9 Cocktail Ideas That Feature Floral Alcohol

Sure, you can make floral cocktails with ingredients like rose water, lavender syrup, and edible blossoms. But did you know that there's an entire market for floral alcoholic beverages, too? Put them in your signature drink at your bridal shower or wedding to instantly upgrade your cocktail menu. You can even use them to coordinate your beverages with the flowers in your bouquet.

Ahead, we've profiled nine floral spirits and liqueurs that change the game when it comes to signature cocktails. These alcoholic beverages are infused with some of our favorite wedding flowers, including roses, peonies, and lavender, plus unexpected blooms, like poppies and hibiscus. There are bar classics, like violet and elderflower liqueurs, and unique botanical blends, too. We give you the scoop on each bottle, then provide you with ideas for mixed drinks you can feature them in. Bookmark the recipes to make yourself, or to pass along to your bartender. Alternatively, share just the products with your mixologist, and come up with a custom cocktail together.

Looking for more options? Check in with nearby beverage stores, stop by a beverage expo, or visit your local farmer's market. Smaller companies are easier to find in person than online. Aside from floral spirits and liqueurs, there are also floral wines. Chateau Renaissance Wine Cellars, for example, makes incredible rose petal, lavender, and dandelion varieties, which are available in New York City. Flowers are a big part of weddings, so why not use them in surprising ways? The possibilities are plentiful.

Flora is infused with fresh raspberries, elderflower, jasmine, and hibiscus. The liqueur delivers a nectar-like taste using only natural ingredients.

½ ounce Cardinal Spirits Flora

¾ ounce fresh grapefruit juice

¾ ounce fresh orange juice

½ ounce fresh lemon juice

Club soda

Maraschino cherries

Mix liqueur and citrus juices in a cocktail shaker with ice. Strain into a large rocks or wine glass filled with ice, and top with splash of club soda. Garnish with maraschino cherries. 

Recipe courtesy of Cardinal Spirits.

This vodka alternative is infused with pear, rose, chamomile, lemon verbena, lavender, rosemary, coriander, and citrus peel. It's delicate, balanced, and organic.

3 inches rosemary leaves

1 ½ ounces Square One Botanical

½ ounce fresh lemon juice

1 ounce pear juice

¼ ounce agave nectar

Rosemary sprig

Lemon wheel

Strip rosemary leaves into a cocktail shaker and muddle lightly. Add remaining ingredients, except rosemary sprig and lemon wheel, and fill with ice. Shake and double-strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with rosemary sprig pulled through lemon wheel.

Recipe courtesy of Square One Organic Spirits and Joseph Ehrmann. 

Expect a berry taste from this liqueur, which boasts ingredients like tea and organic hibiscus flowers. We also love the packaging.

Handful fresh mint leaves

2 ounces light rum

1 ounce fresh lime juice

1 ounce simple syrup

½ ounce FRUITLAB Hibiscus Liqueur

2 ounces club soda

Muddle mint. Mix ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Pour into a tall glass, and top with club soda.

Recipe courtesy of Greenbar Distillery.

Peonies join geranium, jasmine, white pepper, gardenia, green tea, and vanilla in this fresh, crisp spirit. It would work especially well for a wedding in the Hudson Valley, which is the region that inspired the flavor blend.

2 ounces Peony Vodka

2 ounces freshly-squeezed lemon juice

1 ounce blueberry-lavender simple syrup

1 dash lavender bitters

Dry Champagne or Prosecco

Edible flowers

Mix ingredients, except sparkling beverage and blossoms, in a cocktail shaker with ice. Strain into a Champagne flute, and top with sparkling beverage. Garnish with edible lavender blossoms, edible violas, or other small-petaled flowers.

Recipe courtesy of Peony Vodka.

Not only does this spirit come in a beautiful shade of purple, but it has just the right amount of sweetness.

1 ½ ounces Heritage Distilling Company Lavender Vodka

Fresh lemonade

Lavender sprig or edible flowers

Lemon wedge

Pour vodka into a glass, and top with lemonade. Garnish with lavender sprig or edible flowers and lemon wedge.

Recipe courtesy of Heritage Distilling Company.

This intense blend puts the spotlight on poppies, but also includes citrus, root, and herb flavors. The taste is best described as bittersweet.

2 ounces GRAND POPPY Amaro

2 ounces white wine

1 ounce fresh grapefruit juice

Lemon peel

Mix ingredients, except lemon peel, in a cocktail shaker with ice. Strain into a coupe glass. Garnish with lemon peel. 

Recipe Courtesy of Greenbar Distillery.

Violets influence the taste and scent of this delicate, deep-purple liqueur. Crème de Violette is the star ingredient of classic cocktails like the one featured next.

2 ounces London dry gin

½ ounce fresh lemon juice

½ ounce maraschino liqueur

¼ ounce Rothman & Winter Crème de Violette

Mix ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Double-strain into a coupe glass. 

Recipe courtesy of Haus Alpenz.

Sip this spirit in a mixed drink, or all on its own. The pretty pink vodka goes down easy, but manages not to be overly sweet.

1 ½ ounces Heritage Distilling Company Hibiscus Vodka

Lime popsicle

Club soda

Mint leaf

Pour vodka into a glass. Add popsicle, and top with club soda. Garnish with mint leaf.

Recipe courtesy of Heritage Distilling Company.

What distinguishes this elderflower liqueur from others is its focus on authentic—rather than perfumey—flavors. It's sophisticated and pure.