Perfect Pitcher Drink Recipe: Blueberry Lavender Vodka Spritzer

Maureen Petrosky
Maureen Petrosky
Maureen Petrosky writes what she knows: food, booze and parties. Author of "The Wine Club," "The Cocktail Club" and makerlifestyle.com, she's a regular on The TODAY show, where she shares her vices (and advice) with the world.
updated Jan 29, 2020
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Blueberry Lavender Vodka Spritzer

Makesa 32 ounce pitcher

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(Image credit: Maureen Petrosky)

The 10-minute happy hour can be as simple or as sophisticated as you like. For me, the fastest and most delicious way to enjoy happy hour is to use what I have on hand — not to go searching for something I don’t. This week blueberries and lavender were at my fingertips, thus resulting in a gorgeous pitcher perfect for the centerpiece of my weekend party, and a fairly impressive happy hour requiring little effort.

Growing lavender has been one of my less exhaustive forays into gardening. Once planted it seemed to need little attention, grew evenly, and filled the air with a decadent aroma. But now that it has flowered it’s time to prune it back. Each year, usually in June or July, when you prune your lavender you should cut it back to about two inches above the hard wood (that’s the woody looking stems sprouting from the ground).

The harvested lavender is awesome in all sorts of homemade goodies, from soap to ice cream, and yes of course even cocktails.

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

Summer is prime blueberry season, so it seemed only suitable to mix these two ingredients in a lovely simple syrup. You can also flash-freeze blueberries and use the frozen berries as ice cubes, or put them into water in your ice trays and have blueberry ice cubes to make this pitcher even more inviting.

Save a few lavender sprigs for garnish and your drinks will look and smell amazing. Invite some friends over and toast your latest heatwave with an ice-cold glass of this spritzy, refreshing summertime sip.

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)
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Blueberry Lavender Vodka Spritzer

Makes a 32 ounce pitcher

Nutritional Info

Ingredients

  • 1 cup

    blueberries, for ice cubes

  • 2 cups

    vodka

  • 3/4 cup

    blueberry lavender simple syrup (recipe below)

  • 4 ounces

    lime juice

  • Soda water

  • Fresh lavender for garnish

For the blueberry lavender simple syrup:

  • 1 cup

    water

  • 1 cup

    sugar

  • 1 cup

    blueberries

  • 4

    lavender sprigs (or 1 1/2 teaspoons dried food-grade lavender buds)

Instructions

For the blueberry lavender simple syrup:

  1. Combine the first three ingredients in a saucepan and bring to a boil stirring to dissolve sugar. Reduce heat to a low simmer and add 4 lavender sprigs (or 1 1/2 teaspoons of dried lavender) and keep on low heat for 10 minutes.

  2. Strain pressing the blueberries to get all of their juice.

For the blueberry lavender vodka spritzer:

  1. Divide the cup of blueberries between two ice cube trays and fill with water. Freeze completely, or spread them evenly on a sheet tray and freeze until solid.

  2. In a glass pitcher combine the vodka, simple syrup, lime juice, and club soda. Add ice cubes. Add remaining ice cubes to glasses. Pour the mixture over top and serve with a sprig of lavender.

(Images: Maureen Petrosky)

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