Easy Summer Lemon Lavender Gin Spritz Cocktail

If summer had a signature cocktail, I think this lemon lavender gin cocktail would make a very convincing case for the job. It’s light, citrusy, floral without tasting like perfume, and topped with enough sparkling water to make it wonderfully refreshing on a warm afternoon. Plus, when you make it with purple-hued Empress Gin, it is ridiculously pretty.

And yes, pretty matters.

This easy lavender gin cocktail is essentially a grown-up lavender lemonade: botanical gin, fresh lemon juice, homemade lavender simple syrup, and club soda shaken over ice and poured into a glass.It’s bright, bubbly, slightly tart, and just sweet enough.

Basically, everything I want from a summer cocktail.

Jump to Recipe

Why You’ll Love This Lemon Lavender Gin Cocktail

There are plenty of complicated cocktail recipes in the world.

This is not one of them.

You only need a handful of ingredients, a cocktail shaker, and about five minutes once the lavender syrup is made.

This cocktail is:

• Light and refreshing
• Sweet-tart rather than sugary
• Full of subtle floral notes
• Easy to make for one or a crowd
• Naturally gluten-free
• Perfect for garden parties, brunches, showers, or a warm summer evening

It also falls somewhere deliciously between a lavender Collins, a gin fizz, and spiked lavender lemonade.

Call it whatever you want.

I’ll be outside drinking one.

How to Make Lavender Simple Syrup

The lavender syrup is what makes this cocktail special, and it couldn’t be easier.

My version also includes a few pink peppercorns, which add a tiny hint of spice and complexity without turning the drink into anything remotely peppery.

You’ll need:

• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup water
• 1 teaspoon dried culinary lavender
• 5 pink peppercorns

Make the Lavender Syrup

Add the sugar, water, dried lavender, and pink peppercorns to a small saucepan. Warm the mixture gently just until the sugar dissolves. There’s no need to blast it over high heat or boil it aggressively. Keeping the mixture over low heat helps preserve the delicate floral notes of lavender. Once the sugar has dissolved, remove the pan from the heat and let the lavender simple syrup steep for about 10 minutes. Strain out the lavender and peppercorns and allow the syrup to cool to room temperature. Transfer it to a sealed mason jar or airtight container and refrigerate until you’re ready to use it.

How Long Does Lavender Simple Syrup Keep?

Homemade lavender simple syrup will keep well in the refrigerator for about two weeks. And once you have a jar in the fridge, you’ll probably start finding excuses to use it.

Add it to:

• Lavender lemonade
• Iced tea
• Sparkling water
• A lavender latte
• Champagne cocktails
• A lavender martini
• Gin or vodka drinks

It’s also lovely brushed onto cakes or spooned over fresh berries and vanilla ice cream. Suddenly making a batch doesn’t feel remotely excessive.

The Best Gin for a Lemon Lavender Gin Cocktail

You can make this drink with almost any botanical gin, but I especially love Empress 1908 Gin here.

Empress Gin gets its striking indigo color from butterfly pea blossom and is made with botanicals inspired by the Fairmont Empress tea blend. The color reacts with acidic citrus juices, which is why adding lemon gives the cocktail such a beautiful transformation.

It makes an already lovely lavender cocktail even more dramatic. That said, you absolutely do not need a purple gin. Use your favorite gin. A classic London dry will give you a sharper juniper-forward cocktail, while a more modern botanical gin will emphasize the floral and citrus notes.

The best gin is ultimately whichever one you enjoy drinking.

What Is Empress Gin?

Empress 1908 Gin is produced by Victoria Distillers in British Columbia and is known for its naturally indigo hue from butterfly pea blossom. That vivid color is especially fun in citrus-based cocktails because lemon juice changes the shade as the acidity interacts with the butterfly pea blossom. It’s basically cocktail science with a very pretty payoff.

And I am here for it.

Why Fresh Lemon Juice Matters

Fresh lemon juice is especially important in a simple gin drink like this because there aren’t many ingredients hiding behind one another.

• Bottled lemon juice can taste flat or overly sharp.
• Fresh citrus gives you brighter acidity, more aromatic citrus notes, and a cleaner tart flavor.
• If you want to take things one tiny step further, twist a strip of lemon zest over the top of the finished cocktail before garnishing.

Those fragrant lemon oils make the whole drink smell even better before you take the first sip.

How Sweet Is This Lavender Cocktail?

The original proportions produce a balanced sweet-tart cocktail, but cocktails are personal. If you prefer sour cocktail recipes like a Bee’s Knees or lavender gin sour, start with slightly less lavender syrup and add more to taste. If you like something closer to lavender lemonade, use a little more syrup and a generous splash of club soda. That’s one of the nicest things about this recipe. You can adjust it right in the glass.

Can I Make This Without Empress Gin?

