Light, Fresh and Lemony with just a hint of lavender, this Lavender Lemonade Martini is a fantastic summer libation and it's beautiful to boot!
As I start to notice the emergence of spring and summer plants from the cold hard ground of Colorado, I get most excited for herbs; several perennials and some annuals that I plant each year in a huge waist high garden box on my deck. While I love to cook with all sorts of herbs, I thought it would be nice to re-introduce you to the fabulous cocktail that uses perennial English Lavender, the Lavender Lemonade Martini.
I love and use lemon all the time and I don't think there is anything much more refreshing than an ice cold lemon flavored drink in the summer. My favorites include homemade lemonade, lemon drop martinis, Limoncello, and this Lavender Lemonade Cocktail that I re-created trying to mimic one that my daughter enjoyed at a local restaurant.
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After college, my daughter Lauren worked at Nordstom's in their Visual Department. Her team made everything look pretty and yes, she was one of the Christmas elves who transformed the store overnight from business as usual the day before Thanksgiving to a holiday wonderland the day after. I didn't like it so much...our girl was gone every Thanksgiving and came home too tired to do anything but fall into bed. Ahh...memories.
Anyhow, each year Nordsrom's hosted a nice holiday dinner for the staff. After one particular Christmas event, she came home very excited and pleaded with me, "Mom, you have to make this Lavender Lemonade Cocktail that I had at Beatrice and Woodsley!" It's such a wonderful drink. I'm glad she insisted!
Lauren said it reminded her of a lemon drop martini but with lavender infused vodka. I wasn't inclined to make that effort until summer when I thought it seemed most appropriate; mostly because I was growing lavender in my garden and wanted to use my own.
Since that time, I've moved and left behind my own lavender fields (pictured below) so I'm starting fresh. Three mid size plants went into the ground the summer after I moved here so there was limited harvesting that year but now they are large and hearty and I have plenty for several uses. I also thought it time to publish this recipe again...it was lost in archives with awful photos and it's too good to be forgotten.
For those who would like to use your own lavender? Make sure you have an English Lavender variety like that shown in this image with buds scattered down the stem. The Spanish varietal is not suitable for culinary uses; it's the one with the larger group of buds all concentrated together on the end. Pretty but not edible.
I was lucky when I first planted bushes in a garden; it was simply because I loved the plants and the wonderfully scented flowers each summer. Lucky for me that I do know now; my newer garden is also filled with English lavender. Besides...I personally think they are much prettier! 🙂
The variety in my garden now is Provence and it is perfect for this drink. Keeping it culinary also means never using pesticides, but I think that same scent I love is not so favored by pests, so lucky again. Bees love them though!
I've also used lavender for bouquets at my kitchen and bedroom, for making sachets for gifts, and of course for some favorite treats.
In addition to this cocktail I love this lavender shortbread and a Lemon Ricotta Pizza with Caramelized Onions and Herbs - run, don't walk if you like the sound of this match; it is to die for. The photo? Sorry, not so much, another simply crying for a redo! Lavender is also one component in the wonderful herb mixture known as Herbes de Provence which I like adding to olive oil and balsamic vinegar for a salad dressing. In any situation, the importance of using with a light hand is paramount. It can be delicious but not if your food tastes like soap!
I decided to use Ketel One Vodka for this cocktail. I participated in a Vodka Tasting put on by Ketel One at a local golf club and it was both fun and enlightening. One of the owners, Carl Nolet, Jr., led the tasting and trust me when I say it was enlightening; it was almost shocking.
I was completely taken aback at the differences between a couple of premium brands. I thought them significant and the quality of the Ketel One product was beyond evident. Want to make this a mocktail? Simply sub out the vodka with an equal amount of sparkling water.
Devoid of a medicinal note that was inherent in the others and especially when infused with either orange or lemon, the Ketel One was bright and citrusy, not sweet and overdone. I admit I'm now a huge fan; the difference was discernible and now there's no going back, I've got a new favorite brand. I was especially pleased to get a signed bottle from Mr. Nolet but I didn't let that stop me; it will be used!
I thought at first of infusing vodka with lavender for the Lavender Lemonade Martini but instead chose to make a lavender simple syrup and that was a good call. I wasn't sure just how many uses I would find for lavender vodka; except to have one of these every day...wait, maybe I should have done that??!! So easy, so refreshing...really, really good (can you TELL I liked it!).
As far as making homemade lemonade, the real secret is to make it using a simple syrup so you don't have to worry about the sugar dissolving. In this case, I infused a simple syrup with lavender; let it cool completely and then it was added to lemon juice and vodka for this oh so refreshing Lavender Lemonade Martini. That's it...four ingredients; sugar, lavender, lemon, and vodka, five if you count water. Could not be simpler.
The Lavender Lemonade Martini is pretty, lemony and of big importance; it passed Lauren's taste test! It's especially wonderful during the dog days of summer...a super COLD and refreshing cocktail that goes down very easy. Hope you enjoy one too...Cheers!
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Lavender Lemonade Martini Cocktail
Welcome to Progressive Eats, our virtual version of a Progressive Dinner Party. This month we're featuring Summer Bounty, hosted by Laura Kumin, who blogs at Mother Would Know. Our theme features fresh vegetables, herbs, and fruits associated with summer in a menu that we hope you'll enjoy!
If you're unfamiliar with the concept, a progressive dinner involves going from house to house, enjoying a different course at each location. With Progressive Eats, a theme is chosen each month, members share recipes suitable for a delicious meal or party, and you can hop from blog to blog to check them out.
