I spend a good deal of time fantasizing about garden parties, especially in the months when it just isn’t possible to pick up the festivities and take them outdoors. The truth is, most gardens and edible blossoms here in New England don’t really flower until the end of May or early June, so we need a little help from dried botanicals and blossoms while we wait. My solution is a Flower Power honey syrup: a blend of dried rose petals, lavender and hibiscus flowers that woos the senses with floral majesty. Use this syrup to make a nonalcoholic sparkling lemonade or add gin and Italicus, a bergamot citrus cordial for a sweet and zesty Gin Gimlet variation. Rain, snow or sun, The Garden Party cocktail ensures a festive parade of florals on the palate no matter the season. In cooler months, garnish your drink with a pinch of dried blossoms from your Flower Power mix or use fresh rose petals and lavender leaf from the garden for the full effect.
After wading through the mud puddles and drizzly days of winter, I am ready for a light, refreshing drink. Here’s a drink teeming with botanicals to celebrate the magic of the garden before the blossoms arrive.
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces gin
- ½ ounce lemon juice
- ½ ounce Flower Power Syrup*
- ½ ounce Italicus Bergamot Liqueur
- Fresh organic rose petals for garnish
- Fresh lavender sprig for garnish
- 1 cup water
- 1 teaspoon dried lavender
- 1 teaspoon dried rose petals
- 1 teaspoon dried hibiscus tea
- 1 cup honey
Instructions
Combine liquid ingredients in a bar tin, add ice, shake vigorously for 10 seconds and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with fresh rose petals and or lavender sprig.
*Flower Power Syrup
In a small saucepan, bring water to a boil, remove from heat and add dried lavender, rose petals and hibiscus tea. Infuse for 1 hour. Fine strain and discard solids, return infusion to the pot, heat gently and add honey, stirring to dissolve. Cool the solution, funnel into a clean bottle or Mason jar. Refrigerate up to 2 weeks.
