Ever After Cocktail
5 min
|
easy
|
gluten-free,
low-fat
Recipe by Eunice
Introduction
This Ever After cocktail is a bright, bubbly tequila spritz kissed with lavender and elderflower, aromatic like a garden but clean, crisp, and not too sweet.
Perfect for rooftop happy hour, bridal showers, or date night when you want something flirty but balanced, with lemon and sparkling water keeping it light while the blanco brings the backbone.
Ingredients (1 serving)
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Ingredients
- 2 fl oz tequila blanco tequila blanco 2 fl oz
- 1 fl oz freshly squeezed lemon juice lemon 0.67 ct (for freshly squeezed lemon juice)
- ¼ fl oz lavender syrup lavender syrup 0.25 fl oz
- ½ fl oz elderflower liqueur elderflower liqueur 0.5 fl oz
- 2 fl oz sparkling water sparkling water 2 fl oz
- lemon, wheel (for garnish) lemon 1 ct
- fresh lavender (for garnish) fresh lavender 1 null
How to Make Ever After Cocktail
-
Chill your glass
Pop a Collins or highball glass in the freezer for 5 minutes so the bubbles stay lively and the ice melts slower.
-
Load the shaker
Add tequila blanco, lemon juice, lavender syrup, and elderflower liqueur to a shaker with plenty of cold, fresh ice.
-
Optional saline boost
Add 2 to 3 drops of 10 percent saline solution to brighten flavors without making the drink salty.
-
Shake hard, short
Shake for about 10 to 12 seconds until the tin is frosty to chill and dilute just enough.
-
Strain over fresh ice
Fine strain into the chilled glass packed with fresh ice to keep shards out and the texture silky.
-
Top and gently lift
Add the sparkling water, then use a bar spoon to give one slow lift from bottom to top so you do not kill the fizz.
-
Garnish with aroma
Smack the lavender sprig on your palm to wake it up, tuck it in with a lemon wheel, and serve immediately.
Substitutions
- Tequila blanco -> mezcal joven
- Swapping in a clean, lightly smoky mezcal turns the drink sultry, adding campfire depth that plays beautifully with floral notes without overpowering them.
- Lavender syrup -> simple syrup + lavender bitters
- Use 1/4 oz simple syrup with 1 to 2 dashes lavender bitters for a drier, more controlled floral profile that dodges any soapy vibe and keeps the finish crisp.
- Elderflower liqueur -> elderflower cordial (NA)
- Replace with 1/3 oz high-quality elderflower cordial for a non-alcoholic option that keeps the honeyed, pear-like bloom while slightly lightening body.
Tips
- Use dense, clear ice
- Bigger, clearer cubes melt slower so your bubbles and citrus stay sharp from first sip to last.
- Balance to your tequila
- If your tequila is peppery and dry, keep the full 1/4 oz lavender syrup; if it is soft and fruity, back the syrup down to a scant 1/4 oz for better snap.
- Mind your dilution
- A hard, short shake plus the sparkling top is enough; if you overshake, the drink goes flat and thin in minutes.
- Express citrus oils
- Before dropping in the lemon wheel, twist a strip of peel over the glass to mist oils across the surface for a brighter nose.
- Keep the fizz fierce
- Open a fresh, very cold bottle or can of sparkling water and pour gently along the inside of the glass to preserve carbonation.
- Batch smart for parties
- Pre-mix tequila, lemon, lavender syrup, and elderflower in a bottle, chill it hard, then shake individual portions with ice and top with sparkling right before serving.
Nutrition Facts *
| Energy | 26 | kcal |
|---|---|---|
| Protein | 0 | g |
| Total Fat | 0 | g |
| Carbohydrates | 7 | g |
| Dietary Fiber | 1 | g |
* Approximate, per serving.
Data source: USDA FoodData Central.
FAQ
- My drink tastes soapy from the lavender, what did I do wrong?
- Ease up on the lavender syrup to 1 bar spoon, add 1/4 oz simple syrup to replace lost sweetness, and use a fresher lavender sprig or bitters instead of syrup next time.
- The cocktail is too sweet, how can I fix it fast?
- Squeeze in another small splash of lemon, stir once, and add an extra ounce of sparkling water to dry it out without wrecking balance.
- The bubbles disappeared quickly, how do I keep it lively?
- Start with a frozen glass and very cold sparkling water, avoid crushed ice, shake only 10 to 12 seconds, and lift the top gently instead of stirring hard.
- Can I use reposado tequila?
- Yes, but keep it on the lighter side; reposado adds vanilla and oak that can crowd the florals, so reduce elderflower to 1/4 oz and consider an extra 1/4 oz lemon.
- How do I make a zero-proof version?
- Use a high-quality tequila alternative, swap elderflower liqueur for cordial, keep the lemon and lavender syrup the same, and top with extra sparkling water for structure.
- Why lemon instead of lime here?
- Lemon is softer and more floral, which lets lavender and elderflower shine, while lime would tilt the drink sharper and can clash with the lavender.
Serving Suggestions
This sings with a salty little snack like Castelvetrano olives or a thin slice of manchego, which makes the floral notes pop and keeps the sip refreshing.
For a flirty twist, float a bar spoon of dry sparkling wine on top instead of extra soda and add three drops of grapefruit bitters for a bright, perfumed finish.
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