Lavender Meyer Lemon Tom Collins
Looking for a refreshing and unique summer beverage? This Lavender Meyer LemonTom Collins is a play on the classic Tom Collins Cocktail, similar to a Gin Rickey or Gimlet, with a sparkling burst of herby essence.
I’ve mentioned before, I’m not much of a drinker. Yet every now and again, my hubby and I come up with cocktail recipe that is right up my alley.
With aromatic lavender filling my flowerbeds and a little Meyer lemon tree in the backyard, it was inevitable these two would come together in a magical way.
For those (like me) who haven’t yet memorized your cocktail handbook, a Tom Collins is a cocktail made of Gin and Club Soda, sometimes with a splash of lemon juice and simple syrup. A Gin Rickey is very similar with a hefty squeeze of lime juice. A gimlet, as far as I can tell, is gin with more lemon/lime and just a touch of soda.
So I don’t know exactly what to call this, but it’s pretty spectacular.
Don’t have lavender growing in your yard? You can buy Culinary Lavender at a spice shop.
My version of the Tom Collins involves a homemade lavender simple syrup, gin, club soda and a generous squeeze of Meyer lemon. The bright floral flavor of the Meyer lemon, and the flowery herby essence of the lavender, are the perfect pairing with the piney juniper taste of gin. Top it off with bubbles and you have something special.
I could drink this Tom Collins cocktail all day long… but I won’t. Somehow I’d only embarrass myself. But the smooth refreshing flavor is hard to resist.
You can make this cocktail two different ways, stirred in a glass over ice or shaken and poured into a martini glass. I prefer mine over ice, while the hubs likes his shaken, not stirred.
Gorgeous crystal stemware from Villeroy & Boch.
Either way, you will find this gin rickey-gimlet-tom collins cocktail mutation quite satisfying. They go down easy.
Probably a little too easy!
Yield: 1
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Lavender Meyer Lemon Tom Collins Cocktail
Ingredients:
For the Simple Syrup:
1 1/4 cup water
1 cup sugar
1 bunch lavender, buds, stems and leaves (or 3 Tb. dried culinary buds)
For each Tom Collins Cocktail:
1 oz. lavender simple syrup
1 oz. Meyer lemon juice (about 1/2 a lemon)
2 oz. good gin
ice
club soda
Directions:
Heat the water, sugar and lavender in a small pot of high heat. Bring to a low boil, then cover and remove from heat. Allow the simple syrup to steep for 20 minutes. Pour through a sieve to remove the lavender. Place the the fridge until ready to use.
For each cocktail: Fill a glass half way with ice. Pour the simple syrup, lemon juice and gin over ice. Stir, then top with club soda.
For a martini-style Tom Collins: Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add the simple syrup, lemon and gin. Cover and shake for 30-60 seconds, until frothy. Pour into a martini glass and add 1-2 oz. of club soda.
More Summer Beverages:
Sparkling Pineapple Mint Juice ~ Gourmande In The Kitchen
Very Berry Bellini ~ Bell Alimento
Kiwi Blackberry Sangria ~ Yummy Mummy
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29 Responses to “Lavender Meyer Lemon Tom Collins”
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Nice to meet you Lavender Tom. =)
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What a gorgeous cocktail!
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omg what a great idea! I bet the Meyer Lemon flavors this to perfection
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What an inspired recipe. This would be perfect for our next family barbeque. I can’t wait to try it.
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Totally gorgeous, love these photos and I’m sure I’d love the cocktail just as much.
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Such a fabulous cocktail! Looks perfect!
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i love love love that shot of the orange with the twist of the peel missing! super impressive…every time i’ve ever tried to do that i end up just wrecking the whole thing
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I’m not a drinker, but that looks like a work of art in a glass! Very nice!
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How refreshing, make me one!
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These would be so refreshing on a hot summer day!
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This is GORGEOUS, Sommer!
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sounds divine!!! i’m off to the liquor store for the gin, we are trying this tonight!!! good work you two!
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Sommer — June 18th, 2012 @ 1:47 pm
Let me know what you think!
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Such a beautiful cocktail Sommer + I love the idea of that homemade lavender simple syrup.
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What a wonderful drink and I’m embarassed to say I nver knew what was in a Tom Collins. Sounds simply delicious!
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I’m not much of a drinker, either, but this sounds really good!
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I’ve never tried cooking/baking with lavender, but it sounds so earthy and fun! Definitely going to try your simple syrup on the next go round! And looking forward to trying the cocktail as well.
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What a refreshing and unique cocktail. Now, I have one more wonderful Meyer Lemon recipe to try when I get the Meyer Lemons from my In-Law’s garden.
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I’m always up for a cocktail, especially a classic like this!
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always looking for things to do with the lavender in my garden – but do have a problem finding Meyer lemons in my area
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What a gorgeous and refreshing way to use your lemon tree and lavender crop. Thanks for sharing this lovely drink, Sommer!
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This is perfect, I’ve got some lavander and meyer lemons in the backyard that are now going to be put to good use!
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Oooh. I wish I had gin because this sounds delightful!
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I’ve got all those ingredients! Looks amazing and so refreshing!
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Such a wonderful Summer cocktail.
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