Lavender lemonade concentrate that'll get you through the hottest months. This lavender lemonade makes the easiest cocktail by simply adding a shot of vodka.
I've made this religiously every summer for the past 5 years. Before this year, I've always grown my own lavender, but take heart because in this version, I use dried culinary lavender buds that can be found in the bulk spice section of your grocery store.
Lavender lemonade just screams summer to me - the floral sweetness of lavender steeped in simple syrup, mixed with freshly squeezed citrus is the perfect combination when it's hot outside. Add a splash of your favorite Vodka (Tito's for me, please) and a sprig of mint and you've got an cocktail that's as refreshing as it is easy.
I decided to turn this into a concentrate because different people like their lemonade different strengths. For instance, in our house, I water it down for my kids quite a bit to lessen the amount of sugar they drink. In a cocktail, though, I love to use the concentrate straight with vodka in a shaker full of ice -- the ice melts just enough to create a perfectly balanced drink. Keep the concentrate on-hand in a glass bottle or mason jar, and add water (or something a little stronger) when you're ready to serve.
Lavender Lemonade Concentrate
Ingredients:
1/2 C Sugar
1 C water
1 C lemon juice (from about 6 large lemons)
1-2 tsp dried lavender buds or about 4-6 clippings of fresh lavender stems (you can keep the leaves on)
Directions:
Add the sugar and water to a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir and watch closely until the sugar is dissolved to create a 1:2 simple syrup. Remove from heat.
Add in the lavender according to how lavender-y you want your lemonade, and allow to steep in the warm simple syrup for about 15 minutes.
Strain the lavender out of the simple syrup and set aside.
Juice the lemons and add to a bottle or pitcher along with the lavender simple syrup.
This will keep in the fridge for a few weeks.
To make Lavender Lemonade:
Fill a glass with ice. Combine half lavender lemonade concentrate and half water. Stir and enjoy!
To make Spiked Lavender Lemonade:
Add 1.5-2 oz vodka and 2 oz lavender lemonade concentrate to a shaker. Fill with ice. Shake for 10 seconds and strain into a glass with fresh ice. Garnish with a lavender sprig.
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