A Garden In Your Glass: Toast Spring With 3 Flower-Forward Cocktails

Spring has sprung — and its onset is a reason to celebrate. This is the season of new life; beautiful birds, bugs, and plants reemerge after a long, cold winter and flowers burst from the ground, seemingly overnight, making the world more colorful. But while it’s lovely to look at and smell all those pretty posies, why not drink them, too? Celebrate the season with these three floral cocktails that are perfect for a spring picnic with your gal-pals. 

Purple Water

This cocktail wields all kinds of flower power. For starters, it features butterfly pea tea, which is is tea made from the bright blue butterfly pea flower, and turns purple when mixed with lemon juice. It also contains Tulchan Gin, which is a botanical Scottish gin made from the flora of their historical Highland estate. Its crisp, juniper-forward flavor makes an ideal base for spring cocktails. Learn how to make Tulchan’s Purple Water below.

Ingredients: 

• 1 ½ parts Tulchan Gin
• 1 part Drambuie
• 1 part crème de cacao
• ½ parts butterfly pea flower tea
• ¾ parts double cream
• 1 bar spoon lemon juice

Directions: 

Add all ingredients to a shaker filled with ice and shake well. Strain into a chilled coupette glass. Garnish with an edible flower. 

St. Germain Spritz

If you’re looking for something simple and satisfying, the St. Germain Spritz is a good choice. St. Germain is a French elderflower liqueur, and its floral flavor pairs perfectly with Prosecco’s effervescence in this recipe from food blog Burrata and Bubbles. 

Ingredients: 

• 2 ounces St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur
• 1 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 3 ounces chilled sparkling white wine like Prosecco
• 1 ounce chilled club soda
• Lemon twist (or edible flowers) for garnish

Directions: 

In a large wine glass, add ice, St. Germain, and lemon juice. Top with chilled sparkling white wine. Pour in chilled club soda; gently stir to combine. Garnish and enjoy. 

The Peak Bloom

As spring approaches, countries across the Northern Hemisphere celebrate the bloom of cherry blossom trees. With their fluffy, pink clusters of flowers and fresh, sweet smell, they’re practically synonymous with all that is springtime. Embrace the beauty of cherry blossom season with this cherry blossom cocktail called The Peak Bloom from lifestyle and design blogger Nole Gary. 

Ingredients: 

• 2 ounces gin 
• 1 ounce lemon juice
• 1 ounce cherry blossom syrup (Buy from Amazon, $21.99) 
• 1 tablespoon strawberry preserves 
• A splash of soda water (optional)

Directions: 

Combine first four ingredients in a cocktail shaker with 3-4 large ice cubes.  Shake well, strain into chilled cocktail glass. If desired, top with soda water and garnish.

Happy Spring!

These botanical, boozy bevvies are perfect for picnics, but also for bringing sunshine indoors during those April showers — so stock your bar cart now. Pair them with a photogenic charcuterie board or a fruit salad for the ultimate vernal adventure.