This Lilac Ginger Gin Fizz is the perfect spring or Mother’s Day brunch cocktail. It’s made with an easy-to-make lilac simple syrup made from those beautifully scented flowers in your yard!
Happy Spring, friends! I have a new drink for you: Lilac Ginger Gin Fizz. And, you are going to love it. I am not a huge bartender or cocktail maker. When I host parties, I typically sit out a few bottles of wine and some locally-brewed beer. But, this year I made the goal of creating some drinks for my parties. Why? Because drinks are fun and I like booze. It’s also a skill that I haven’t really honed and I really do enjoy being the hostess with the mostess (drinks).
Now that I’ve spent an entire paragraph talking about booze, I should probably move on to other topics so you don’t think I’m huge boozer. 🙂
Lilacs are hands down my favorite flower. I’m so sad that they have such a small lifespan. Maybe that’s what makes them so special. Growing up, my great-grandmother had this lilac bush and every spring when it bloomed and we visited, you would find my grade-school butt out there at the lilac bush. I had the bee stings to prove it!
Did you know you can cook with lilacs? They are lovely and when you pair it with something like lemon or ginger beer, it doesn’t taste like you are eating or drinking a bouquet of flowers. I’m in love with all things floral these days: edible flowers and cooking with floral flavors. I’ve written about this before but the key to cooking and baking with florals is to have a soft hand and balance the flavors. If you go too strong, it’s like eating a flower shop.
I’m excited to share this lovely light drink with you and hopefully you have time to grab some lilacs for your spring brunch or Mother’s Day brunch and make this gorgeous cocktail!
- 2 oz gin
- 1/4 cup ginger beer
- 1 1/2 tbsp Lilac Simple Syrup
- 3-4 oz club soda
- Lots of ice
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 cups lilacs, with all green stems removed
- For the simple syrup: In a medium pot over medium heat, bring the water sugar and lilacs to a boil.
- Then, turn to low and let it simmer for 15 minutes.
- Strain the simple sugar mixture through a fine mesh sieve to remove all of the flowers.
- It can be kept for up to a week in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
- For the Gin Fiz: In a glass, add the gin, ginger beer, and lilac simple syrup. Top off with club soda and mix.
- Add ice and enjoy!
- *If you want a super purple color, feel free to add a drop or two of purple food coloring, which I did.
I had no idea you could cook with lilacs! I have like ten bushes that line one side of my property and I always wish they lasted longer too because the smell is heavenly. And hey, I like booze too. And I LOVE Fever Tree soda and ginger beer