Growing up British, there was always a cup of tea within reach – yes the stereotypes are true, and I’m 100% okay with that! During the hot summer months I love to make iced tea, but let’s be honest, sometimes you just need something a little stronger. This recipe is as refreshing as it is calming; the mix of flavours between the earl grey tea and lavender is divine and delicious. It requires some planning ahead, but you can make enough to use at a later date as it will keep. Make this cocktail as sweet as you like, depending on your taste buds with a simple syrup that is just that… simple.
Ingredients
Iced Earl Grey Tea
2-3 additional Earl Grey Tea Bags for infusing vodka
2-3 cups of vodka – (make as much as you like as it will keep)
2 tbsp. of fresh culinary lavender (removed from stems)
3/4 cup of sugar
3/4 cup of water
Earl Grey tea – make and chill in the refrigerator
Directions for Simple Syrup
(It’s easy to make and perfect for cocktails and cold drinks of any kind, as the sugar is already dissolved so you spend more time drinking and less time stirring).
In a small sauce pot, bring lavender, sugar, and water to a boil. Let it simmer until the sugar is completely dissolved. Let it cool and strain out the lavender.
Directions to make Early Grey Vodka
To infuse the vodka, pour the vodka of choice into an airtight container; add 3-4 earl grey tea bags and let it mash for 6-24 hours (don’t go longer as it will take on a bitter taste). Taste as you go; depending how much of a vodka taste you like will determine how long you keep the tea bags in the vodka. Remove tea bags and pour back into the bottle or decanter. (Tip – for a party or event, remove label and add a little hanging sign like this one).
Directions to make this delicious cocktail
Pour 2 ounces of infused earl grey vodka to 1/2 cup of chilled ice tea, stir in lavender simple syrup to taste. Top with ice and use one stem of lavender for a natural stir stick.
This recipe does require a bit of prep but the simple syrup can be kept for up to a month and enjoyed in many beverages, such as coffee!
You had me at Lavender simple syrup ? – what a unique and delicious cocktail.