Lavender Haze Cocktail Recipe | Wine Enthusiast

It’s hard to ignore that pop sensation Taylor Swift is touring the country for the first time in five years on her epic Eras Tour. Videos of the “Shake It Off” singer’s multi-hour-long performance, set to the backdrop of stadiums packed with fans, have been all over social media.  

Also all over social media? Cocktails inspired by the songstress, including a lavender-hued beverage dubbed the Lavender Haze. Originally created by fans and featured on TikTok, the drink later became an official cocktail sold at the stadiums during her tour, first appearing on opening night in Arizona. (As Swift fans know, the mega-star has a habit of making their social media dreams come true.)  

Fans filmed themselves enjoying the Swift-themed beverages on sale at the stadiums, and the Lavender Haze cocktail exploded in popularity. Maybe it’s the drink’s jaw-dropping violet color or its delicate, floral flavor profile, but the term #lavenderhazedrink has garnered over 1 billion views on TikTok and counting.  

The drink is inspired by Taylor Swift’s song “Lavender Haze” from her Midnights album, which gained popularity as one of the first singles released. A music video co-starring model Laith Ashley first aired earlier this year.  

What Is in the Lavender Haze Cocktail?  

The original stadium version of the recipe calls for Empress 1908 original indigo gin, lemon juice, falernum, rhubarb bitters and elderflower tonic.    

We swapped some ingredients to make our own streamlined spin on the recipe, which is somewhat of a combination of a sour cocktail and a gin and tonic. The drink blends tart lemon juice, frothy egg whites, floral gin, elderflower liqueur and lavender syrup for a balanced sipper.  

Lavender Haze Cocktail Recipe  

Recipe by Jacy Topps

Ingredients 

• Chilled egg white, from one egg 
• ¼ ounce lemon juice, fresh squeezed 
• ½ ounce lavender syrup* (recipe to follow) 
• ½ ounce elderflower liqueur 
• 1 ½ ounces dry gin (we recommend Empress 1908 original indigo gin) 
• Lemon slice and lavender pieces for garnish 

*To Make the Lavender Syrup

• ⅓ cup water  
• ⅓ cup sugar  
• 1 teaspoon culinary lavender  
• ½ cup frozen blueberries 

Directions 

Prepare the lavender syrup: In a saucepan over medium heat, combine water, sugar, culinary lavender and frozen blueberries.

Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer. Simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and let stand for 15 minutes.

Strain mixture and refrigerate syrup until ready to use.

Make the cocktail: In a cocktail shaker with no ice, add egg white, lemon juice, lavender syrup, elderflower liqueur and gin.

Cover and shake until frothy, about 15 seconds. Next, add ice and shake again vigorously for 30 seconds. Strain into a cocktail glass.

Garnish with a lemon slice and lavender. 

FAQs 

How Do You Make a Lavender Drink?  

To get the appropriate color in the drink, the best option is to use a purple-hued liquor. This recipe leans on Empress 1908 original indigo gin, which gets a deep purple color and floral flavor from butterfly pea blossoms. For a lavender flavor and additional color, use a lavender-infused syrup.  

What Does Lavender Haze Mean?  

The phrase most recently comes from Swift’s song “Lavender Haze” from her Midnights album.  

“I happened upon the phrase ‘lavender haze’ when I was watching Mad Men, and I looked it up because I thought that it sounded cool,” Swift said in an Instagram video. “And it turns out that it’s a common phrase used in the 50s where they would just describe being in love. If you were in the lavender haze, then that meant that you were in that all-encompassing love glow.”  

She continued to explain that in an age of social media, many people feel that they have to do whatever they can to protect their relationships from rumors and unsolicited commentary. “This song is sort of about the act of ignoring that stuff to protect the real stuff,” she said.