Add a burst of floral flavors to any drink or cocktail with this easy homemade lavender liqueur! You’ll need some simple ingredients & time!
If you love lavender too, try making this easy lavender extract or lavender honey to add a pop of flavor to your bakes and cakes. I love adding this lavender sugar to cookies and it’s great on these lavender muffins!
I love playing with lavender in the kitchen. It has a beautiful floral flavor that pairs well with citrus, fresh berries, vanilla bean, and even earl grey tea.
This lavender liqueur requires just a handful of simple ingredients and tastes so luxurious. Drink it over some crushed ice. It’s an amazing addition to your favorite lemonade on those hot summer days!
What is lavender liqueur?
Liqueurs are made by infusing alcohol with different herbs or fruits. To make lavender liqueur, you infuse dried lavender buds in vodka.
After the vodka takes on the flavor notes from the lavender, you combine the mixture with a simple syrup. This tones down the intense lavender flavor and makes it so easy to drink.
You can drink lavender liqueur on its own or add it to this lavender lemonade cocktail. It tastes especially great with lemon or strawberry!
Equipment
This is a very simple recipe. For the first phase, you’ll just need a mason jar and some measuring spoons.
After the lavender vodka mixture cures, you’ll need a funnel, a small strainer, and a saucepan to make the simple syrup.
Ingredients
Dried lavender: I prefer to use dried lavender because it’s easy to find. Choose a culinary-grade lavender, like English lavender, to make sure your liqueur doesn’t taste too soapy.
Vodka: You can choose any spirit but since lavender has such a distinct flavor, I prefer to use neutral vodka.
Sugar: You’ll create a simple syrup with sugar and water to dilute and sweeten the liqueur.
Lemon zest & juice: Lavender and lemon are a match made in heaven. A little fresh lemon juice makes this liqueur even better.
Food coloring: This ingredient is optional, but helps makes your lavender liqueur have a purple tint.
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Organic culinary lavender flowers
This is a large bag that will last for all of your lavender-flavored creations!
How to Make Lavender Liqueur
- Add the dried lavender buds, lemon zest, and vodka to a mason jar. Seal, shake, and store in a dry, dark place. Shake daily for one month.
- In a saucepan over medium heat, combine your sugar and water. Stir gradually until the sugar crystals are dissolved. Add the lemon juice and stir. Let the syrup cool to room temperature.
- Strain the lavender vodka mixture. Add the syrup and optional food coloring to a large jar. Add the vodka mixture, then stir.
- Set up two quart jars with a funnel and fill them with liqueur.
- Seal the jars to use later or use immediately.
Storing Suggestions
Since both vodka and sugar act as a preservative, this liqueur is shelf-stable. I prefer to keep it in a cool, dark cupboard and try to consume it within 6-12 months.
Since I normally drink this liqueur when chilled, I often keep one bottle in the fridge for easy access and the second bottle in storage.
How to Use Lavender Liqueur
This liqueur tastes great when chilled. I like to serve it over ice with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice for a refreshing summer drink. It’s perfect in this Lavender Lemonade Cocktail, too!
The floral aroma has a calming scent perfect for unwinding after a busy day.
FAQs
How much alcohol is in lavender liqueur?
Great question. Most liqueurs are 50% alcohol but because the lavender flavor is so strong, this recipe has 2 full cups of 100-proof vodka in 2 quarts of liqueur.
This means there is one cup of alcohol and 3 cups of syrup per quart.
Based on my rough math, I believe that means there’s approximately 25% percent alcohol (12.5% ABV) per quart.
If you prefer a stronger liqueur, you can add up to 2 more cups of alcohol. In that situation, you’d have 50% alcohol per quart for a 25% ABV.
Personally, I like that this liqueur is a little lower alcohol because it makes it easy to sip. Plus, if you add it to a cocktail, you’ll be adding more alcohol anyway!
Can I make lavender liqueur with lavender syrup?
Absolutely! If you already have lavender syrup on hand, you can combine it with equal parts vodka for an easy lavender liqueur. Unless your lavender syrup has a strong lavender flavor, your final product might be a little mild.
Another option is to make your own lavender syrup by changing the order of this recipe. In a small saucepan, prepare your simple syrup and add the dried lavender buds to the syrup mixture.
After the sugar grains dissolve, let it cool to room temperature to absorb as much flavor as possible.
Strain the cooled syrup into a jar, add the vodka, mix, and bottle.
I chose the slower extraction method as this is how most people make liqueurs and the extra time would help draw out more lavender flavor.
Can I make lavender liqueur with fresh lavender?
Yes! You’ll need twice as much fresh lavender as dried, so you’ll want 1/2 cup of fresh lavender. Make sure you’re using culinary-grade lavender as some varieties are very unpleasant to eat.
Related Recipes
- Lavender Honey
- Lavender Extract
- Lemon Lavender Muffins
- Lavender Sugar
- Homemade Vanilla Extract
- Vanilla Maple Syrup
Lavender Liqueur
Equipment
- 2 quart jars
- 1 fine-mesh strainer
- 1 Saucepan
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup dried lavender
- 2 cups vodka
- 1 lemon zest & juice
- 4 cups sugar
- 4 cups water
Instructions
- Add the dried lavender buds, lemon zest, and vodka to a mason jar. Seal, shake, and store in a dry, dark place. Shake daily for one month.
- In a saucepan over medium heat, combine your sugar and water. Stir gradually until the sugar crystals are dissolved. Add the lemon juice and stir. Let the syrup cool to room temperature.
- Strain the lavender liqueur into a large pitcher. Add the syrup and optional food coloring, then stir.
- Set up two quart jars with a funnel and fill them with liqueur.
- Seal the jars to use later or use immediately.
Notes
Did you try this recipe? I’d love to know what you thought! Add a comment below.
