Techniques
5 Ways to Add Rose to Your Cocktails
The possibilities are endless with the magic of roses!
Roses are red; cocktails are fun. It’s the season of love, so it’s time to have one! A few days ago, you may have seen our feature on recipes that include rose to enjoy for Valentine’s Day. If you’re keen to branch out and come up with your own unique rosy creations, read on for five easy techniques to make the most of this wonderful flower!
JUMP to the category ahead!
1. Adhered to a Glass
With this technique, your Valentine’s cocktails will never look better! Sticking dried rose petals to your glass creates unique visual dimension that’s sure to turn any drink into a showstopper. Simply brush a glass with some lemon juice or simple syrup and apply the crushed up petals to the sticky surface! We sometimes incorporate these as a rim, but if you’d rather not taste the dried petals directly, you can certainly stick them elsewhere on the glass for more decorative purposes.
2. Garnish with Fresh Petals
Similar to dried petals on a glass, fresh petals exude elegance and glamour, but with more vibrancy. Additionally, they contribute a light and sweet aroma that invigorates the senses when you bring the glass up to take a sip! Just be sure that the roses you use have not been treated with any pesticides and are food-safe.
Spruce up the Elderflower Sour with a couple of fresh petals!
Ingredients
- 2 oz Empress 1908 Elderflower Rose Gin
- 1 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
- 1 oz Simple Syrup
- Egg White or 1 oz Aquafaba
- Rose Petals, for garnish
Method
Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice. Shake and strain to remove ice. Shake again without the ice. Fine strain into a chilled coupe glass. Garnish with rose petals.
3. Incorporate in Ice!
As simple as it is to achieve, the subtle layer of complexity this technique adds to your sips is downright heavenly. By adding petals to your ice cubes (optionally letting them infuse in the water before freezing for more rose flavour), the drink has an evolving profile. As the ice melts, more of the floral notes are introduced!
@spiritedla executes this perfectly in the Nectar(ine) of the Gods!
Ingredients
- 2 oz Empress 1908 Cucumber Lemon Gin
- 1 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
- ½-1 oz Mint Syrup
- Handful of Nectarine Slices, to muddle
- Club Soda, to top
- Mint Sprig, Nectarine Slices, and Cucumber Ribbon; for garnish
- Rosy Ice Cubes*
Method
Add all ingredients (except for club soda) in a shaking tin and muddle. Add ice and shake. Strain into a wine goblet, add rosy ice cubes, and top with club soda. Garnish and enjoy!
*Combine 2-3 tbsp of dried rose petals to 2 cups of hot water and let infuse for about one hour (or until cooled). Pour into ice cube tray, leaving in some of the rose petals for presentation. Let freeze fully before using.
4. Rose Water
The versatility of rose water cannot be understated! Whether you’re looking to round out a mild hint of rose or create an experience akin to sipping on the most divine floral garden, rose water allows you to do both splendidly. A little goes a long way, so we’d recommend adding it drops at a time to prevent overpowering the overall profile. It’s especially great when used with an atomizer to finish a cocktail with elevated aromatics!
Enjoy the romance of rose in the Juliet & Romeo by @jfdesfosses!
Ingredients
- 2 oz Empress 1908 Indigo Gin
- ¾ oz Fresh Lime Juice
- ¾ oz Simple Syrup
- 3 Cucumber Slices, to muddle
- 4-5 Mint Leaves, plus more for garnish
- Small Pinch of Salt
- 3 Drops of Rose Water, plus more to mist
Method
Start by adding the gin, cucumber, and salt to a shaker tin and muddle. Add remaining ingredients and shake with ice to chill. Strain into a coupe, garnish with a small mint sprig, and finish with one spritz of rose water.
5. Infused in a Syrup!
It’s no secret that fun syrups are great for playing around with flavour in a cocktail, and using rose is no exception! You can get especially creative by combining this with another complementary ingredient in your homemade syrup such as fruits or other blooms. Whether you use rose water or dried/fresh petals is ultimately up to you – rose water is certainly easier to incorporate, but we especially enjoy the fuller and more nuanced taste that petals contribute!
Enjoy a sippable bouquet with @carneliancooks‘ Lavender Berry Kiss, made iwth a homemade lavender rose syrup!
Ingredients
- 1½ oz Empress 1908 Elderflower Rose Gin
- 1 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
- ¾ oz Lavender Rose Syrup*
- ½ oz Açaí Liqueur
- 1½ oz Aquafaba
- Dried Açaí Berries, Lavender, and Rose Petals, for garnish
Method
In a cocktail shaker, add all ingredients and shake without ice for 10 seconds. Add ice and shake until chilled. Strain into a cocktail coupe and garnish.
*To make lavender rose syrup, combine 1 cup each of water and sugar in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring until dissolved. Add 2 tablespoons each of dried edible grade lavender buds and dried rose petals, then simmer for 10-15 minutes. Remove from heat and steep for an additional 10-15 minutes. Strain the mixture to remove the flowers. Cool the syrup to room temperature, transfer to an airtight container, and refrigerate for up to 1 month.
It should come as no surprise that rose is one of our favourite ingredients to use in cocktails. After all, we even use it as a key botanical in our Elderflower Rose and Indigo expressions! Delicately sweet and aromatic, the complexity it provides makes for truly distinctive sips. We hope you share the creations you whip up using these tips with us on Instagram!
For more cocktail inspiration, you know where to look – head on over to our Instagram, Cocktail Page, or Blog!
Sip responsibly!
