Our delicious Flower Garden Formula was created by @hamishsonoferic - a bespoke vodka based cocktail, which generates enough delicious syrup to make mountains of the drink! Vodka, lavender, honey
Ingredients
50ml floral vodka infusion (or Seedlip Spice for a 0proof alternative)
25ml raspberry & mint shrub
2 sprigs of fresh time
2 dashes of orange bitters
Soda water
Vodka infusion
1bottle of good quality vodka
1 vanilla pod
10g of dried rose petals
10 sprigs of fresh lavender
Method
Combine the vodka, the vanilla pod, rose petals, sprigs of fresh lavender in a sealed container and let to steep overnight. Fine strain and store in a clean bottle overnight.
The next day...
Strip the thyme into the bottom of a highball glass. Add the vodka infusion, shrub, scottish heather honey and bitters into the highball. Muddle. Add ice to the top of the glass.
Top with tonic water and stir well.
Garnish with slices of apple and a sprig of fresh mint.
How do I use honey in cocktails?
Ever been to a bar and seen toys and trays of syrup infusers that give a sugary kick to the drink? Honey has a similar effect, except instead of artificial flavours (and many e-numbers!), you have a natural ingredient with the same amount of sugar, yet with a floral tone within it.
One of the big no-no's with using honey in cocktails is adding the honey directly into the cocktail shaker. This may work when sing honey in a hot drink - the heat softens the honey and breaks it apart, but cocktails (usually with ice or at room temperature) are unable to break down the consistency fast enough. You end up with a blog of honey t the bottom of the shaker and none in the cocktail!
Note on the syrup
Most homemade syrups or infusions have a reasonably short shelf life - even if chilled. Keep yours in the fridge and chuck away if it's still there in 3 weeks. However if you do this cocktail right, we promise there won't be anything left to throw away.
Don't want to feel guilty by drinking gallop after gallon of delicious cocktail? Even it out with a healthy meal - try our Yummy Honey roasted carrots
Check out our heather honey here.
