This post contains affiliate links (paid links). Advertisements displayed on this website do not reflect endorsements or recommendations made by Mitten Girl LLC.
Skip to Recipe
This 5 ingredient Lavender Lemon Drop Martini is a perfectly refreshing, summery cocktail. A grown up, boozy version of lavender lemonade, this flavorful drink will keep you cool on the hottest summer day.
Jump to:
- What's in a Lavender Lemon Drop
- How to Make a Lavender Lemon Drop Martini
- Recipe Tips
- Make Homemade Lavender Syrup
- How to Make Your Lavender Cocktails Purple
- What to Serve with a Lavender Lemon Drop Cocktail
- Are Lemon Drop Cocktails Sour?
- Looking for more Lemon Cocktails?
- Print The Recipe Card
- Lavender Lemon Drop Martini Recipe
Like the Cosmopolitan, Lemon Drop Martinis arrived on the bar scene in the 1970s, making them a modern classic cocktail. And yet unlike the Cosmo, you rarely see Lemon Drops on a bar menu. Let’s make a lavender version of this classic cocktail using lavender simple syrup to upgrade it and change that!
Lavender and lemon are a perfect pairing, so we’re adding lavender bitters to the classic recipe and trading out the regular simple syrup for lavender syrup in this delicious cocktail.
This elevates a simple lemon cocktail to one worthy of a special occasion like Mother’s Day brunch or a bridal shower.
Because lavender is used in all kinds of ways, lavender drinks can sometimes come off tasting a bit like soap. Which is definitely not the delicious cocktail you were wanting!
Combining lavender with lemon keeps this from happening since lemon is an equally strong flavor, is an ingredient we see in cocktails often, and isn’t as readily used in bath products.
What's in a Lavender Lemon Drop
- Vodka - Choose your favorite plain vodka for this recipe. You could also use a citrus vodka if that's what you have on hand.
- Lavender syrup - You can buy lavender simple syrup, or your can make yourself it in minutes! Get all of the instructions on my lavender syrup recipe page.
- Orange liqueur - Cointreau is my orange liqueur of choice for this cocktail, but triple sec will work if that's what you have on hand.
- Lavender bitters - I love what bitters add to cocktails, and this one benefits a lot from some lavender bitters.
- Fresh lemon - Use fresh citrus ONLY in your cocktails. Skip the bottled lemon juice and squeeze fresh lemons. You'll need about half of a lemon per drink for this recipe.
- Sugar - Granulated white sugar or white decorating sugar are both great options for garnishing the rim of your glass.
How to Make a Lavender Lemon Drop Martini
Pour sugar into a shallow dish. Run a slice of lemon around the top of a martini glass. Dip the rim of the glass into the sugar. Set aside.
Combine vodka, lavender syrup, lemon juice, orange liqueur, and lavender bitters in a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
Shake well and strain into your prepared glass.
Garnish with a lemon wheel or curl of lemon peel.
Enjoy!
Recipe Tips
- Make your lavender syrup ahead of time so it has time to chill in the refrigerator before you make your cocktails. Use any kind of martini glass or coupe glass for serving this cocktail.
- Besides the classic sugar rim, add garnish with lemon slices, fresh lavender sprigs, or a little bit of dried culinary lavender buds.
Make Homemade Lavender Syrup
It only takes 3 ingredients, a few steps, and a little time to make your own Lavender Simple Syrup. It's so much better than what you buy in stores!
Don’t want to make lavender syrup? Look for pre-made lavender syrup - sometimes called lavender cordial - at your favorite specialty food and/or beverage store.
How to Make Your Lavender Cocktails Purple
As you can see in the picture above, dried lavender doesn’t turn the lavender syrup purple when you make it. It’s naturally a pale yellow color.
In order to have a purple cocktail like the one in the other photos on this page, you have to use butterfly pea flowers to turn the lavender syrup blue. Then use the blue syrup in this drink, which when combined with the lemon juice, will turn violet.
Find the full instructions for how to make and color your syrup over on my lavender syrup recipe page.
What to Serve with a Lavender Lemon Drop Cocktail
This sweet-but-tart cocktail needs a salty happy hour snack to go with it. I love my Bacon Wrapped Dates and/or BBQ Oyster Crackers with this Lavender Lemon Drop. These Charcuterie Cups are a super fun idea to serve with these when entertaining.
Are Lemon Drop Cocktails Sour?
They shouldn’t be sour. While this cocktail is definitely more tart than sweet, the lemon juice is balanced with the sweet lavender syrup and orange liqueur. If you find your cocktail is tasting sour instead of tart, add a little more simple syrup.
Looking for more Lemon Cocktails?
If you love that sweet-but-tart combination of a lavender lemon drop martini, shake up a Lavender Bee's Knees with honey, classic Lemon Drop Martini, a Strawberry Lemon Drop with fresh strawberry syrup, or a Blueberry Lemon Drop cocktail with homemade blueberry syrup.
Print The Recipe Card
Lavender Lemon Drop Martini Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 oz vodka
- 1 oz lavender syrup
- 1 oz lemon juice fresh squeezed
- 0.25 oz orange liqueur
- 2 dashes lavender bitters
- Sugar for rim
Instructions
- Pour sugar into a shallow dish.
- Run a slice of lemon around the top of a martini glass and dip the rim of the glass into the sugar. Set aside.
- Combine vodka, lavender syrup, lemon juice, orange liqueur, and lavender bitters in a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
- Shake well and strain into your prepared glass.
- Enjoy!
Laura says
Hey Katy, can you make this in a large batch for events?
Katy McAvoy says
Hi Laura! To make a pitcher (about 6 drinks), combine 1 1/2 cups vodka, 3/4 cup lavender simple syrup, 3/4 cup fresh lemon juice, 1.75 oz orange liqueur, 12 dashes of lavender bitters, and 1/3 cup cold water. The water will compensate for shaking the cocktail with ice. Feel free to double or triple these amounts if you need more. 🙂
Sylvia Flores says
Delish!! That first sip has you in a beautiful garden of lavender. Heavenly… easy to make & So refreshing! It was the signature drink for “Our Ladies Night Gathering”.💃🏻
Katy McAvoy says
So glad you love it! It's the perfect ladies night drink. 🙂
Jessica says
Super delicious and refreshing!
Jen says
So good! The best lavender martini I have tried. Not over the top.
Margie says
can you please tell me where you found the glass that is holding your lavender lemon drop martini? I have been looking everywhere for that shape of a glass.....
Katy McAvoy says
I inherited those glasses from a friend after her parents passed away and left behind more glassware than the family was able to use.
If you search "vintage etched champagne glasses" on Ebay, you'll find others with similar designs and shapes. Hope that helps!