It’s here, it’s finally here — spring! Nothing is as exciting as seeing the first few flowers bursting into bloom at the beginning of the season or walking out of work at 5 p.m. and noticing the sun is still shining. It’s a welcome sight after a winter of dreary cold, rain and mud, but flowers are good for something other than just beautifying the landscape. You can bring them into your kitchen to breathe life into all sorts of dishes, but they especially sing in cocktails.
Just as citrus can wake up the nuance of your favorite spirits, the same can be said of flowers. Infusing flower blossoms into alcohol or simple syrup or investing in a bottle each of orange blossom and rose blossom waters opens up a whole new avenue of flavor for your mixology.
And what better to sip on as the season changes than a floral cocktail? Whether you like them sweet or sour, light on alcohol or martini-style, these recipes will help you bring blossoms and petals into your kitchen.
A version of this story was originally published March 2018.
Blushing Ginger-Rose Fizz
Ginger beer, rosé wine and rose add complex but delicious flavor to this fizzy drink.
Elderflower Champagne Mimosas
Elderflower has a floral, almost citrusy flavor that pairs exceptionally well with Champagne. Here, it comes in the form of elderflower tonic, which mixes beautifully with Champagne and orange liqueur.
Honeysuckle-Cherry Smash
Honeysuckle has a light floral flavor that's naturally sweet. It works well with the slight tartness of cherries to make this drink.
Hibiscus Bourbon Cocktail
Tart hibiscus has a flavor almost like cranberry. It helps tame the fire of bourbon in this recipe.
Lavender Bee’s Knees Cocktail
A classic honey-sweetened cocktail, the Bee's Knees is even tastier with some floral lavender flavors added to the mix.
Honeysuckle Green Juice Cocktail
Swap out your bloody marys this spring for a new brunch cocktail. Green juice, a homemade honeysuckle syrup and a little gin make for an almost healthy cocktail.
Limoncello & Lavender Moscow Mule
Bright, citrusy limoncello and fragrant, heady lavender help balance out the bracing ginger beer in this Moscow mule.
Orange Blossom Coladas
Orange blossom water adds an unexpected dose of floral flavor to these creamy coladas. It will transport you to somewhere with sunny skies and flowers blooming.
Rose Lemon Drop Martini
For a drink that truly tastes like a springtime picnic in the garden, combine rose and lemon to make this sweet sipper.
Blended Berry Elderflower Bellini
This frosty blended Bellini is perfect for warm spring days when summer is knocking at your door.
Blueberry-Lavender Prosecco Mimosas
Blueberries turn this cocktail a lovely purple-red color. It's sparkling, laced with lavender and totally worthy of company.
Wabi-Sabi Cherry Blossom Cocktail
Frosty nigori sake looks like snow when poured into this drink. As you sip, the snow "melts," revealing a pickled cherry blossom at the bottom of your cup.
Pear & Elderflower Champagne Cocktails
Juicy pears are the backbone of this tipple. Elderflower and Champagne top off your glass.
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