Honey Lavender Hard Lemonade is easy to make and so refreshing. This cocktail is made up of 100% nostalgic warm summer days, yet the flavors can play well year round. Try this recipe to elevate your boozy lemonade to craft cocktail levels for a day by the pool with friends or if you need a summertime lift in the middle of winter!

I just love this flavor combo! Lemon, Lavender, and honey are all at play in balance with the liquor of your choice to make a delightfully tart and refreshing mixed drink. I made this cocktail a few different ways before settling on honey as an ingredient. Adding honey packs a HUGE flavor punch and helps to balance out the sweetness of the lavender simple syrup. So pucker up!

Try it as a Mocktail

Not in the mood for booze? No problem! You can easily mix this drink into a refreshing mocktail by switching out the two parts vodka for two parts water. The lemon to water ratio is low in the cocktail version, so adding additional water will give the drink the consistency of a more traditional lemonade.

Ingredients

Lavender Simple Syrup

• 1 cup sugar

• 1 cup water

• 1 teaspoon edible lavender flowers

Honey Lavender Hard Lemonade

• Fresh juice from two lemons (about 2 parts lemon juice)

• 2 part vodka (or gin)

• 1 part lavender simple syrup

• 1 part honey

• 1 part water

• Ice to taste

• Lemon and sugar for garnish

How to Make Honey Lavender Hard Lemonade

Make lavender simple syrup. Bring water and sugar to boil, then simmer until the sugar has completely dissolved. Add lavender and simmer for one minute. Remove from heat and let the lavender steep for thirty minutes as the simple syrup cools. Strain with a mesh strainer and store in a sealed container for up to a week in the fridge.

Juice two Lemons into a tumbler.

Add vodka, lavender simple syrup (once cooled), honey, water, and ice.

Secure the lid on the tumbler very tight and shake well. Pour over ice.

Cut a slice - not a wedge - of lemon for garnish. To make the lemon slice look pretty, you will need to cut the lemon in half crosswise to expose the circular design of juicy lemon pulp. Then cut a slit starting from the middle of the lemon all the way through the outside peel.

Dip the top of the lemon in sugar, twist the lemon and place it nicely on top of your cocktail. Voila!

I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do!

Cheers!

-Jessie