3. Add the homemade chamomile syrup, scotch, and Angostura bitters to a mixing glass with ice. Stir for about 15 seconds with a spoon or swizzle stick, then strain it into an ice-filled rocks glass. Garnish with edible flowers, and enjoy!

4. Blooming Champagne Cocktail

You’re only four ingredients away from this simple yet luscious blooming champagne cocktail. This drink is a unique ensemble of hibiscus, rose, and sparkling wine for a lavish springtime treat.

Ingredients:

• 2 drops rose water
• ½ teaspoon hibiscus syrup
• 1 whole hibiscus flower
• Sparkling wine

Instructions:

1. Combine the hibiscus flower, syrup, and rose water in a champagne flute.
2. Top with sparkling wine. Bottoms up!

5. Golden Jasmine Martini

This golden jasmine martini boasts strong and exotic floral notes that will surely intrigue your guests. The jasmine flower is known for its intense and slightly bitter flavor and aroma. Therefore, it only takes a few petals to perfume your entire beverage! This recipe yields two servings.

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon jasmine green tea
• 1 tablespoon honey or sugar syrup
• 100 ml vodka or gin
• Jasmine flowers for garnish

Instructions:

1. Chill two martini glasses in the freezer for at least half an hour.
2. Use boiling water to make a cup of jasmine green tea, then let it steep for a few minutes. Add the sugar syrup or honey, stirring to dissolve.
3. Pour the tea into a cocktail shaker with ice cubes. Use a strainer to catch any tea leaves.
4. Add your vodka or gin to the shaker. Shake vigorously until ice cold, then strain the mixture into the chilled glasses.
5. Garnish the drinks with jasmine petals.

6. Spring Flowers Cocktail With Lilac Syrup

Pairing a striking violet color with rich floral flavors, this spring flowers cocktail with lilac syrup is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser! Blending a decadent lilac simple syrup, light rum, and a splash of crème de violette, chances are you’ll be savoring every last sip.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups lilac blossoms
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 ¼ cups water
• Half a lime
• 1 ounce light rum
• Carbonated water
  ½ ounces crème de violette
• ½ teaspoon citric acid (optional)
• 2 blueberries for color (optional)

Instructions:

1. Heat your sugar and water in a saucepan over high heat until the sugar dissolves. Add the lilac blossoms and optional blueberries, then simmer for 10 minutes to form the simple syrup.
2. Remove the syrup from heat and let it cool slightly. Strain out the lilac, then stir in the optional citric acid as a preservative.
3. Refrigerate the syrup in a sealed glass jar.
4. Mix a few teaspoons of carbonated water and ice in a glass, then set aside.
5. Blend the crème de violette, rum, lime, and homemade simple syrup in a glass. Pour in about half a cup of the soda water and ice, then stir to mix. Voila!

7. Orange Blossom Cocktail

One sip of this coastal orange blossom gin cocktail will greet your palate with bright, summery vibes. Fresh coconut gives way to sweet and citrusy orange flavors for a delicious pick-me-up. This cocktail is free of sugar and sweeteners, but you can always add a splash of agave nectar or honey if you prefer sweeter drinks.

Ingredients:

• 1 ounce orange blossom water
• 2 ounces gin
• 4 ounces unsweetened coconut water
• 2 ounces freshly squeezed orange juice
• Orange wedge and edible flowers or flower petals for garnish

Instructions:

1. Pour the orange blossom water, coconut water, orange juice, and gin into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake vigorously.
2. Strain the mixture into an ice-filled cocktail glass, then garnish with your orange wedge and edible flowers. Enjoy!

8. Floral Gin Lemonade Cocktail

Merging cool mint, tangy lemon, and mellow rose flavors, this floral gin lemonade cocktail is the epitome of summertime. Its radiant purple tones almost make it too pretty to drink!

Ingredients:

• 2 ounces gin
• ¼ ounce Monin lavender syrup
• ¼ ounce fresh lemon juice
• ¼ ounce rose petal water
• 6-7 ounces Fentimans Rose Lemonade
• ¼ teaspoon dry rose petals or rosebuds
• 2-3 fresh mint sprigs
• Fresh flower for garnish

Instructions:

1. Add the dried flowers to the bottom of a wine or cocktail glass, then fill it with ice.
2. Pour the gin, rose water, and mint leaves into a mixing glass. Mash the leaves with a muddler to release the aromatic oils.
3. Strain the mixture into the ice-filled glass, then drizzle the lavender syrup on top.
4. Pour the rose lemonade over the mixture, then garnish with a fresh flower and mint sprig.
5. Mix the cocktail with a straw before drinking. The lavender syrup should settle to the bottom for a gradient effect.

