7 Must-Have SPRING Cocktail Ingredients
We know how much people love cocktails and lists — and we aim to please! We’ve consolidated our team’s top picks for must-have springtime cocktail ingredients. Keep these delicious ingredients behind your bar all throughout this bright and hopeful season!
ROSEMARY: Rosemary flowers bloom spring through summer and so the herb’s potency is strongest during this time of year.
*If you know anything about BarBees, you know we’re obsessed with Rosemary. From garnishing, to infusing into our honey simple syrup, to smoking it into an old fashioned, rosemary adds so much flavor value. Use this fresh herb to “spring up” your at-home cocktails!
ELDERFLOWER LIQUEUR: This is floral, pear-like liqueur that adds a distinct sweetness to your cocktail. The most loved elderflower liqueur is “St. Germain” which you’ll find in an elegant bottle at your local liquor store.
*A lighter springtime sip is a white wine and la Croix topped with half an ounce of elderflower liqueur to add that floral kick – perfect for porch-sitting!
GRAPEFRUIT: Grapefruit season starts in the spring and lasts throughout summer. This bold citrus adds a stunning and season-appropriate color to your spring sip. Plus, a grapefruit garnish makes for a great snack.
*Grapefruit and rosemary is one of our favorite flavor combos and is the perfect spring pairing. Try a rosemary infused honey simple syrup in a Paloma!
CILANTRO: If you’re a cilantro fan, add it to your favorite marg, spiked lemonade, or pineapple cocktail for an extra dose of flavor.
*Our favorite restaurant in Nash (Mas Tacos) serves a cilantro pineapple juice that we’ve recreated and spiked with tequila! It’s warm weather in a glass.
EMPRESS GIN: This gorgeous purple liquor will make your cocktails “oh-so springtime.” The legendary purple color comes from the addition of butterfly pea blossoms in the gin distilling process.
*We’ve got a BarBees spin on the classic “Bee’s Knees” using Empress Gin which you’ll be seeing it in our spring cocktail line-up!
STRAWBERRIES: These babies start sweetening at the beginning of spring and thrive throughout summer.
*Muddle them or infuse them into a syrup to highlight their beautiful flavor and color in your cocktail. Try them in an old fashioned, mojito, marg, or spiked lemonade!
SPARKLING WINE: This classic sip is for any season, but it seems to especially bubble us up with excitement for spring! Experiment with different Proseccos and champagne to decide your flavor preferences – sweet or brut?
*Spike your next champagne cocktail with a shot of vodka or gin and an ounce of herbal simple syrup! This combo will make spring extra cheery.
BARBEES BONUS: a less practical but fun and floral addition to your springtime ingredient collection is EDIBLE FLOWERS! You may have to search a bit and source them from a natural grocery or fresh farm, but they are the perfect garnish to any springtime cocktail!
We can’t wait to see what you shake up this spring. Cheers to longer days and pretty drinks!