Back when I lived in Charleston, I would occasionally treat myself to a drink at the Cypress bar. Specifically, a lavender martini. I'm not sure what initially drew me to the cocktail. I don't tend to go in for specialty martinis, but this gorgeous drink brings me back every time. It's refreshing and invigorating, a tad sweet without getting anywhere near cloying. It's a spa day in a glass. Just thinking about this cocktail has me planning my next trip to Charleston, but in the meantime, why don't we fix one up ourselves?
This recipe is a bit different from the Cypress recipe because I'm not using the vanilla vodka that forms the base of their drink. Guys, I don't have room on my bar for vanilla vodka. It's just not something I use often enough to justify taking up my limited space (half a dozen Scotches, on the other hand...). If you have good quality vanilla vodka on hand, or if you think it's something you'd like to have around, by all means use it in this recipe. If you do that, you can omit the vanilla from the simple syrup.
VANILLA LAVENDER SIMPLE SYRUP
1 cup water
1 cup sugar (or vanilla sugar if you have it)
Several sprigs fresh lavender, or 1 tablespoon dried lavender blossoms
1/2 a vanilla bean, or 1 tablespoon very good quality vanilla extract
Combine water, sugar, and lavender in a medium saucepan and set to medium heat. If using a vanilla bean, cut lengthwise and scrape seeds into the sugar water mixture (I use a chopstick for this, but a fork works fine). If using extract, add extract. Cook the mixture, stirring frequently at first to dissolve sugar, until boiling. Turn heat to medium low and simmer, stirring occasionally, for another 10 minutes or so, until the the sugar is completely dissolved and the mixture is thickened. Syrupy, if you will. Let cool and store in an airtight container in the fridge.
LAVENDER MARTINI
1 1/2 ounces vodka (or vanilla vodka, if you like)
1/2 ounce fresh lemon juice
1/2 ounce vanilla lavender simple syrup
Lavender sprigs, for garnish
Add first three ingredients to a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously, and strain into a martini glass. Garnish with lavender sprig and enjoy!
1 cup water
1 cup sugar (or vanilla sugar if you have it)
Several sprigs fresh lavender, or 1 tablespoon dried lavender blossoms
1/2 a vanilla bean, or 1 tablespoon very good quality vanilla extract
Combine water, sugar, and lavender in a medium saucepan and set to medium heat. If using a vanilla bean, cut lengthwise and scrape seeds into the sugar water mixture (I use a chopstick for this, but a fork works fine). If using extract, add extract. Cook the mixture, stirring frequently at first to dissolve sugar, until boiling. Turn heat to medium low and simmer, stirring occasionally, for another 10 minutes or so, until the the sugar is completely dissolved and the mixture is thickened. Syrupy, if you will. Let cool and store in an airtight container in the fridge.
LAVENDER MARTINI
1 1/2 ounces vodka (or vanilla vodka, if you like)
1/2 ounce fresh lemon juice
1/2 ounce vanilla lavender simple syrup
Lavender sprigs, for garnish
Add first three ingredients to a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously, and strain into a martini glass. Garnish with lavender sprig and enjoy!
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