French (3) Quarters, Blackberry Lavender Mardi Gras Cocktail

Cocktails and Mardi Gras naturally go hand-in-hand, but can we take it really over the top with a punny party trick drink? Oh yes. We can.

The French (3) Quarters is a twist on the classic French 75, making use of a vibrant purple, blackberry lavender syrup that turns a party pink when mixed! Pair it on your bar cart with green champagne bottles & gold accents and you’ve got yourself a true Mardi Gras set up.

So there are two ways to make the focal ingredient, the blackberry lavender syrup. Method 2 just has an extra step for a slightly different taste and possibly more convenient if you don’t have culinary lavender but do have lavender tea. Method 1 tastes more like infused sugar and Method 2 is more delicate like really good lavender ice cream. I would recommend trying both. Let me know your favorite!

Blackberry Lavender Syrup Method 1
1 cup water
1 cup sugar
1 cup gently crushed blackberries
1-2 tsps culinary lavender

1| Combine water, sugar, blackberries, and lavender in saucepan.

2| Bring to simmer over medium-high heat and stir until sugar dissolves.

3| Strain the syrup through a double mesh strainer.

4| Transfer to an airtight glass container and let completely cool before using.

Blackberry Lavender Syrup Method 2
1-2 cups water
1 cup sugar
1 cup gently crushed blackberries
1 lavender tea satchel

1 | Brew lavender tea according to directions or simmer 1 T of culinary lavender for 10 minutes.

2| Transfer 1 cup of tea to saucepan and add sugar & blackberries. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat until the sugar dissolves.

3| Strain and transfer to a glass container. Let completely cool before using.

The French (3) Quarters
1/2 oz simple syrup
1-1.5 oz gin
spritz of lemon juice
2 oz Champagne or sparkling wine

1| Shake simple syrup, gin, and lemon juice in a cocktail shaker with ice.

2| Strain into a chilled champagne flute and top with Champagne. Watch the purple turn bright pink!

3| Garnish with blackberry & lemon twist.

French (3) Quarters Tips:
Make the syrup ahead of time! Infused simple syrups can keep ~1 month in the fridge.

Use a London Dry Gin– by definition they are all natural and don’t have any extra flavoring or sugars that could clash with the syrup.

If you made it all the way to the end, you’ve earned a confession- this drink was supposed to be purple. *shameface* But with more digging I’ve noticed:
a) purple cocktail syrup recipes usually just show the syrup, not mixed into anything!
b) purple cocktails tend to use Blue Curacao
c) blueberries might make it more purple, but the colors are wildly all over the place and I couldn’t tell if they were natural, Photoshopped, or good old-fashioned food dye.

C’est la vie. Now I actually love the surprise of the dark purple turning pink and it tastes great anyways, so it all works out 😉

If you’re looking for another easy yet impressive crowd pleaser, check out the Cara Cara Citrus Syrup and Cara Cara Mint Smash Cocktail from last year. That one is easily my go-to drink at home on a warm day.

How are you celebrating Mardi Gras this year?