Floral Notes: Unforgettable Mixology Experiences

Adorning food and beverages with edible flowers is a tradition that dates back to ancient civilizations in Rome, Greece, and China where flowers were used to enhance the aroma, flavor, and aesthetics of a dish or drink. Beyond their beauty and flavor, various blooms also held medicinal significance and were historically used in tinctures and teas—a tradition echoed today as studies reveal potential health benefits in some flowers like chamomile and rose.

For the stylish, however, the allure lies in their sheer elegance. Edible flowers transform cocktails into art, whether as a garnish or a key ingredient. Botanicals have long enriched spirits like gin celebrated for its herbaceous blends. More recently, liqueurs like St-Germain, crafted from handpicked elderflower blossoms, have bloomed in countless cocktail recipes. Explore our curated collection of botanical drink recipes and let the beauty of nature inspire cocktails that are as visually stunning as they are delicious.

Botanical Infusions

Customize your cocktails with floral-infused spirits or syrups that add flavor depth and complexity. Flowers like hibiscus, lavender, and orange blossom are popular choices for crafting bespoke infusions. Choose a neutral spirit like vodka, carefully balancing the flower-to-liquid ratio to achieve your desired flavor intensity. Alternatively, create an artisanal floral syrup by gently simmering fresh or dried petals with a simple syrup base for a sweetener infused with nuanced floral notes, perfect for enhancing cocktails, teas, or desserts.

Paloma

Adapted from muydelish.com
Makes 1 drink

Ingredients

• 1½ oz. tequila
• 2 oz. fresh grapefruit juice
• 1 fresh lime wedge
• 1½ oz. Squirt
• 1 lime or grapefruit wedge for garnish

Directions
Fill a cocktail glass with crushed ice. Add the tequila, grapefruit juice, and Squirt soda. Add one small squeeze of lime from the wedge. Stir well and garnish with a lime or grapefruit wedge.

Elderflower Margarita

Adapted from thehealthfulideas.com
Makes 1 drink

Ingredients

• 1½ oz. silver tequila
• 1 oz. elderflower liqueur
• 1⁄2 oz. freshly squeezed lime juice
• 1⁄2 oz. simple syrup 
• Edible flowers for garnish

Directions
Fill a glass with ice and set it aside. In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, add tequila, elderflower liqueur, lime juice, and simple syrup. Close and shake for 10–15 seconds. Strain into the glass and garnish with edible flowers if desired. Serve immediately.

Flower Drop

Adapted from stgermainliqueur.com
Makes 1 drink

Ingredients

• 1 oz. elderflower liqueur
• 1½ oz. vodka
• 3⁄4 oz. fresh lemon juice
• 1⁄2 oz. simple syrup
• Edible flowers for garnish

Directions
Pour the elderflower liqueur, vodka, lemon juice, and simple syrup into a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Close and shake vigorously until the drink is nicely chilled. Strain into a chilled glass. Gently twist a lemon peel over the drink to release the oil and discard, then garnish with edible flowers if desired.

May Queen

Adapted from rhubarbandlavender.com
Makes 1 drink

Ingredients
For Lavender-Infused Gin:

• 4 Tbsp. dried culinary lavender
• 750 ml gin

For the May Queen:

• 1½ oz. lavender-infused gin
• 1⁄2 oz. elderflower liqueur
• 3⁄4 oz. hibiscus rose syrup
• 1⁄2 oz. fresh lemon juice
• 1 oz. egg white
• Edible flowers for garnish

Directions
For Lavender-Infused Gin:
In a large jar, combine the dried lavender and gin. Cover and shake. Let sit for 4 hours. Strain the lavender from the gin and transfer strained gin to a clean jar. The lavender-infused gin can be stored in a cool place for several months.

For the May Queen:
In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, add the lavender-infused gin, elderflower liqueur, hibiscus rose syrup, fresh lemon juice, and egg white. Cover and shake for 10–15 seconds. Strain into a coupe glass. Garnish with edible flowers if desired.

Editor’s Tip: 2–3 dashes of Fee Foam is a great vegan option for egg white.

Spring Fling

Adapted from peanutbutterandfitness.com
Makes 1 drink

Ingredients

• 1½ oz. gin
• 1 oz. cucumber juice
• 3⁄4 oz. simple syrup
• 3⁄4 oz. lime juice
• 1⁄2 oz. green chartreuse
• 1 oz. egg white
• 4 basil leaves
• 1–2 dashes orange bitters

Directions
Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker and dry shake for 15–20 seconds. Add ice to the cocktail shaker and shake for another 5–10 seconds until the shaker is chilled. Hold the lid tightly as pressure can build inside the shaker from the egg whites. Strain into a chilled coupe glass. Garnish with edible flowers or a basil leaf.

Pink Flamingo

Adapted from empressgin.com
Makes 8 drinks

Ingredients

• 16 oz. gin
• 16 oz. pineapple juice
• 6 oz. guava purée
• 4 oz. fresh lime juice
• 4 oz. hibiscus syrup
• Soda water to top
• Pineapple slices and fronds, and lime or guava wheels for garnish

Directions
Add gin, pineapple juice, guava purée, lime juice, and hibiscus syrup to a pitcher and stir. Strain into ice-filled glasses. Top drinks with soda water and garnish.

Rosé Margarita

Adapted from patrontequila.com
Makes 1 pitcher

Ingredients

• 8 oz. silver tequila
• 6 oz. orange liqueur
• 1 bottle of rosé wine
• 4 oz. elderflower liqueur
• 6 strawberries
• 10 raspberries
• 6 lime wheels for garnish

Directions
In the bottom of a pitcher, gently muddle the berries with the elderflower liqueur. Add tequila, orange liqueur, and rosé wine. Stir to combine and pour into glasses with ice. Garnish with lime wheels.