There's something almost magical about the combination of Tennessee whiskey and culinary lavender. The warm, vanilla-oak notes of Jack Daniel's meet the delicate floral character of lavender in a way that feels both unexpected and completely natural. The result? An Old Fashioned that's a little more garden, a little more elevated — and completely unforgettable.
The secret is a simple lavender infusion that takes just a few hours and transforms an everyday bottle of Jack into something truly special. And the key ingredient is using the right lavender — culinary-grade lavender buds that are food-safe, fragrant, and perfectly balanced for cooking and infusing.
Lavender-Infused Jack Daniel's Old Fashioned
Makes: 1 cocktail | Infusion prep: 2–4 hours (or overnight)
Ingredients
Lavender-infused whiskey:
- 1 cup Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey
- 1½ tsp culinary lavender buds
For the cocktail:
- 2 oz lavender-infused Jack Daniel's
- 1 tsp honey (or 1 sugar cube)
- 2 dashes Angostura bitters
- Large ice cube
- Orange peel, for garnish
- Sprig of fresh lavender, for garnish
Instructions
- Infuse the whiskey — Combine lavender buds and Jack Daniel's in a clean glass jar. Seal and let steep at room temperature for 2–4 hours, tasting every hour. For a more pronounced floral note, infuse overnight in the refrigerator. Strain through a fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth and store in a sealed bottle.
- Make the cocktail — Add honey and bitters to an Old Fashioned glass. Add a splash of the infused whiskey and stir until honey dissolves.
- Add ice — Place a large ice cube in the glass.
- Finish — Pour the remaining lavender whiskey over the ice and stir gently to combine.
- Garnish — Express an orange peel over the glass (twist it to release the oils, then run it around the rim), drop it in, and add a sprig of fresh lavender.
Tips & Notes
- Infusion time matters — 2 hours gives a delicate floral hint; overnight delivers a bolder lavender character. Don't go much longer or it can turn bitter.
- Batch it — Infuse a full bottle for parties or gifting. It keeps at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.
- Mocktail version — Substitute a good non-alcoholic whiskey alternative and follow the same steps.
- Use culinary lavender only — Our Royal Velvet culinary lavender buds are ideal for this application; clean, food-safe, and perfectly potent.
- Try it with simple syrup — Swap the honey for a splash of lavender simple syrup to double down on the floral notes.
Ready to craft this at home? Pick up a bag of our Royal Velvet Culinary Lavender Buds and get infusing.
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