Lemon Verbena Liquor Cocktail recipe
I don’t know about you, but here, summer often means cold drinks and festive moments on the terrace. And this year, I wanted to try a Lemon Verbena Liquor Cocktail. I made a homemade verbena liqueur last year and was looking for a simple idea to showcase it. The result: an ultra-refreshing blend, with just the right amount of flavor, that won over everyone at home.
What I love about this verbena-based cocktail is that it’s both very simple to make and truly original. No bartending equipment required: a glass, a few ice cubes, and it’s ready! You have a light drink, ideal for a summer aperitif.
Plus, it’s verbena season! If you’re lucky enough to have one in your garden or on your balcony, now’s the perfect time to use it. The fresh leaves are particularly aromatic this season. And if you don’t have any, you can also find them at fruit and vegetable markets.
Lemon Verbena Liquor Cocktail
Ingredients you do need to make a verbena liqueur cocktail:
- Verbena liquor
- Sparkling water or good-quality Tonic water if you prefer a slightly bitter taste
- A sprig of fresh lemon verbena
- Organic lemon
- Ice cubes or crushed ice
Possible variations: For a change, you can substitute lime for the lemon, or opt for tonic water instead of sparkling water for a more bitter note (or even a mixture of the two).
Some people enjoy adding a few fresh mint leaves to accentuate the thirst-quenching effect.
And if you make too much verbena liqueur, it keeps very well and can also flavor a fruit salad or a light cake.
Questions you might ask:
- Can I substitute store-bought liqueur for homemade liqueur? → Of course, that works too! The homemade version is more fragrant, but a store-bought verbena liqueur will already add plenty of freshness.
- Can I use another liqueur? → Absolutely! You can use any fruit or herbal liqueur; limoncello, for example, is delicious, as is mint liqueur.
- How to make a non-alcoholic version? → As I told you above, simply infuse verbena (fresh or dried) in sparkling water or use a verbena syrup, then add a squeeze of lemon juice. Simple and delicious!
Lemon Verbena Liquor Cocktail
Ingredients
- 5 cl verbena liqueur
- 10 cl sparkling water
- 1 handful of ice cubes
- 1 sprig of fresh verbena
- 1 slice of organic lemon
Instructions
- Place a handful of ice cubes in a glass.
- Pour in the verbena liqueur, then the sparkling water.
- Garnish with the verbena sprig and lemon slice.Serve immediately, chilled.
