Potatoes are our ingredient of the season. You can find our full archive of potato posts here.

There’s nothing I love more than the smell of lilacs in spring. Their fragrance is intoxicating.

Holy cow, I wish they would last longer in a vase. I’ve tried all sorts of tricks, but I have to admit that I think their fleeting season is partly to blame for my lilac love.

Today we’re pairing lilacs with lemons in this simple simply delicious cocktail. But I bet you’re wondering where potatoes come in? Vodka, my friend. Vodka.

If you want to make this cocktail, you may have to get a move on. Lilacs are just starting to bloom at my house in the mountains, but I’m sure that some regions of the US are seeing peek bloom, and others are past their prime. If you’re in that last group, I’m so sorry for you. But pin this post and get your fill next spring.

Lilac Simple Syrup

Making the cocktail is super simple, the hardest part is sacrificing so many beautiful blossoms to make the lilac-infused simple syrup. The flavor and color of this syrup will vary depending upon the blossoms you use. If you aren’t familiar, there are white, light purple, and dark purple lilacs, in addition to varying in color, they can also vary in flavor.

• 1 cup water
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 cups lilac blossoms

• Place the sugar and water in a small sauce pot and bring to a simmer until the sugar dissolves.
• Add the lilac blossoms and continue to simmer for 5 minutes.
• Strain the syrup and let cool.

Lilac Lemon Drop

This recipe makes one glass, but this drink is so good that you’ll want to share it, so we suggest increasing the recipe and pouring a round at your next spring picnic.

• ice
• 1 1/2 ounces vodka
• 3/4 ounce fresh lemon juice
• 1/2 ounce lilac simple syrup
• lemon twist or fresh lilacs for garnish

• Place all ingredients except the garnish in a cocktail shaker. Shake.
• We like this served over ice, but you can also serve it in a martini glass.
• Don’t forget the garnish.

Make it a mocktail : you can skip the vodka, blending the infused simple syrup and lemon juice to make lilac lemonade. But keep your mocktails just as classy as the cocktails and add that fresh sprig of blossoms.

We aren’t the first to make this cocktail, but we might be the first to put a whole pile of blossoms in the finished drink. Seriously, don’t skimp on that detail. It’s amazing to get a whiff of lilacs with every sip.