12 Crème de Violette Cocktails to Try Tonight

The Aviation

This classic, light cocktail blends gin, Crème de Violette, lemon juice and maraschino liqueur. Smooth and fruity, it’s a refreshing sipper for summer.

Ingredients:

• 1½ ounces gin
• ½ ounce maraschino liqueur
• ½ ounce fresh lemon juice
• ¼ ounce Crème de Violette
• Bourbon cherries for garnish

Instructions:

1. Shake ingredients with ice until well chilled.
2. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
3. Garnish with a lemon twist and cherries.

Stormy Morning

Created by Shannon Fristoe of Bayona in New Orleans, this cocktail was designed to showcase Crème de Violette without letting floral notes become overwhelming. As the drink is poured, the violet liqueur settles in the glass like a dark cloud—hence the name.

Ingredients:

• 1½ oz Crème de Violette
• 1½ oz St. Germain elderflower liqueur
• 1 oz fresh lime juice
• 4 oz Champagne
• Lime wedge to garnish

Instructions:

1. Pour Crème de Violette over ice in a highball glass.
2. Add St. Germain and lime juice.
3. Top with Champagne and garnish with a lime wedge.

Violet Lady Cocktail

Elegant and fragrant, the Violet Lady is a simple gin cocktail with a silky texture from egg white. It’s a refined choice for an upscale gathering.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz gin
• 1 large pasteurized egg white
• 1 oz Crème de Violette
• 2 tsp fresh lemon juice

Instructions:

• Combine gin, egg white, liqueur and lemon juice in a cocktail shaker with ice.
• Shake vigorously until frothy and chilled.
• Strain into a coupe glass and serve.

Purple Reign 75

A floral variation on the French 75, Purple Reign 75 mixes gin, lemon, Crème de Violette and Prosecco. It leans sweet, but swapping Brut for Prosecco will dry it out.

Ingredients:

• 1.5 oz gin
• ¾ oz lemon juice
• ¾ oz Crème de Violette
• Prosecco to top
• Lemon twist or dehydrated lemon to garnish

Instructions:

1. Combine gin, lemon juice and Crème de Violette with ice in a shaker.
2. Shake well and strain into a champagne flute.
3. Top with Prosecco and garnish with lemon.

Violette 75

This bubbly take on the French 75 allows flexibility with citrus—use grapefruit, lemon, or another citrus of your choice. Since Crème de Violette adds sweetness, start with less and adjust to taste.

Ingredients:

• 1.5 oz gin
• ¾ oz grapefruit or other citrus juice
• ½ oz Crème de Violette
• ¼ oz simple syrup
• Brut to top
• Lemon or grapefruit twist for garnish

Instructions:

1. Combine gin, Crème de Violette and citrus juice with ice in a shaker.
2. Shake until cold and strain into a flute.
3. Top with Brut and garnish with a twist.

Hush and Wonder

Balancing sweet and tart, the Hush and Wonder pairs Crème de Violette with rum, lime, simple syrup and grapefruit bitters for a lively, well-rounded cocktail.

Ingredients:

• A splash of Crème de Violette
• 2 oz light rum
• ¾ oz fresh lime juice
• ¾ oz simple syrup
• 3 dashes grapefruit bitters

Instructions:

1. Pour a splash of Crème de Violette into a chilled cocktail glass and swirl to coat; discard excess.
2. Shake remaining ingredients with ice until chilled.
3. Strain into the prepared glass and serve.

Blue Moon

Though more blue than violet, the Blue Moon is a floral classic combining gin, lemon and Crème de Violette for a bright, refreshing cocktail.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz gin
• ¾ oz freshly squeezed lemon juice
• ¾ oz Crème de Violette
• Ice
• Brandied cherry for garnish

Instructions:

1. Shake gin, lemon juice and Crème de Violette with ice.
2. Strain into a coupe and garnish with a brandied cherry.

Gin Violette Cocktail

For those who enjoy both cocktails and wine, this floral drink blends gin, Crème de Violette and a splash of dry red wine for a colorful, wine-like cocktail.

Ingredients:

• 3 oz gin
• ½ oz Crème de Violette
• ½ oz dry red wine
• 5 oz lemon juice
• 1 oz simple syrup
• 2 pasteurized egg whites

Instructions:

1. Combine egg whites, gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, dry red wine and Crème de Violette in a shaker. Shake for 30 seconds.
2. Add ice and shake again for 30 seconds.
3. Double strain into a cocktail glass and garnish with an edible flower.

Creme de Violette Pink Lemonade Cocktail

Light, colorful and spring-like, this cocktail mixes vodka, limoncello, pink lemonade and Crème de Violette, finished with sparkling water for a fizzy lift.

Ingredients:

• 1 oz vodka
• 1 oz limoncello
• 3 oz pink lemonade
• ¾ oz Crème de Violette
• Sparkling water to top

Instructions:

1. Combine vodka, limoncello, pink lemonade and Crème de Violette over ice in a large glass.
2. Top with sparkling water and stir gently.

Final Say

Crème de Violette adds a distinctive floral color and flavor to cocktails. One popular recipe, a violet riff on The Last Word, balances gin, maraschino liqueur, Crème de Violette and lime for a bright, balanced drink.

Ingredients:

• ¾ ounce gin
• ¾ ounce maraschino liqueur
• ¾ ounce Crème de Violette
• ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice

Instructions:

1. Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice.
2. Shake vigorously and strain into a chilled glass.
3. Garnish with a lime wedge and a maraschino cherry.

Experiment by swapping or adding flavored simple syrups—such as jalapeño, strawberry or blackberry—to create new flavor variations.