Lavender Infused Vodka

This lavender infused vodka recipe steeps culinary-grade lavender into vodka to create a uniquely floral vodka that’s perfect for your at-home happy hours or springtime soirees.

Lavender is having a moment in the beverage world. When you’ve been making homemade drinks for over 10 years, you see these “it-flavors” cycle in and out of the spotlight. You’re likely to see this purple flower pop up at local coffee shops, bars, and restaurants, but did you know it’s super easy to experiment with floral flavors at home?

Spring brings a bevy of fresh flavors with the seasonal change, and one of the most notable flavors that tend to sprout up in the spring are floral flavors, like lavender. This recipe was inspired by my collection of floral flavored syrup infusions, like this lavender honey simple syrup. I’ve also got a selection of liquor infusion recipes to choose from. Infusions are a favorite cooking method around here for a reason: they’re easy!!!

💕 why you’ll love this lavender infused vodka recipe

💐 floral. If you’ve never had anything flavored like a flower, you’re in for a treat! I first had a rose macaron from the famous Parisian patisserie Ladurée and my life was never the same. The delicate flavors of flowers like lavender are perfect for elevated cocktails!

😌 easy to make. All you need is two ingredients and a little patience to make this recipe. It’s also perfect for gifting in mini bottles, or serves as a fun favor at a springtime party, like a bridal shower! Talk about a great way to share with friends!

🍹cocktail star. Making cocktails at home doesn’t have to be complicated, and infusions like this one are the best way to get layered flavors in your homemade drinks!

🛒 ingredients

• culinary grade lavender – whenever you’re making anything with flowers, you MUST make sure they are meant for human consumption. Not all flowers are grown equally, and with over 400 varieties of lavender available, it’s important to make sure the flowers you’re using are safe to eat. I love using this brand of flowers, which is easily available online.
  
• vodka – you can use your favorite vodka for this recipe, but you don’t need tippy-top shelf liquor. I love using Tito’s or Absolut for my infusions because it’s easy to find locally and good enough to drink without being infused. It’s also mid-range in price, making it affordable for infusions as well. The most important thing is that it should be plain, unflavored vodka, because we will be adding flavors ourselves!

See the recipe card for the exact quantities.

🍳 instructions

1: Place dried lavender into a large glass jar.

2: Pour in your vodka.

3: Seal the jar & give it a good shake. Place it in a cool dark place out of direct sunlight. Shake the jar every day or every other day for 3 days.

4: After 3 days, give your vodka a taste. If it’s not a strong enough lavender flavor for you, you can infuse it up to 5 days.

5: Line a fine mesh sieve with cheesecloth and place it overtop a measuring glass that can hold at least 16 ounces, and strain the lavender out of the vodka.

6: Bottle it in an airtight container. Store for up to 6 months. Place it out of direct sunlight to best preserve the flavor.

Hint: Giving your infused vodka as a gift? Use some rustic jute twine and tie on a sprig of dried lavender for an extra sweet touch!

🍽️ serving tips

How and when to serve your homemade lavender vodka:

• in cocktails – use this vodka in cocktails like a lavender vodka gimlet or a lavender vodka lemonade.
• on the rocks – no need to mix up a fancy schmancy libation! You can enjoy this infusion on the rocks with a twist of lemon, lime, or even an orange slice.
• in baking recipes – kick up your cakes with a glazing of this vodka!
• gifting – this is a great gift for family and friends, especially at springtime parties or gatherings. You can even make your own cocktail kits and put a small bottle of this vodka in the baskets— talk about adorable!!!

ℹ️ troubleshooting tips

Infusions are easy to make, but they are also easy to screw up. I’ve learned the hard way that longer infusions don’t always mean better flavors. Especially with delicate flavors like lavender, it’s important to not over-infuse your liquors. If you find that your lavender vodka doesn’t taste quite right, try one of these tips:

• bitter – fresh lavender can impart a bitter flavor, so it’s important to use dried lavender for this recipe. It’s also possible that you let your infusion sit for too long, leaving you with a bitter taste in your mouth. You can add a few tablespoonfuls of sugar to help balance out the bitter taste. You can also add more vodka to your infusion to help lessen the lavender flavor, 1/4 cup at a time.
  
