January 11, 2020

Lavender Pisco Sour Recipe

Name: Lavender Pisco Sour
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Ingredients: 2 ounces pisco; 1 ounce fresh lime juice ((or you could try lemon!)); 1 ounce lavender syrup ((see recipe below)); 1 egg white*; dried lavender buds for garnish

This Lavender Pisco Sour Recipe is a cocktail that is easy to make at home. It’s made with pisco, homemade lavender syrup, and egg white for a creamy and floral treat!

lavender pisco sour with syrup and lavender sprigs

This post may contain affiliate links. This means that if you click a link and make a purchase, I may receive an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Please see the full disclosure for further information and thank you for your support!

Lavender has become something that I use in the kitchen all the time. I made this Lavender Pisco Sour Recipe all weekend with my friends and everyone loved it. This craft cocktail is very easy to make, and with the homemade lavender syrup recipe below, it’s sure to impress.

The Lavender Pisco Sour was my first variation on the pisco sour to try and since then I have a few others I think you might like. Check out my Grapefruit Pisco Sour and my Blood Orange Pisco Sour for more twists on this delicious drink!

How to Make a Lavender Pisco Sour

Once you have all of your ingredients and tools ready, all you have to do is shake and serve! Place all of the ingredients into your cocktail shaker and dry shake first. Then, add ice and shake again to make sure your cocktail is nice and cold. Double strain the cocktail (a regular strainer and a fine-mesh strainer) into the cocktail glass, garnish and enjoy!

lavender pisco sour with dried lavender buds — Click on the image above to PIN for later!

What is “Dry Shake”?

This craft cocktail is made in a cocktail shaker because of the egg white and lime juice. You will also shake this cocktail twice. The first time is “dry shake” without ice to ensure the egg white becomes nice and foamy and all of the ingredients are well incorporated. The second shake is with ice to get your cocktail nice and cold.

lavender pisco sour with a bottle of pisco

What is Pisco?

Pisco is a brandy from Peru and Chile made from grapes. It reminds me a little of tequila because of the sharp, earthy aroma, however, it tastes smoother than it smells. The Pisco Sour is the most common drink I know of for this spirit and how I discovered it. I first tried a Pisco Sour at a Peruvian restaurant in San Francisco and since then it has been a favorite of mine. The citrus and egg white help balance out the pungent nature of the pisco. In this variation, the sweet lavender syrup adds another delectable layer of floral flavor and aroma.

What is in a Traditional Pisco Sour?

The first time I had a pisco sour was at a Peruvian restaurant in San Francisco. I was very young and new to craft cocktails but one sip of my Pisco Sour and I was in love.

The traditional pisco sour has pisco, lime, simple syrup, and egg white. According to Wikipedia, “A pisco sour is an alcoholic cocktail of Peruvian origin that is typical of the cuisines from Peru and Chile. The drink’s name comes from pisco, which is its base liquor, and the cocktail term sour, in reference to sour citrus juice and sweetener components.”

lavender pisco sour in a coupe with dried lavender on top

How to Make Lavender Simple Syrup

Place 1/4 cup of dried lavender buds, 2 cups water, and 2 cups sugar into a small pot and bring to a boil. Simmer for a few minutes and then remove from the heat. Allow the mixture to steep and cool for at least an hour. Strain the flower buds from the liquid and add food coloring if desired.

You can find the full how-to recipe HERE and also check out my post on 10 Uses for Homemade Lavender Syrup which has other ideas for what to use it for.

lavender syrup in a bottle with a sprig of dried lavender

Do You Have to Add Egg White?

You will not have a traditional Pisco Sour if you do not add an egg white. However, you can still enjoy this Lavender Cocktail without the egg white. See my notes on the USDA comments on egg whites in the recipe. Not everyone is comfortable adding egg white to their drink, and that’s ok.

An alternative to adding egg white to cocktails is to substitute aquafaba instead. Aquafaba is the “bean liquid” usually from garbanzo beans/chickpeas. It’s gluten-free and dairy-free and an excellent alternative for people with an egg allergy, who don’t consume eggs or do not want to use raw egg white. All you need to do is substitute 1-2 tbsp of aquafaba for 1 egg white.

If you omit egg white or aquafaba altogether, I would suggest shaking the ingredients in a cocktail shaker and pouring over fresh ice in a glass. You could also top it with some soda or tonic water for a sparkling lavender treat.

Tools for Home Bartending

Being a home bartender can be so much fun…if you have the right tools. You don’t have to break the bank and you don’t have to own EVERY tool you’ve ever seen at a bar. BUT, if you want good cocktails, you need the right tools. Check out my post on Home Bar Tools for the best essential tools for home bartenders.

Check out some of my other Cocktail Recipes