9. Garden Party

This recipe is named the garden party cocktail for a reason — it combines various fresh fruits and edible flowers for an exquisite concoction! Satisfy your summertime cravings for an ice-cold beverage with this floral, citrusy, and berry-infused sipper.

Ingredients:

• 1 ounce dry vermouth
• 2 ounces gin
• ¼ ounce lime juice
• ½ ounce agave nectar
• ¾ ounces lemon juice
• Several strawberries and lemon wedges
• Edible flowers

Instructions:

1. Add your dry vermouth, gin, agave nectar, and lemon juice to an ice-filled cocktail shaker. Shake vigorously for 10-12 seconds.
2. Pour the mixture into an ice-filled rocks glass.
3. Garnish the drink with strawberries, lemon wedges, and edible flowers.

10. Sparkling Borage Cocktail

Besides being used in traditional medicine, borage leaves and flowers make fantastic garnishes for drinks and dishes. This sparkling borage cocktail contains three parts — borage simple syrup, borage flower ice cubes, and the cocktail.

Simple syrup ingredients:

• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup water
• ½ cup rinsed borage leaves and flowers

Ice cube ingredients:

• 1 cup distilled water, or sufficient amount to fill an ice tray
• 10-12 borage flowers

Cocktail ingredients:

• ½ ounce elderflower liqueur
• 1 ½ ounces gin
• ½ ounce borage simple syrup
• 1 splash club soda
• 1 splash freshly squeezed lime juice
• Borage flower ice cube for garnish

Simple syrup instructions:

1. Combine your sugar and water in a small saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Bring to a slow boil.
2. Add the borage flowers and leaves and continue stirring. Lower the heat, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes.
3. Remove the syrup from heat and let it steep for at least an hour.
4. Use a fine-mesh strainer to strain the borage from the syrup. Bottle and refrigerate.

Ice cube instructions:

1. Fill ice cube trays halfway with distilled water and freeze.
2. Place one borage flower on every ice cube.
3. Fill the cubes the rest of the way with water and freeze.

Cocktail instructions:

1. Add the elderflower liqueur, gin, lime juice, and borage syrup to an ice-filled cocktail shaker. Shake well.
2. Strain the mixture into a chilled cocktail glass.
3. Add the borage flower ice cubes, then top with club soda.

11. Rose and Rye

This rose and rye cocktail mixes soft rose flavors with robust whiskey and bitters for a unique, flavorful blend. A splash of lemon juice adds just the right amount of tang, while homemade rose simple syrup adds a subtle sweetness to the mix.

Ingredients:

• 2 drops rose extract
• ⅓ cup sugar
• ⅓ cup water
• 1 ½ ounces rye whiskey
• ½ ounce fresh lemon juice
• 2 dashes Fee Brothers Old Fashioned bitters
• Rose petals for garnish

Instructions:

1. Add your sugar and water to a small saucepan. Simmer over medium heat for about 2 minutes until the sugar dissolves.
2. Remove from heat and stir in the rose extract to form the simple syrup. Let it cool completely.
3. Combine the lemon juice, ¾ ounces of rose simple syrup, whiskey, and bitters in an ice-filled cocktail shaker. Shake well.
4. Strain the mixture into a chilled rocks glass. Garnish with rose petals.

12. Sakura Martini

Cherry blossoms are another edible flower variety, bursting with sweet and fruity rose notes. This sakura martini recipe blends sweet maraschino liqueur, oak-aged Junmai sake, and salted cherry blossoms for a Japanese-inspired refresher.

Ingredients:

• 2 ½ ounces sake
• ¼ teaspoon maraschino liqueur
• 1 ounce gin
• Salted cherry blossoms for garnish

Instructions:

1. Soak some cherry blossoms in a small bowl of hot tap water for 10 minutes.
2. Pour the flowers through a fine sieve, then rinse in cold water. Drain and dry well with paper towels.
3. Stir your gin, sake, and liqueur in an ice-filled cocktail shaker. Strain the mixture into a cocktail glass, then garnish with a cherry blossom. Serve and enjoy!

Check Out Other Recipes for Cooking With Flowers

These flower drinks are only the beginning! Aside from our beautiful bouquet selection, you’ll find a variety of recipes and tips for cooking with blooms at Ode à la Rose. Check out our complete guide to edible flowers to inspire your next culinary creation!