'tis the season on summery cocktails by the pool or on the patio. I saw a reference to this cocktail that was served and sold during Taylor Swift concerts and was instantly intrigued. Unfortunately, even though I know lots of people who went to the concerts, most of them were under 21 years old, so, not ordering these. It would have been nice to hear how they tasted. Regardless, this was a hit with us and D had the song streaming as we sipped and toasted.
I don't usually go for overly colorful cocktails; they make me think they'll be too sticky and sweet. But, after reading the flavor profile of this one, I knew I would like it. Besides I had lavender in bloom in my front yard and we have a never-ending supply of Meyer lemons from our tree...and I had just bottled up my acqua santa, elderflower-lemon liqueur from last season. It was a maelstrom of serendipity! Done.
Ingredients
There is a brand of indigo gin or something. I took my favorite gin and added blue butterfly pea flower to get the shade I wanted.
Blue Gin
1 cup gin (I used a 98-proof gin from Venus Spirits in Santa Cruz)
1-1/2 teaspoons blue butterfly pea flower powder
Lavender Syrup
1/3 cup water
1/3 cup organic granulated sugar
2 teaspoons organic lavender buds plus more stems for garnish
1/2 cup organic blueberries
Lavender Haze
makes 2 cocktails
2 chilled egg whites
1 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice (we have a Meyer lemon tree, but use whatever lemons you have)
1 ounce lavender syrup (recipe above)
1 ounce elderflower-lemon liqueur (St. Germaine is a commercial brand from France, the Italian version is called acqua santa)
3 ounces gin (recipe above to make it blue)
slices of organic lemon for serving
organic lavender sprig for serving
Also needed: cocktail shaker, ice cubes
Procedure
Blue Gin
Whisk everything together until fully combined. Pour in to a bottle and set aside.
Lavender Syrup
Place water, sugar, and lavender in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer, then swirl until sugar is completely dissolved. Add in the blueberries and simmer for 2 to 3 minutes - just until the berries are softened. Remove from heat and use a fork or potato masher to smash the berries. Let stand for 15 minutes. Strain syrup into a jar and set aside.
Lavender Haze
Place egg whites, lemon juice, lavender syrup, elderflower liqueur, and gin in the cocktail shaker. Cover and shake to combine, approximately 15 seconds. Add in some ice cubes. Cover and shake for another 30 seconds. Strain into serving glasses (I used small coupes). Garnish with a lavender sprig and a slice of lemon.
Cheers!
I will definitely be making this again throughout the summer season.
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