Lavender Sour Recipe

Make syrup

Combine 1 cup water and 1 cup granulated sugar in a small saucepan and bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat, stirring until sugar dissolves.

Add 1 tablespoon dried culinary lavender to the pan, reduce heat to low, and simmer gently for 3 minutes to infuse. Remove from heat and let steep for 15–20 minutes, covered.

Strain syrup through a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth into a clean jar, discarding solids. Cool to room temperature, then refrigerate. Syrup will keep refrigerated for up to 2 weeks.

Steep 1 tablespoon (approx. 2–3 g) butterfly pea flowers in 1/4 cup (60 ml) just-boiled water for 5 minutes until deeply colored. Strain and reserve 15 ml of the concentrated tea for the cocktail. Chill before use. (Alternatively use a small splash of store-bought blue pea flower extract.)

Chill a coupe or Nick & Nora glass by filling with ice water while you prepare the drink.

Add to a cocktail shaker (dry, no ice): 2 oz gin, 0.75 oz fresh lemon juice, 0.75 oz lavender simple syrup, 1 egg white, and 15 ml pea flower concentrate.

Dry shake

Seal the shaker and shake vigorously without ice for 15–20 seconds to emulsify the egg white and produce a foamy texture.

Wet shake

Open the shaker and add a large handful of ice. Shake vigorously again for 12–15 seconds until the shaker is cold to the touch and well-aerated.

Discard ice water from the chilled glass. Fine-strain the cocktail into the glass through a Hawthorne or fine mesh strainer to ensure a silky foam.

If desired, add a drop or two of additional pea flower concentrate to the surface of the foam and gently drag a toothpick to create a subtle color accent, or let the foam show a pale violet-blue hue from the pea flower.

Garnish with a single dried or candied lavender sprig and a lemon twist laid across the foam (express the lemon twist over the drink before placing).

Serve immediately. Note: Because this cocktail contains raw egg white, consume within a few hours and use fresh eggs; pregnant people or immunocompromised individuals should avoid raw eggs.