If you’re not getting roses for Valentine’s Day, I have a better option for you…drink one. No joke, this drink tastes just like a crisp, fresh bouquet – although I wouldn’t encourage consuming your flowers. I originally bought rose extract for baking (because I’m bougie, duh), but I started to think of other ways I could use it seeing as the bottle was much too big for an occasional baker. So naturally I made rose-flavored simple syrup to use in cocktails and to even flavor my tea – and that’s the most important ingredient in this drink. It lasts for months so don’t worry if you have extra left.
What you need:
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup water
- 2 tsp rose extract
- A handful of food grade rose buds (purchased from Whole Foods)
- Juice from 1/2 a lemon
- 1 oz. vodka
- Rosé
To make the rose simple syrup:
- Bring the sugar and water to a boil, while stirring continuously.
- Add the rose extract and a few of the rose buds until you get the shade of pink color you prefer. Once the syrup is cooled bottle it up and store. It’s pretty easy! Just make sure to keep an eye on it while it cooks.
To make the cocktail:
- In a glass add lemon juice, vodka and 1.5 tbsp rose simple syrup. You might want to start with 1/2 a tablespoon first and then taste so you can control how sweet the drink is – I like my drinks on the sweeter side.
- Stir thoroughly then top off glass with rosé.
- Garnish with edible flower/ rose petal.
Tip: Make sure all your drink ingredients are ice cold!
It took some serious self-control not to name this drink rose rosé and I deserve some credit for that. Let me know if you try this recipe in the comment! (read: send me a picture of you sipping this with bae)
xo,
Essie
