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Lavender Haze Cocktail (Taylor Swift-Inspired)

This recipe for a “Lavender Haze” Cocktail is refreshing, tart, purple and inspired by Taylor Swift! With floral notes from crème de violette and sharper bites of gin and lemon juice, it’s a versatile, 3-ingredient drink that will be a hit at any spring or summer celebrations.

hand placing a cherry on top of a lavender haze cocktail

Lavender Haze Drink Recipe Details

What is a traditional Aviation cocktail for the Lavender Haze?

The Aviation (Lavender Haze) is a classic cocktail made with gin, maraschino liqueur, crème de violette, and lemon juice. It is served without ice (straight up) in a cocktail glass.

What is the history of the Aviation cocktail?

Hugo Ensslin, the head bartender at the Hotel Wallick in New York, invented the Aviation in the early 1900s. The first true recipe was featured in his book “1916 Recipes for Mixed Drinks”. This original Aviation blueprint called for 1½ oz. El Bart gin, ¾ oz. lemon juice, 2 dashes maraschino liqueur, and 2 dashes crème de violette.

What is crème de violette?

Crème de violette is a creamy liqueur with violet flower flavoring. It tends to have a base of a neutral spirit, of brandy, or both. Therefore, it has a light, sweet, and fresh taste reminiscent of flowers. Due to these aromatic qualities, you do not need much of it in a recipe to really notice its presence.
As a note, crème de violette is typically bottled between 30 and 40 proof. Depending on where you live, crème de Violette can be purchased online or in a well stocked liquor store. We purchased the Giffard brand.

Today’s recipe is a bit simpler and requires just three main ingredients. I do not care for maraschino cherries and did not miss anything leaving that liqueur out here.

This cocktail is of course most recognizable for its lilac coloring, which contributes to the ethereal light purple tones of this drink.

Ingredient Details for the Aviation/Lavender Haze Cocktail

shaker pouring lavender haze cocktail into a glass


Gin is the base spirit. Something with floral notes, like Hendricks, is a very nice option as this complements the violet liqueur. Dry gins with a strong juniper profile are most commonly used.

Lemon juice is essential as its acidity cuts through the floral notes and keeps them from overpowering the cocktail. This is why we’re using a full ounce of it.

Crème de violette liqueur is the base coloring for this drink. It’s important to note that you only need a small amount (¾ of an ounce) to really pack a punch in this drink. No one wants to feel like they’re drinking potpourri, so feel free to start off with ½ of an ounce to determine your preference.

Other Colorful Spring & Summer Cocktail Recipes

Rhubarb Shrub

The Garden Party

Blood Orange Screwdriver

Strawberry Rhubarb Margaritas

Carrot Bloody Mary

Strawberry Limeade

Extra-Ginger Moscow Mule

Print
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hand placing a cherry on top of a lavender haze cocktail

Lavender Haze Cocktail


5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

5 from 2 reviews

  • Author: Emily
  • Total Time: 5 minutes
  • Yield: 1 cocktail 1x
  • Diet: Vegan

Description

This recipe for a “Lavender Haze” Aviation Cocktail is refreshing, tart, purple, and inspired by Taylor Swift! With floral notes from crème de violette and sharper bites of gin and lemon juice, it’s a versatile drink that will be a hit at any spring or summer celebrations.


Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 2 oz floral gin, like Hendricks (a little more than one shot)
  • 1 oz fresh lemon juice
  • 3/4 oz crème de violette
  • Lemon rind and cherry to garnish

Instructions

1. Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice. Add gin, lemon juice, and Creme de Violette. Seal the shaker and shake for about 30 seconds, until chilled.

2. Strain the cocktail into a martini or coupe glass. Garnish with a cherry and lemon twist.

  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Category: Drink
  • Method: Shaking
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 recipe
  • Calories: 201 calories
  • Sugar: 7.2 grams
  • Sodium: 1.3 milligrams
  • Fat: 0.1 grams
  • Saturated Fat: 0 grams
  • Unsaturated Fat: 0.1 grams
  • Trans Fat: 0 grams
  • Carbohydrates: 9.7 grams
  • Fiber: 0.1 grams
  • Protein: 0.1 grams
  • Cholesterol: 0 milligrams
Portrait of Emily Meyers, founder of Garlic Head

About the Author

Emily (Frigon) Meyers is the founder of Garlic Head, a plant-based recipe website for all eaters who want to easily, affordably, and sustainably incorporate more vegetables into their diets while saving time and money. She is a lifelong vegetarian and 10+ year vegan. Garlic Head does not focus on labels - it focuses on creating food that everyone can enjoy.

Emily earned a certificate in Plant-Based Nutrition from Cornell University along with degrees in Economics, Spanish, and Global Sustainability from the University of Pittsburgh. She has been featured on numerous podcasts and websites including The Food Institute, VegNews, Buzzfeed, and the Boston Globe.

Meet Emily here.

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Comments

  1. Siobhan says

    I am going to make this before the Eras tour – thank you for such an easy Lavender Haze recipe with just three ingredients!






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