Lavender Gin & Tonic

Lavender Gin & Tonic: The perfect way to cool down on hot summer nights.

Ah, summer! It’s been hot, hot, hot here, with no rain or cool nights in sight. My perfect cocktail to cool down with is a Gin & Tonic.

Gin, gin, ginny gin gin :)

Did you know that June 13th was World Gin Day? I know – it sneaks up on me every year, too! I celebrated this auspicious day with some of my friends. We all brought a selection of gins, tonics, bitters, and other add-ins, and shared some cocktails, good food, and laughter.

My favourite Gin & Tonic of the evening was a Lavender Gin & Tonic, make with Lavender Simple Syrup and this gin from Ampersand Distilling Co. on Vancouver Island, BC. It would also be great with Bombay Sapphire gin. The tonic I used was Indian Tonic from Fever Tree. The lavender really brought out the floral and citrus botanicals in the gin.

Try this Gin & Tonic and let me know what you think – if you come up with something interesting, post it in the comments. Enjoy!

Lavender Gin & Tonic

Makes 1 Cocktail

Ingredients

• 2 oz. Lavender Simple Syrup (recipe here)
• 1 oz. Gin
• Tonic water
• Ice cubes
• Blueberries and sprigs of lavender for garnish

Directions

1. Pour syrup into an old-fashioned glass. Add gin, and stir until combined. Add ice cubes and top with tonic water. Garnish with a lavender sprig and blueberries. Enjoy!

Lavender Simple Syrup

Lavender Simple Syrup – add it to your cocktail and instantly up the class factor!

Simple syrup’s name does not lie: it is very, very simple to make. Add lavender, and this sweet syrup becomes something amazing. The syrup becomes this rich, rosy colour. It tastes like sweet, herbaceous and floral, but not bitter and perfumey.

You can add this Lavender Syrup to cocktails, lemonade, iced tea – whatever your imagination can dream into being. I made a refreshing cocktail for my friends – a Gin & Tonic with Lavender Syrup.

I hope you come up with some interesting uses for this syrup. Post your creations in the comments!

Lavender Simple Syrup

Makes about 1 cup of syrup
Ingredients

• 1 cup water
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 3 tablespoons dried lavender flowers

Directions

1. Bring water and lavender to a boil in a medium-sized saucepan. Stir in sugar until dissolved. Reduce heat to medium low, and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand for another 10 minutes to cool slightly.
2. Strain syrup to remove blossoms.

Syrup can be stored in the refrigerator for up to one week. Enjoy!