4 flower-based cocktails and soft drinks to refresh your summer

With or without alcohol, flowers can make delicious summer drinks (and even in any season, even if there aren’t any more due to global warming, but that’s another story). The proof of 5.

Yasmine with jasmine and orange blossom

It is the Niets non-alcoholic distillery that features this mocktail called Yasmine:

• 5 cl of Gin Botaniets 0.0% (or other non-alcoholic gin, or even sparkling water)
• 1 cl of lemon juice
• 0.5 oz of jasmine syrup (or a very concentrated infusion of sweet jasmine tea can help)
• 2 drops orange blossom oil (or orange blossom water may help)

Just mix everything in a glass and serve chilled, with some crushed ice or small ice cubes.

For a cocktail version with alcoholjust use gin, such as Belle Rive, particularly floral, which combines notes of lavender, orange blossom, May rose and violet leaves.

The Orange Blossom and Pink Margarita

This Margarita pays homage to the legendary romance between Emperor Shah Jahan and his Persian wife, Mumtaz Mahal, whose death caused the Taj Mahal to be erected as a tribute to their love. She then combines orange to symbolize India, and rose for Persia, as well as pink Himalayan salt for the purity of love: as captivating as it is romantic.

• 2 cl of lime
• 3 cl Cointreau (or other orange liqueur)
• 0.5 cl of rose syrup
• 5cl of Tequila
• a pinch of Himalayan salt

We start by wetting the rim of a glass with lime, before covering it with Himalayan salt, while mixing all the other ingredients in a shaker with ice cubes, before serving.

For a mocktail versionyou can replace the Cointreau with 3 cl of freshly squeezed orange juice.

The combination of lemon and violet in a cocktail or mocktail

The house of artisanal syrups Bacanha offers this cocktail recipe that combines lemonade and violet:

• 4 cl of lemonade
• 2 cl of vodka
• 2 cl violet syrup
• 1 lemon zest

Simply pour the violet syrup broth into the glass, zest a little lemon, add the vodka and garnish with lemonade and ice cubes. As a decoration, you can add flowers of violets, lavender or even frozen blueberries.

For a mocktail versionyou can simply replace the vodka with a little more lemonade.

The Elderflower Daiquiri

Originally from Cuba, Daiquiri is normally made from white rum, lime juice and sugar. A good base that is easy to twist, like with elderberry accompanied by a touch of honey to highlight its floral dimension.

• 6 cl of rum
• 1 tablespoon of honey
• 2 cl elderflower syrup or elderberry liqueur (St Germain)
• 3 cl of freshly squeezed lemon juice

In a shaker you can mix the ingredients together with a few ice cubes, before pouring into a glass, and possibly decorate with mint leaves.

For a mocktail versionyou can replace the rum with lemonade, or tonic if you prefer a less sweet-tasting result.

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