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!