Behold, the 10 best floral cocktails for spring 2023

Well, after a winter that can only be described as long, spring is finally here. We’re already flocking to the cherry blossoms and trading in our whiskey cocktails for lighter, brighter, and more colorful ones. And that has us feeling a sense of renewal (not to mention thirsty).

These are the drinks that reflect the season, popping with eye-catching colors and newfound seasonal ingredients. They are photogenic spring drinks — the kind you want to make at home and show off to friends as the sun stays out just a little bit longer. It may still be too early to fully dive into barbecue season or take the roof off the convertible, but the flowers are coming and that means it’s time for an appropriate cocktail.

Behold, the 10 best floral cocktails to enjoy this spring.

Lavender Lasso recipe

It’s hard to imagine a more tantalizing drink than this one from Charlie Park, armed with lavender and an easy-to-make beer syrup.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 12 minutes
Yield: 1 serving

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 ounces of Empress Gin
• 1 ounce of pineapple juice
• 1 ounce of lime juice
• 3/4 ounce of coco water
• 1/4 ounce of lavender syrup
• 1/4 ounce of IPA syrup
• 1/4 ounce of butterfly pea flower syrup

Method

1. Shake all ingredients vigorously with ice.
2. Strain into a Martini glass or coupe rimmed with dried lavender flowers.
3. Lightly sprinkle ube dust over the froth when poured for contrast.

Iaponiko Anthos recipe

This mix of gin, jasmine, and citrus takes advantage of the springtime cherry blossoms. The fruit tree bursts to life famously every year in Japan and does so in much of the U.S. as well. The cocktail, the work of José Andrés’ D.C. restaurant — Zaytinya— is clever, using a carefully cut piece of citrus as the flower. If you want to use the real thing, try a primrose in its place.

Prep Time: 24 hours (to infuse spirit)
Total Time: 2 minutes (to mix drink)
Yield: 1 serving

Ingredients

• 4 ounces of Marfil Brut Cava
• 1 ounce of jasmine-infused Bombay Gin*
• 1/2 ounce of lemon juice
• 1/2 ounce of simple syrup
• 1/2 ounce of pomegranate concentrate

Method

1. Combine all ingredients except cava in a cocktail shaker with ice and shake vigorously.
2. Fine strain into a wine glass, then top with cava and ice.
3. Add lemon peel for garnish.

*Jasmine-infused Bombay Gin: Combine 1 bottle (1-liter) of Bombay Gin in a nonreactive container with 17.5 grams of jasmine tea. Let infuse for 24 hours in the refrigerator. After 24 hours, take out tea bags and fine strain through a chinois.

Pearl Diver recipe

This classic tropical cocktail courtesy of Dos Maderas does great in something floral. Throw a tulip in place of a straw, or better still, toss in a few nasturtiums as you can eat the colorful little flowers.

Prep Time: None
Total Time: 2 minutes
Yield: 1 serving

Ingredients

• 3 ounces of Dos Maderas Rum
• 1/2 ounce of lime juice
• 1/2 ounce of orange juice
• 1/2 ounce of Don Gardenia Mix
• 1 dash of Angostura Bitters

Method

1. Add all ingredients to a blender with a 1/2 cup of ice and blend on high for 20 seconds.
2. Fine strain into glass.
3. Garnish with an orange slice or flower of your choice.

Royal Dog recipe

This drink created by Mico also takes advantage of the arresting aromatics of lavender. To add to the floral nature of the cocktail, try garnishing with zucchini flowers or pansies.

Prep Time: None
Total Time: 2 minutes
Yield: 1 serving

Ingredients

• 5 ounces of St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur
• 2 ounces of Ketel One Grapefruit and Rose Botanical Vodka
• 1 1/2 ounces of Lillet Blanc
• Lavender powder

Method

1. Place all ingredients except lavender powder with ice chips and shake for 15 seconds.
2. Rim your favorite vintage glass with lavender powder and strain.

