9 Cocktail Ideas That Feature Floral Alcohol

By Emily Platt
October 30, 2017
Credit: Samantha Lauren Photographie

Plan your signature drink around one of these recipes, which include spirits and liqueurs that are flavored by flowers.

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Credit: Samantha Lauren Photographie

Sure, you can make floral cocktails with ingredients like rose water, lavender syrup, and edible blossoms. But did you know that there's an entire market for floral alcoholic beverages, too? Put them in your signature drink at your bridal shower or wedding to instantly upgrade your cocktail menu. You can even use them to coordinate your beverages with the flowers in your bouquet.

Ahead, we've profiled nine floral spirits and liqueurs that change the game when it comes to signature cocktails. These alcoholic beverages are infused with some of our favorite wedding flowers, including roses, peonies, and lavender, plus unexpected blooms, like poppies and hibiscus. There are bar classics, like violet and elderflower liqueurs, and unique botanical blends, too. We give you the scoop on each bottle, then provide you with ideas for mixed drinks you can feature them in. Bookmark the recipes to make yourself, or to pass along to your bartender. Alternatively, share just the products with your mixologist, and come up with a custom cocktail together.

Looking for more options? Check in with nearby beverage stores, stop by a beverage expo, or visit your local farmer's market. Smaller companies are easier to find in person than online. Aside from floral spirits and liqueurs, there are also floral wines. Chateau Renaissance Wine Cellars, for example, makes incredible rose petal, lavender, and dandelion varieties, which are available in New York City. Flowers are a big part of weddings, so why not use them in surprising ways? The possibilities are plentiful.

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Liqueur: Cardinal Spirits Flora

Credit: Courtesy of Cardinal Spirits

Flora is infused with fresh raspberries, elderflower, jasmine, and hibiscus. The liqueur delivers a nectar-like taste using only natural ingredients.

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Cocktail: Peach Blossom

Credit: Courtesy of Cardinal Spirits

½ ounce Cardinal Spirits Flora

¾ ounce fresh grapefruit juice

¾ ounce fresh orange juice

½ ounce fresh lemon juice

Club soda

Maraschino cherries

Mix liqueur and citrus juices in a cocktail shaker with ice. Strain into a large rocks or wine glass filled with ice, and top with splash of club soda. Garnish with maraschino cherries. 

Recipe courtesy of Cardinal Spirits.

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Spirit: Square One Botanical

Credit: Courtesy of Square One Organic Spirits

This vodka alternative is infused with pear, rose, chamomile, lemon verbena, lavender, rosemary, coriander, and citrus peel. It's delicate, balanced, and organic.

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Cocktail: Pear of Roses

Credit: Courtesy of Square One Organic Spirits

3 inches rosemary leaves

1 ½ ounces Square One Botanical

½ ounce fresh lemon juice

1 ounce pear juice

¼ ounce agave nectar

Rosemary sprig

Lemon wheel

Strip rosemary leaves into a cocktail shaker and muddle lightly. Add remaining ingredients, except rosemary sprig and lemon wheel, and fill with ice. Shake and double-strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with rosemary sprig pulled through lemon wheel.

Recipe courtesy of Square One Organic Spirits and Joseph Ehrmann. 

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Liqueur: FRUITLAB Hibiscus

Credit: Courtesy of Greenbar Distillery

Expect a berry taste from this liqueur, which boasts ingredients like tea and organic hibiscus flowers. We also love the packaging.

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Cocktail: Hibiscus Mojito

Credit: Courtesy of Greenbar Distillery

Handful fresh mint leaves

2 ounces light rum

1 ounce fresh lime juice

1 ounce simple syrup

½ ounce FRUITLAB Hibiscus Liqueur

2 ounces club soda

Muddle mint. Mix ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Pour into a tall glass, and top with club soda.

Recipe courtesy of Greenbar Distillery.

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Spirit: Peony Vodka

Credit: Samantha Lauren Photographie

Peonies join geranium, jasmine, white pepper, gardenia, green tea, and vanilla in this fresh, crisp spirit. It would work especially well for a wedding in the Hudson Valley, which is the region that inspired the flavor blend.

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Cocktail: Peony 75

Credit: Samantha Lauren Photographie

2 ounces Peony Vodka

2 ounces freshly-squeezed lemon juice

1 ounce blueberry-lavender simple syrup

1 dash lavender bitters

Dry Champagne or Prosecco

Edible flowers

Mix ingredients, except sparkling beverage and blossoms, in a cocktail shaker with ice. Strain into a Champagne flute, and top with sparkling beverage. Garnish with edible lavender blossoms, edible violas, or other small-petaled flowers.

Recipe courtesy of Peony Vodka.

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Spirit: Heritage Distilling Company Lavender Vodka

Credit: BerryLane Photography/Heritage Distilling Co.

Not only does this spirit come in a beautiful shade of purple, but it has just the right amount of sweetness.

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Cocktail: Lavender Lemonade

Credit: BerryLane Photography/Heritage Distilling Co.

1 ½ ounces Heritage Distilling Company Lavender Vodka

Fresh lemonade

Lavender sprig or edible flowers

Lemon wedge

Pour vodka into a glass, and top with lemonade. Garnish with lavender sprig or edible flowers and lemon wedge.

Recipe courtesy of Heritage Distilling Company.

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Liqueur: GRAND POPPY Amaro

Credit: Courtesy of Greenbar Distillery

This intense blend puts the spotlight on poppies, but also includes citrus, root, and herb flavors. The taste is best described as bittersweet.

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Cocktail: Golden Poppy

Credit: Courtesy of Greenbar Distillery

2 ounces GRAND POPPY Amaro

2 ounces white wine

1 ounce fresh grapefruit juice

Lemon peel

Mix ingredients, except lemon peel, in a cocktail shaker with ice. Strain into a coupe glass. Garnish with lemon peel. 

Recipe Courtesy of Greenbar Distillery.

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Liqueur: Rothman & Winter Crème de Violette

Credit: Courtesy of Haus Alpenz

Violets influence the taste and scent of this delicate, deep-purple liqueur. Crème de Violette is the star ingredient of classic cocktails like the one featured next.

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Cocktail: Aviation

Credit: Pam Greer

2 ounces London dry gin

½ ounce fresh lemon juice

½ ounce maraschino liqueur

¼ ounce Rothman & Winter Crème de Violette

Mix ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Double-strain into a coupe glass. 

Recipe courtesy of Haus Alpenz.

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Spirit: Heritage Distilling Company Hibiscus Vodka

Credit: BerryLane Photography/Heritage Distilling Co.

Sip this spirit in a mixed drink, or all on its own. The pretty pink vodka goes down easy, but manages not to be overly sweet.

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Cocktail: Hibiscus Limeade

Credit: BerryLane Photography/Heritage Distilling Co.

1 ½ ounces Heritage Distilling Company Hibiscus Vodka

Lime popsicle

Club soda

Mint leaf

Pour vodka into a glass. Add popsicle, and top with club soda. Garnish with mint leaf.

Recipe courtesy of Heritage Distilling Company.

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Liqueur: Pür Likör Elderflower

Credit: Courtesy of Pür Spirits

What distinguishes this elderflower liqueur from others is its focus on authentic—rather than perfumey—flavors. It's sophisticated and pure.

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Cocktail: Hugo

Credit: Kelly Puleio

1 ½ parts Pür Likör Elderflower

Prosecco

¼ fresh lime

Fresh mint

Muddle mint leaves in a white wine glass. Add liqueur, and top with Prosecco. Squeeze lime juice into glass, and drop lime wedge into glass.

Recipe courtesy of Pür Spirits.

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