Absolutely. Empress Gin creates the dramatic purple-pink color, but the drink will taste delicious with regular gin. Choose something with botanical flavors that complement lemon and lavender. A gin with prominent citrus notes, coriander seed, or floral botanicals is especially nice. Your cocktail may not have the same vivid color, but it will still be refreshing and delicious.

Can I Add Elderflower Liqueur?

Yes—and it’s lovely. For an even more floral lavender gin cocktail, add about ½ ounce elderflower liqueur per large cocktail. Because elderflower liqueur adds sweetness, you may want to reduce the lavender syrup slightly. Lavender plus elderflower can become a whole botanical garden very quickly, so I’d start conservatively.

We’re making a cocktail, not drinking potpourri.

Can I Make It More Like a Lavender Collins?

Definitely. This recipe is already very close to a lavender Collins. Serve it in a tall Collins glass filled with ice and add a generous pour of club soda. For a lighter drink, simply increase the soda. For something stronger and more concentrated, use less. You can also serve it in a stemless wine glass with plenty of crushed ice if that’s what you have. There are no cocktail police coming over.

Can I Serve It as a Lavender Martini?

Also yes. One of my favorite things about this recipe is that you can easily change its personality. For a lavender martini, shake the gin, lavender syrup, and fresh lemon juice with ice, then strain it into a chilled coupe or martini glass without adding club soda. You’ll get a stronger, silkier cocktail with more concentrated botanical flavors. Garnish with a lemon twist or small lavender sprig.

What Does a Lemon Lavender Gin Cocktail Taste Like?

Think fresh lemonade with a grown-up botanical edge. You get tart lemon first, followed by the floral notes of lavender and the herbal character of the gin. The sparkling water keeps everything light. Lavender can become overpowering when used aggressively, but using just a teaspoon of dried lavender in an entire batch of simple syrup keeps the flavor subtle. That balance is important. You want someone to say, “Ooh, lavender.”

Not, “Did I accidentally lick a candle?”

Can I Make a Nonalcoholic Lavender Lemonade?

Absolutely.

Skip the gin and combine:

• Fresh lemon juice
• Lavender simple syrup
• Club soda or sparkling water
• Plenty of fresh ice

Adjust the syrup and lemon to taste. You’ll have a lovely sparkling lavender lemonade that looks right at home next to the cocktails. If you want something even more festive, use a zero-proof botanical spirit in place of the gin.

Can I Make This Cocktail Ahead?

You can prep most of it ahead.

• Mix the gin, fresh lemon juice, and lavender syrup together and refrigerate for several hours.
• When you’re ready to serve, pour the mixture into glasses filled with fresh ice and top with club soda.
• Don’t add the sparkling water ahead of time or you’ll lose the bubbles.

And bubbles are half the fun.

How to Make a Batch for a Party

This is a particularly good cocktail for garden parties or summer gatherings because the base can be batched.

For approximately 8 larger cocktails, combine:

• 16 ounces gin
• 8 ounces lavender simple syrup
• 8 ounces fresh lemon juice

Refrigerate until serving. Pour about 4 ounces of the mixture into each ice-filled glass and top generously with club soda. Set out lemon wheels and lavender sprigs so guests can garnish their own drinks. It looks impressive while requiring remarkably little effort.

My favorite kind of entertaining.

The Perfect Summer Cocktail

During the summer months, I want my cocktails cold, bright, bubbly, and refreshing. Preferably consumed somewhere outside as the heat finally starts to fade. This lemon lavender gin cocktail checks every box. The fresh lemon gives it a tart, citrusy backbone. The lavender syrup adds delicate floral flavor. Botanical gin gives it complexity. And club soda keeps the whole thing light enough for a long summer evening. It’s easy enough to shake up for yourself but beautiful enough for garden parties and special occasions.

And if you make it with Empress Gin, you get that gorgeous purple hue too. Refreshing, botanical, bubbly, and a little dramatic.

Basically my perfect cocktail.

Looking for more summer cocktails? Check these out!

• Lime & Coconut Cocktail
• Cool, Floral, Spicy & Smoky Margarita
• Paloma Picante Cocktail
• Celery + Sage Sparkling Wine Cocktail with Gin

If you make this recipe, or any other recipe from my blog, drop a comment below and leave me a star rating. Plus, be sure to tag me on Instagram. Thank you!

Lemon + Lavender – It Could Be My Favorite Flavor Combo!

Lemon with lavender offers a balance of contrasting flavors: the bright, tangy zestiness of lemon cuts through the delicate, floral notes of lavender, creating a refreshing and sophisticated taste profile. Lavender’s subtle sweetness and herbal undertones elevate the sharp, citrusy freshness of lemon, adding depth and complexity to the palate. This dynamic duo is both invigorating and soothing, making them a pair that’s not just good together, but absolutely delicious in sweet and savory recipes alike.