Floral Gin Lemonade Cocktail
This floral gin lemonade cocktail combines soft herbal gin, lavender syrup, rose petal water, fresh mint, and a rose soft drink over ice. It takes about 5 minutes to make, no shaking required. Muddle the mint with rose water and gin, strain over ice, drizzle lavender syrup, and top with the soda for a layered, perfumed drink.
Ever since we moved to our house, my interest in mixology and the art of cocktail making has been steadily growing. I now have a decent-sized kitchen with space for a fully-stocked bar, and we celebrated our home with friends and family, so we partied a little more than usual.
The inspiration for this one came on a sunny autumn day, while I was admiring my chrysanthemums and mints in full bloom. The flavor is nicely balanced, and if you close your eyes you can almost taste each flower separately, with mint, lavender, and rose being the strongest. I like my drinks the way I like my food: in moderation, but high quality and full of new, exciting flavors.
This Recipe Works If You Need
- A pretty signature drink for a garden party or brunch
- Something floral and low-effort that still looks like a craft cocktail
- A spring or summer sipper that leans aromatic rather than boozy
- An easy gin cocktail you can build in the glass, no shaker needed
- A make-it-yourself option for guests who want one drink at a time
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Beautifully aromatic — rose water, lavender syrup, and a floral tea mix give it a scent you notice before the first sip.
- Quick to build — about 5 minutes from start to finish, assembled right in the serving glass.
- No special equipment — a muddler and a strainer are all you really need.
- Balanced, not too sweet — the lemon juice and herbal gin keep the floral notes in check.
- Gorgeous gradient — the lavender syrup settles to the bottom for a layered, photo-ready look.
- Easy to scale — multiply the measures and prep a few at once for a crowd.
Ingredient Notes
Gin — Use 60 ml (2 oz) of a soft, herbal gin. I used Citadelle gin because it has a gentler, very herbal flavor that lets the floral elements shine rather than fighting them.
Monin lavender syrup — Just 7 ml (1/4 oz) is enough. It is sweet and intensely floral, so it does double duty as both the sweetener and a key aroma. It also settles to the bottom, which creates the gradient effect.
Rose soft drink — 200 ml (6-7 oz) of J.Gasco Sodarosa or Rose Lemonade by Fentimans. This replaces the usual tonic water and brings the lemonade fizz plus another layer of rose. I have made it with both and they both work well.
Rose petal water — 7 ml (1/4 oz). Rose water has a strong perfume, so measure it carefully and do not pour by eye. A little goes a long way, and too much can take over the whole drink.
Fresh lemon juice — 7 ml (1/4 oz), freshly squeezed. It adds the acidity that keeps the cocktail from tasting flat or overly sweet.
Fresh mint — 2-3 sprigs, ideally a softer-flavored variety. I used strawberry mint, which is gentler than standard spearmint and blends nicely with the floral notes once muddled.
Dry flower petals — 1/4 tsp of a flower tea mix goes at the bottom of the glass. They look lovely under the ice and add a subtle floral background. Rose petals or dry rosebuds work too.
Tips
- Muddle the mint gently with the rose water and gin. You want to release the aromatic oils, not shred the leaves into bitter pieces.
- Always strain the muddled mixture over the ice so you keep the bruised mint and any petals out of the glass.
- Drizzle the lavender syrup in last, after straining, so it sinks and forms that lovely gradient at the bottom.
- Serve with a straw and stir before drinking, since the syrup settles. A quick mix balances the sweetness through the whole glass.
- Go easy on the rose water and lavender syrup the first time. You can always add a touch more, but you cannot pull it back out.
Substitutions and Variations
- Soft drink swap — J.Gasco Sodarosa and Fentimans Rose Lemonade are interchangeable here. If you cannot find either, a good rose-flavored lemonade or sparkling lemonade is the closest stand-in.
- No floral tea mix? — Use rose petals or dry rosebuds at the bottom of the glass instead.
- Mint variety — Strawberry mint is mild, but regular spearmint works if that is what you have. Use a little less so it does not overpower the flowers.
- Alcohol-free — Leave out the gin and add a splash more rose soft drink and a non-alcoholic botanical spirit for a floral mocktail.
Storage and Make Ahead
This cocktail is best built fresh and served right away, since the ice, fizz, and gradient are part of the experience. If you are hosting, you can prepare ahead by muddling the mint, rose water, and gin in a larger mixing glass, then strain into individual glasses over ice and top with the soft drink just before serving. Keep the rose water, lavender syrup, and soda chilled and measured out so assembly takes seconds.
If you enjoy floral and fruity drinks like this, you might also like my basil Moscow mule cocktail and this refreshing pink ginger beet lemonade. For more party-ready ideas, browse my collection of cocktails and drinks.
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Floral Gin Lemonade
Ingredients
- 60 ml 2oz gin (choose a soft, herbal kind, I used Citadelle gin)
- 7 ml 1/4oz Monin lavender syrup
- 200 ml 6-7oz J.Gasco Sodarosa or Rose Lemonade by Fentimans (I’ve tried it with both)
- 7 ml 1/4oz rose petal water
- 7 ml 1/4oz fresh lemon juice
- 2-3 sprigs of fresh mint use a softer-flavored kind, I used strawberry mint
- ¼ tsp dry flower petals I used a flower tea mix
- optional – decorate with a fresh flower
- ice
Instructions
- Add the dry flowers mix at the bottom of a cocktail glass or wine glass, then fill it with ice.
- In a mixing glass, add the fresh mint leaves, rose water, and gin. Use a muddler and start mashing the leaves in order to release the aromatic oils.
- Use a strainer and strain everything over the ice and into the glass.
- Drizzle the lavender syrup on top.
- Add the soft drink over.
- Decorate with a sprig of fresh mint and a fresh flower.
- Use a straw for this cocktail and make sure you mix it before drinking. The lavender syrup will go to the bottom, creating a lovely gradient effect.
Frequently Asked Questions
Choose a soft, herbal gin rather than a sharp, juniper-forward one. A gentler botanical gin like Citadelle lets the rose, lavender, and mint come through instead of competing with them. The herbal profile blends smoothly with the floral syrup and soft drink.
Yes. Leave out the gin and add a little more rose soft drink, or use a non-alcoholic botanical spirit in its place. You still get the rose water, lavender, mint, and lemon, so the drink stays aromatic and floral as a mocktail.
If you do not have rose petal water, a small amount of a floral tea mix, rose petals, or dry rosebuds at the bottom of the glass adds a similar floral background. Whatever you use, keep the amount small, since rose flavor is strong and can quickly dominate the drink.
Drizzle the lavender syrup in last, after straining the muddled mixture over the ice. Because the syrup is denser than the rest of the liquid, it sinks to the bottom and forms a soft gradient. Serve with a straw and stir before drinking to blend it in.
Yes. It uses gin, lavender syrup, a rose soft drink, rose water, lemon juice, fresh mint, dry flower petals, and ice, with no dairy, eggs, or honey. As long as your specific syrup and soft drink brands are plant-based, the drink is fully vegan.
It is lemony and lightly sweet with a strong perfumed aroma from rose and lavender. The fresh mint adds a cool, green note, while the lemon juice keeps it from tasting too sweet. The overall effect is balanced and refreshing, like sipping a garden in bloom.
