How to Make a Simply Divine Lavender Butterfly Simple Syrup

I love cocktails and I love mixing up amazing drinks for friends in the comfort of my own home (or taking over their kitchen and serving something up at their place). Over the past couple of years, I have found that a surefire way to elevate one’s home mixology game is to make your own simple syrup.

“What is a simple syrup,” you ask? It’s an easily made concoction intended to use in sweetening your drinks.

If you can boil water, you can make simple syrup.

Your basic simple syrup consists of equal parts water and granulated sugar. The sugar is dissolved by bringing the water to a boil and then stirring. From there, the possibilities are endless! I have made simple syrups with herbs, fruits, flowers, etc., and am constantly experimenting with new ingredients.

The ladies of Cabaret & Cocktails love well-made cocktails and one of our recent go to favorites is the Butterfly French 75 from the awesome book Drinking With Chickens. I highly recommend this hilarious and delicious book! It is full of fun and unique cocktails as well as some great commentary and gratuitous chicken pics.

Drinking with Chickens: Free-Range Cocktails for the Happiest Hour

We even built a burlesque routine around this fabulous cocktail!

What sets this cocktail apart from your average French 75 is the homemade lavender butterfly syrup. This lovely and sweet cocktail addition contains culinary lavender and butterfly pea flowers.

Culinary Lavender

100% Pure Butterfly Pea Flower Tea – 100 g

What is a butterfly pea flower? Only the best little secret piece of culinary wizardry ever! This South East Asian flower produces a gorgeous vibrant blue tea that changes color based on the pH of substances added to it. For example, lemon (like in a French 75) turns that liquid purple or pink depending on its dilution! Cocktail magic! It doesn’t really contribute much flavor, other than a little earthy or grassiness.

Here we go! What you will need:

1. Combine water, sugar, and lavender in a small saucepan and bring to a simmer.
2. Gently stir until all sugar has dissolved.
3. Stir in butterfly pea blossoms to mixture and reduce heat to low.
4. Simmer for 5 minutes…oooo, see the color change? Swoon!
5. Remove mixture from heat, allow to fully cool, then strain into an airtight container.
6. Can last in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

I love adding this delicious and beautiful syrup to the Butterfly French 75 and even into gorgeous lattes! Feel free to experiment and find something lovely and tasty for yourself!