Raise A Toast To Earth With These Nature-Inspired & Floral-Flavoured Cocktails

Whatever the season, one thing stays constant – the need for a delicious, deluxe drink and serving up treats rich in flavour and flair. As the world revels in the spring and summer seasons, it’s a perfect reminder of the bountiful flavours that come directly from nature, enhancing the richness and depth of your favourite drinks.

From the botanicals in our gins to the enhancing elements of fruits and herbs, let’s raise a toast with the best nature-inspired cocktails and floral flavours.

Ginger and Apricot Whisky Sour

Fruity flavours meet subtle spiciness for a refreshing and zesty drink, perfect for days spent laughing with friends in the garden which turn into nights watching the sun set.

You’ll need: 50ml Bulleit Rye, 12.5ml apricot liqueur, 25ml ginger syrup, 25ml lemon juice, 15ml egg white, three dashes of Angostura Bitters.

To make: Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake hard until the surface of the shaker is cold to the touch. Strain into a rocks glass with ice.

Lavender Bee’s Knees

A Prohibition-era classic, this gin drink is often thought of as a gin cocktail for the non-gin drinker thanks to the harmonious blend of flavours from the honey and lavender.

You’ll need: 60ml gin (we love Tanqueray 10 for this), 25ml lavender honey syrup (to make, combine roughly 30ml hot water with 60ml of honey. Stir until it’s mixed and then add in a teaspoon of lavender flower. Let the mixture cool and then strain to remove the lavender bits), 25ml lemon juice, a lavender sprig to garnish.

To make: Using a jigger, measure out all ingredients and add to a shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously for around 10 seconds. Strain into a cocktail glass and garnish with a lavender sprig.

A Floral Old Fashioned

Think floral cocktails are all sweet and sugary? This reimagining of a classic Old Fashioned keeps things simple and smooth, with just a subtle touch of botanical notes.

You’ll need: 50ml Johnnie Walker Black Label Blended Scotch Whisky, 10ml elderflower cordial, two dashes of orange bitters, a sprig of elderflower.

To make: Add a block of ice to a rocks glass. With a jigger, pour in your Johnnie Walker and elderflower cordial. Add your orange bitters and give the mixture a gentle stir. Once stirred, add a sprig of elderflower for garnish.

Limonata Spritz

Need a refreshing reminder of why we protect this planet? Then the vibrant, summery zest of a CIROC Limonata Spritz is a testament to the importance of abundance – let the fruits keep growing and the taste of the seasons keep flowing.

It’s like a first class trip to the Mediterranean – without the air pollution.

You’ll need: 45ml CÎROC Limonata, 60ml Lemonade, 30ml Sparkling wine, club soda to top, lemon wheel and fresh mint garnish.

To make: Using a jigger, measure all ingredients and add them to a wine glass filled with ice. Gently stir together. Add a slice of lemon and a sprig of mint to garnish.

Don Julio Margarita

While there isn’t the same immediate connection to florals, botanicals and earthy elements, a Don Julio tequila cocktail is the perfect pairing for Earth Day when you understand the dedication to preservation and conservation that has been integral to the brand’s history.

Each day he'd wake up early to walk along the agave fields, cutting the grass around each individual plant to protect it. When it came time to harvest, he'd harvest each plant one by one, picking only the agaves at optimum maturity and health.

The man behind the deluxe tequila – and the man who gave it its name – famously didn't think of his agave as a crop, he considered them his children.

So let’s cheers to him and all his ‘children’ this Earth Day.

You’ll need: 50ml Don Julio Blanco, 25ml fresh lime juice, 15ml orange liqueur (eg Cointreau), lime to garnish.

To make: Using a jigger, measure your Don Julio Blanco, fresh lime juice, and orange liqueur. Pour into a shaker filled with ice. Shake well and strain into a margarita glass rimmed with salt. Garnish with a lime wedge.

Baileys Caramel Espresso Martini

The creamy, dreamy sweetness of Baileys might not have an earthy flavour or name, but the world’s favourite Irish Cream liqueur supports the environment in other ways.

Since 2008, all Baileys operations have run on 100% renewable electricity – the brand also creates zero waste to landfill in our direct operations, reducing, reusing, and recycling everything on site since 2014.

One of the most luxe, indulgent cocktails to try is the Baileys Caramel Espresso Martini.

You’ll need: 50ml Baileys Original Irish Cream, 1-2 shots of fresh Espresso, 15ml salted caramel syrup, ice.

To make: Drizzle some salted caramel sauce around the rim of the martini glass. Add your ice into your cocktail shaker. With a jigger, pour in 50ml Baileys Original Irish Cream, one or two shots of cold espresso and 15ml salted caramel syrup. Shake hard and then stir into your cocktail glass to serve.