Lavender Maple Bourbon Cocktail Recipe

I love finding new ways to make classic cocktails pop. The Lavender Maple Bourbon Cocktail has a fresh, floral twist and just enough sweetness to keep things interesting.

This recipe lays out how to blend smooth bourbon, fragrant lavender, and rich maple syrup for a drink that’s simple but feels a bit special.

Looking for something easy but not boring? This cocktail totally fits the bill.

It works for a quiet night in or when you want to impress a couple friends. The flavors just play so well together—when I want something different, I keep coming back to this one.

Lavender Maple Bourbon Cocktail Recipe

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I mix this up with sweet maple syrup, a hint of lavender, and good bourbon. Nothing fancy required—just a few tools and a little measuring to get it right.

John

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 5 minutes minutes

Serving Size 1

Equipment

• Jigger or shot glass for measuring
• Cocktail shaker with strainer
• Fine mesh strainer (to remove lavender bits)
• Muddler or spoon (if infusing lavender)
• Small saucepan (for making lavender syrup)
• Bar spoon: For mixing.
• Rocks glass or lowball glass
• Ice cubes

Ingredients

• 2 oz bourbon
• 0.5 oz pure maple syrup
• 0.75 oz fresh lemon juice
• 0.5 oz lavender syrup homemade or store-bought
• Ice cubes
• Dried lavender buds for syrup or garnish
• Lemon twist or wheel optional garnish

Lavender syrup:

• 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 tsp dried culinary lavender

Instructions

• Make the lavender syrup: Toss water, sugar, and lavender in a saucepan. Bring it to a simmer, stir until the sugar’s gone, then cool and strain out the lavender.
• Fill your shaker with ice.
• Add bourbon, maple syrup, lemon juice, and lavender syrup to the shaker.
• Shake hard for about 15 seconds, until the shaker feels chilly.
• Strain everything through a fine mesh strainer into a rocks glass over fresh ice.
• Garnish with lavender buds and a lemon twist if you’re feeling fancy.

Notes

I always stick with culinary lavender for the syrup—never just any flowers, since flavor (and safety) matters. If I want a stronger floral note, I’ll steep the lavender a bit longer, but honestly, too much can go bitter fast.

I taste as I go. Sometimes I add a touch more maple for sweetness, or a little extra lemon to brighten things up. Balance is everything, so I try not to overdo it either way.

If I’m in the mood for something lighter, I’ll splash in a bit of soda water at the end. It makes the whole thing more refreshing and less heavy.

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Tasting Notes

The first thing that hits me is the gentle scent of lavender. It’s soft, inviting—never too much.

Then, there’s the maple syrup, bringing a mellow sweetness that just works with the bourbon. It doesn’t take over, which I appreciate.

The bourbon gives it a solid base. I get that warmth and a little spice with every sip.

I always toss in a few ice cubes—keeps it cool, easy to drink. As the ice melts, the flavors mellow out a bit, and it feels even more balanced.

Sometimes I’ll top it with a lemon twist. The fresh citrus aroma and taste cut through the sweetness and just make it pop a little more.

Substitute

Sometimes I have to tweak this cocktail, depending on what’s in my kitchen. Here are a few substitutions that’ve worked for me:

Lavender Syrup

• If I’m out of lavender syrup, honey syrup or even plain simple syrup does the trick for sweetness.
• Occasionally, I’ll steep a pinch of dried lavender in hot water—just for a hint of floral flavor.

Maple Syrup

• No maple syrup? I reach for agave, brown sugar syrup, or just classic simple syrup.

Bourbon

• If bourbon’s missing, rye whiskey or dark rum steps in pretty well.

Other Ideas
Sometimes I swap the garnish. A lemon twist or a mint sprig instead of lavender keeps things interesting.

Equipment

• Measuring jigger
• Shaker
• Strainer
• Glass for serving

Ingredients

• Substitute sweetener (honey, agave, or simple syrup)
• Substitute spirit (rye whiskey or rum)
• Alternate garnish (lemon twist or mint)

Instructions

• Measure and toss your substitute ingredients into the shaker.
• Shake with ice, then strain into a glass.
• Top it off with your chosen garnish.