Lavender syrup adds a soft, floral sweetness to all your favorite cocktails. It's made by steeping dried lavender in a rich syrup, and it keeps beautifully in the fridge for weeks of pretty drinks.

A glass bottle labeled Lavender Syrup with a wooden cork sits on a countertop, surrounded by lavender sprigs and other bottles.

Lavender syrup is one of those pretty little extras that makes any cocktail feel a bit more special. It adds a soft, floral sweetness that's lovely in all kinds of drinks, and it's the kind of thing I love keeping in the fridge for whenever I want to dress up a glass without much effort. A little goes a long way, so one batch stretches across plenty of cocktails.

What I love most is how the lavender comes through. Steeping dried lavender flowers in a rich syrup pulls out their gentle, perfumed flavor without ever tipping into soapy or overpowering, so you get something floral and sweet that still tastes balanced and bright. Use it anywhere you'd reach for simple syrup and your drinks instantly feel a little more elegant. I especially love it in a lavender French 75 or a lavender lemon drop, where the floral note plays beautifully against bright citrus.

And the best part? It could not be easier to make. You bring the syrup together, steep the lavender, strain, and jar, then let it add a sweet floral touch to your cocktails for weeks to come.

Sugar-to-water ratio

I use a 2:1 ratio for lavender syrup because I find it works best in cocktails. A lighter 1:1 syrup can sometimes overpower a drink with floral flavor before you've had a chance to balance out the sweetness. A 2:1 ratio, also called rich syrup, lasts much longer in the fridge, so you'll have plenty of time to use it in all your favorite cocktails.

Make lavender syrup purple

A clear glass bottle labeled Lavender Syrup sits on a counter with a wooden cap nearby, fresh lavender sprigs, a jar of sugar, and a towel in the background.

Lavender syrup is naturally a light cream color, like you see in the photo above. If you'd like it to be a soft purple instead, you'll need to dye it. You can add a little butterfly pea flower tea, or use a tiny bit of red and blue food coloring. A little goes a long way here, and some brands are much stronger than others, so I recommend testing on 1½ cups of water before coloring your whole batch.

Lavender Syrup for Cocktails

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

An easy lavender syrup made by steeping dried lavender flowers in a rich 2:1 syrup. Use it to add a sweet, floral note to all your favorite cocktails.

Add us as a trusted site on Google

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 20

Total Time 25

Servings: 1.5 cups

Course: Cocktail syrups

Ingredients

2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup water
¼ cup dried culinary lavender
Optional: red and blue food coloring see notes

Method

Add the ingredients to a small pot over medium-high heat. Bring to a simmer, then remove the pot from the heat and let it cool and infuse for 20 minutes.
2 cups granulated sugar, 1 cup water, ¼ cup dried culinary lavender
Strain the syrup through a fine-mesh sieve to remove the lavender buds.
Optional: If you'd like the syrup to be purple, add a tiny drop of red and blue food coloring and mix it in.
Optional: red and blue food coloring
Transfer the syrup to a glass jar and store it in your fridge for up to a month.

Notes

Food coloring: Some food coloring is more potent than others, so be very careful with how much you add. Start with a tiny bit on the end of a toothpick if you're unsure. You can also pour 1 ½ cups of water and test the coloring until you get the color you like.