Mai Tai recipe

A tiki cocktail like the Mai Tai can send you straight to a deserted island somewhere in the warm waters of the South Pacific. A big part of the drink is its look, which benefits greatly from a flower or some combination of flowers. A go-to is the vanda orchid, which dresses the drink up beautifully. You can also cut out a piece of apple, pear, or pineapple. For the drink itself, stick with a classic recipe like the one from exotic cocktail guru Martin Cate.

Prep Time: None
Total Time: 4 minutes
Yield: 1 serving

Ingredients

• 2 ounces of aged pot still or blended rum
• 1/2 ounce of orange curaçao (Pierre Ferrand preferred)
• 3/4 ounce of fresh lime juice
• 1/4 ounce of orgeat
• 1/4 ounce of rich demerara simple syrup (with a 2:1 ratio of water to sugar)

Method

1. Combine all ingredients with 12 ounces of crushed ice and some cubes in a shaker.
2. Shake until chilled and pour, ice and all, into a double Old Fashioned glass.
3. Garnish with a spent lime shell and mint sprig, or flower.

Grill & Chill recipe

The key to making this drink as floral as possible is catching cilantro in its finest form. If you time it right, your sprigs will tout pretty little white flowers, fancying up your cocktail nicely. The recipe is provided by Cutwater Spirits.

Prep Time: 10 minutes (to grill fruit)
Total Time: 15 minutes
Yield: 1 serving

Ingredients

• 2 ounces of Cutwater Tequila Blanco
• 1 ounce of fresh lime juice
• 1/2 ounce of agave syrup
• 3-4 grilled pineapple chunks
• 1 fresh ginger slice
• 1 pinch of cilantro

Method

1. Add pineapple, ginger, and cilantro to a shaker.
2. Add tequila, lime juice, agave, and ice.
3. Shake until cold and strain over fresh ice.
4. Garnish with a piece of grilled pineapple and cilantro sprig.

Mana Daisy recipe

This drink, created by Teremana Tequila, is a refreshing sipper indeed. If you feel like making it more of a session cocktail, cut the tequila amount in half and add a bit more soda.

Prep Time: None
Total Time: 2 minutes
Yield: 1 serving

Ingredients

• 2 ounces of Teremana Blanco
• 3/4 ounce of lemon juice
• 3/4 ounce of passion fruit syrup
• Splash of soda

Method

1. Place lemon juice, passion fruit syrup, and tequila into a shaker.
2. Shake and add a splash of soda directly to the tin before straining.
3. Strain into a coupe glass and garnish with an edible flower.

White Flower recipe

This drink concocted by Atlantic Grill is extra floral thanks to the addition of an iconic liqueur and given some tartness with the addition of cranberry.

Prep Time: None
Total Time: 2 minutes
Yield: 1 serving

Ingredients

• 1 3/4 ounces of Absolut Elyx Vodka
• 3/4 ounce of St. Germain
• 1 1/2 ounces of white cranberry juice
• 3/4 ounce of lime juice

Method

1. Shake all ingredients and double strain into a martini glass.
2. Garnish with a lemon wheel.

Pretty in Pink recipe

Also a great movie, this Pretty in Pink combines tequila with pink lemonade, citrus, and agave to dazzling results. This recipe is the work of El Tequileno.

Prep Time: None
Total Time: 3 minutes
Yield: 1 serving

Ingredients

• 2 ounces of El Tequileño Platinum
• 3/4 ounces of Triple Sec
• 2 ounces of pink lemonade
• 1/2 ounce of fresh lime juice
• 1 bar spoon of agave syrup
• Soda

Method

1. Add all ingredients except soda to a shaker over cubed ice.
2. Shake until ice cold and strain into a highball glass over cubed ice and top with soda.
3. Garnish with raspberries, edible flowers, and a cucumber ribbon.

Neroli recipe

The work of Absolut Elyx, this cocktail gives vodka and sherry all the flower power. You’d never expect so much flavor to bloom from a relatively clear drink.

Prep Time: None
Total Time: 3 minutes
Yield: 1 serving

Ingredients

• 1/2 ounce of Absolut Elyx Vodka
• 1/2 ounce of Tio Peppe Fino Sherry
• 1/2 ounce of Lillet Blanc
• 1/2 ounce of Neroli Cordial

Method

1. Add all ingredients to a rocks glass, then stir.