Miel et Lavande

I love the smell of lavender, and I was surprised to see how well it grows in yards around my neighborhood. Even after being buried under winter snow, it bounces right up every spring bigger than ever and blooming with fragrant flowers. So this year I added lavender to the list of herbs I wanted to grow on my balcony. Sure enough, it's been thriving, and providing us with beautiful and sweet-smelling flowers. So of course I knew I had to make a cocktail with them.

I thought gin, lemon, and a honey simple syrup would pair best with fresh lavender, topped off with sparkling wine to make a fizzy drink for sipping on summer evenings. I went with lavender bitters and a garnish of fresh lavender to give a subtle flavor. If you don't have the bitters but still want to incorporate lavender into a cocktail, two other ways are infusing your spirits or making a lavender simple syrup. But I've been itching to use my little bottle of Scrappy's, and I like the depth the bitters add to the drink. This is definitely one of my favorite recipes I've developed, and I hope you like it too!

Miel et Lavande

1 1/2 oz. gin
3/4 oz. lemon juice
3/4 oz. honey simple syrup*
2 dashes lavender bitters
3 oz. sparkling wine

Combine gin, lemon juice, honey simple syrup, and lavender bitters in a shaker with ice. Shake until well chilled. Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice. Top with sparkling wine and stir gently. Garnish with a sprig of fresh lavender.

*To make honey simple syrup, combine equal parts honey and water in a saucepan and bring to a simmer. Stir until the honey is dissolved. Let cool completely before using.