Lavender Lemon Drop Mocktail (Sparkling, 5 Minutes)
A lavender lemon drop mocktail is a sweet-tart, sparkling drink made by shaking fresh lemon juice with lavender simple syrup over ice, straining it into a sugar-rimmed glass and topping it with club soda. It takes 5 minutes, needs no special equipment beyond a jar with a lid, and has about 70 calories a glass. The lavender lemon drop mocktail keeps the sugared rim and bright lemon flavor the name is known for, with a gentle floral note.
Quick answer
Wet the rim of a glass with a lemon wedge and dip it in sugar. Shake 1 1/2 oz fresh lemon juice and 3/4 oz lavender simple syrup with ice for 10 to 15 seconds, strain into the glass over fresh ice and top with about 4 oz chilled club soda. Garnish with a lemon twist or a lavender sprig.
Lavender Lemon Drop Mocktail
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Lavender Lemon Drop Mocktail Ingredients
- 1 lemon wedge, for the rim
- 2 tbsp granulated sugar, for the rim (about 1 tsp sticks to the glass)
- 1 1/2 oz (3 tbsp) fresh lemon juice, from about 1 lemon
- 3/4 oz (1 1/2 tbsp) lavender simple syrup
- Ice
- About 4 oz chilled club soda or sparkling water
- Lemon twist or a small sprig of culinary lavender, for garnish
How to Make a Lavender Lemon Drop Mocktail
- Chill a coupe or highball glass in the freezer for a few minutes, if you have time.
- Run the lemon wedge around the rim of the glass, then dip the rim into the sugar on a small plate to coat it.
- Fill a shaker or a jar with a tight lid halfway with ice. Add the lemon juice and lavender simple syrup.
- Seal and shake hard for 10 to 15 seconds, until the outside feels very cold.
- Strain into the sugar-rimmed glass over fresh ice, top with the club soda, garnish and serve right away.
Nutrition Facts
Per drink (estimated)
- Calories: 70
- Total fat: 0 g
- Saturated fat: 0 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
- Sodium: 25 mg
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Sugar: 18 g
- Protein: 0 g
Estimated from USDA FoodData Central SR Legacy values for raw lemon juice (FDC 167747), granulated sugar and club soda (FDC 174842). The syrup is counted as a 1:1 sugar-and-water simple syrup (about 12 g sugar in 3/4 oz), and only the sugar that sticks to the rim (about 1 tsp) is counted. Garnishes are not included.
Why This Lavender Lemon Drop Mocktail Works
The drink balances three things: sour lemon, sweet syrup and fizz. A 2:1 ratio of lemon juice to syrup gives a tart drink that still tastes sweet, especially with the sugared rim. Shaking with ice chills and slightly dilutes the base so it tastes smooth, and adding the club soda after straining keeps the bubbles. Lavender is strong, so a small amount of lavender syrup gives a floral note without tasting soapy.
Lavender Lemon Drop Mocktail Ratios
| Batch | Lemon juice | Lavender syrup | Club soda |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 glass | 1 1/2 oz (3 tbsp) | 3/4 oz (1 1/2 tbsp) | About 4 oz |
| 4 glasses | 3/4 cup | 6 tbsp | About 2 cups |
| 8 glasses (pitcher) | 1 1/2 cups | 3/4 cup | About 4 cups |
Which Syrup to Use
- Lavender simple syrup: our lavender simple syrup is sugar-based and gives the cleanest lemon flavor.
- Lavender honey syrup: swap in our lavender honey syrup for a warmer, rounder taste. Do not serve honey drinks to babies under 1 year old.
- Plain simple syrup: for a classic lemon drop mocktail without lavender, use equal parts sugar and water, warmed until dissolved and cooled.
- Store-bought lavender syrup: brands vary in sweetness, so start with 1/2 oz and taste.
Tips for the Best Lemon Drop Mocktail
- Squeeze the lemons fresh. Bottled lemon juice tastes flat in a drink this simple.
- Use superfine sugar on the rim if you have it; it sticks more evenly.
- Do not shake the soda. Add it in the glass so it stays fizzy.
- Make a purple version: a few dried butterfly pea flowers steeped in the syrup turn the drink violet, and the lemon shifts it to pink.
- Make it for a party: mix the lemon juice and syrup in a pitcher up to a day ahead and refrigerate. Rim the glasses and add ice and soda as you pour.
Serving Ideas
The lavender lemon drop mocktail suits brunches, baby showers and warm-weather gatherings. Serve it with light, lemony food: scones, shortbread, a fruit platter or our gluten-free blueberry scones.
Lavender Lemon Drop Mocktail FAQ
What is a lemon drop mocktail?
A lemon drop mocktail is a sweet-and-sour lemon drink served in a sugar-rimmed glass, made with lemon juice, a simple syrup and sparkling water.
Can I make a lavender lemon drop mocktail without a shaker?
Yes. Stir the lemon juice and syrup with ice in a glass for 20 seconds, then strain it into the rimmed glass and add the soda.
Can I make a pitcher of lavender lemon drop mocktail?
Yes. Mix 1 1/2 cups lemon juice and 3/4 cup lavender syrup, chill, and top each glass with club soda when serving. That makes about 8 drinks.
How do I make it less sweet?
Use 1/2 oz of syrup instead of 3/4 oz and skip the sugar rim, or rim only half the glass.
How many calories are in a lavender lemon drop mocktail?
About 70 calories per glass, based on USDA FoodData Central values and counting only the sugar that sticks to the rim.
Sources
Featured photo: Unsplash
