Lavender Martini

1. Gather the ingredients.

2. In a cocktail shaker, pour the gin, dry vermouth, lavender syrup, and orange bitters. Fill with ice.

3. Shake well.

4. Strain into a well-chilled cocktail glass.

5. Garnish with a sprig of lavender. Serve and enjoy.

Lavender Simple Syrup

The lavender simple syrup is very easy to make at home. All you need is sugar, water, and lavender flowers. It will take just about 10 minutes of your time and is best when the herb is left to steep in the syrup for at least 1 hour.

Once you try it, this flavored syrup may become a staple in your bar. It can be used to give a variety of cocktails and mocktails an herbal twist. Try it in recipes like the lavender collins, lavender lemon drop, and trophy margarita. You can even use it to create a homemade lavender soda; simply top 2 ounces of the syrup with club soda or seltzer.

Choose Your Spirits

No matter the flavor, any martini deserves the best liquor in your bar. For the best cocktail, pour your favorite premium gin. There are many great brands available and, since each gin uses a different botanical recipe, each will play off the lavender in different ways. It's a fantastic recipe to explore herbal flavor pairings.

If you go with vodka, choose a top-shelf brand as well. The vodka version is even more transparent, and a clean-tasting, smooth vodka will make a big difference. Try it with a potato vodka rather than one with a grain base. These tend to be smoother and slightly oily, ideal for accenting the lavender.