• soapy – lavender can taste soapy to some people, similar to cilantro! This could be a personal preference, or it could have something to do with the kind of lavender you’ve used in your infusion. Double check that you used culinary grade lavender in your recipe. You can also add some saline solution to your infusion to balance out the flavor, or a few tablespoonfuls of sugar.
  
• not enough lavender flavor – if after 3 days, your vodka doesn’t have as strong as a flavor as you like, you can infuse it again with a few more teaspoons of lavender. Resist the urge to infuse for longer, because that can lead to bitter-tasting vodka.

⚖️ scaling tips

You can easily cut this recipe in half or double it, if you don’t want to make the entire recipe, or if you need more for a party!

🔆 top tip

In case you missed it during one of the million times I mentioned it, make sure to use culinary grade dried lavender in this infusion. Fresh lavender isn’t as flavorful, and there are tons of varieties of lavender out there. Not all flowers are safe for eating!

♻️ substitutions & variations

♻️ substitutions

Missing an ingredient? No problem. Check out these tried-and-true substitutions, or comment below with your question. I’m here to help you troubleshoot!

• liquor – You can use almost any clear liquor for this recipe, it doesn’t have to be vodka. Gin is a liquor that plays well with botanical flavors like lavender. Silver tequila would also be great, as would white rum! You can even infuse bourbon or whiskey with lavender!

🎛️ variations

Feeling like a rebel?! 😈 Feel free to stray from the recipe card using these variations, or leave me a comment with your own!

• add fruit – blueberry and lavender go very well together! Adding some blueberries to your liquor and lavender mixture will give you a great flavor. Check out these posts about infusing strawberries in tequila or watermelon in tequila for more information about fruit infusions.
  
• add herbs or spices – add in other herbs or spices, like vanilla, thyme, or ginger, to make your own variation on this infusion! If you do add more spices, make sure to continue to taste your vodka after each day it infuses. Once it reaches the flavor you like, strain out the herbs or spices and discard them.

🧰 equipment needed & storage tips

🧰 tools needed

• measuring spoons or scale – a kitchen scale is my favorite way to cook in the kitchen. Not only is it more exact, but it also lessens the amount of dishes you need to wash! If you don’t have a kitchen scale, you’ll need some measuring spoons and glasses.
  
• infusing jar or bottle – Large glass jars are the best way to infuse liquor! I love using large Weck jars or Ball Canning jars because they have a wide mouth and are easy to get the cranberries in and out of. You can use two smaller jars, or cut the recipe in half if you don’t have a large enough container. I’ve even used a zip-top bag in a pinch. 😛
  
• fine mesh strainer – a fine sieve is key for separating the dried lavender buds out of the finished vodka.
  
• cheesecloth – You will also want to line your strainer with cheesecloth if you want to ensure that no flower sediment remains in the final infusion.
  
• glass measuring cup – a large glass measuring cup (at least a 4 cup capacity) allows you to easily strain your finished infusion. I love my set by Anchor Hocking because it includes a 1-cup, 2-cup, and 4-cup glass.

🫙 storage tips

You can store your vodka at room temperature since dried lavender is shelf stable. In order to better preserve the flavor, keep it out of direct sunlight. I prefer to store my infusions in the fridge so I don’t forget about them on the back of the liquor shelf.

You can store your homemade infusions for up to 6 months without loss of flavor. After that time, the flavor will slowly start to degrade in intensity.

💬 q+a

Where can I get dried lavender?

I buy mine online from Amazon, but you can also find it in local specialty stores. Sometimes I’ve even seen it in the spice aisle in my local grocery store! Just be sure it is dried lavender that is able to be consumed, so food-grade or culinary-grade!

Why is my infusion bitter?

If you infuse your liquor for too long, it can be bitter in flavor. You can add more vodka, or you can add some saline solution or sugar to balance out the bitterness.

If you make this recipe, please leave a review in the comments and a star rating!
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