Lavender Elderflower Gin Sour co*cktail Recipe (2024)

What is a gin sour?

A classic co*cktail, 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 subtly floral 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 co*cktail.

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 co*cktail; 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 co*cktail 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!

How to make this Lavender Elderflower Gin Sour co*cktail Recipe

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

For the lavender simple syrup

This delicious recipe makes approximately a cup of lavender syrup.

1. In a small saucepan, combine water, sugar, and lavender buds.
2. Heat on medium and occasionally stir until the sugar dissolves.
3. 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 co*cktail

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

1. Add the gin, aquafaba, lemon juice, and lavender simple syrup to a co*cktail shaker.
2. Shake for 30 seconds. Add a cup of ice, then shake again.
3. Strain into a chilled coupe glass or your favorite co*cktail glass.
4. Garnish with lemon twists or lavender sprigs, if desired. 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

1. Cut into the lemon rind with a swivel peeler or vegetable peeler, going around the entire lemon.
2. Cut a rectangle approximately 5 to 6 inches long and an inch wide. Remove any excess pith.
3. Cut a narrow strip approximately 5 mm wide (less than a quarter-inch). Wind it around something narrow like a co*cktail 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 co*cktail 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!

Equipment

• co*cktail shaker - I love this hybrid co*cktail shaker because I have no more freezing hands or leaks! The jigger is in the cap.
• co*cktail glasses such as coupe glasses or Nick and Nora glasses.
• co*cktail picks to wrap the citrus around- I love these elegant signature co*cktail picks from Empress 1908 Gin!

Storage

This Lavender Elderflower Gin Sour co*cktail 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.

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 co*cktail ahead of time?

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

How strong is this lavender elderflower gin co*cktail?

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.

Lavender Elderflower Gin Sour co*cktail Recipe

Emily Miller

This Lavender Elderflower Gin Sour is the perfect balance of floral botanical notes and tartness. Fragrant lavender syrup complements subtle elderflower liqueur, combined with gin and fresh lemon juice, for a delicious co*cktail!

Nutrition

Serving: 1co*cktailCalories: 140kcalCarbohydrates: 10.4gProtein: 0.3gFat: 0.1gSodium: 1.5mgSugar: 0.9g

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.