A welcome contribution from Malika Henderson, who describes this long drink as “a perfect summer drink”. I’ve adapted it to my taste; she made hers with vodka, but as I agree with Audrey Saunders’ sentiment that most of the time a vodka cocktail is a cocktail with a hole in it, I decided to give it a bit more flavor.

Lavender Lemonade
(adapted from Malika Henderson)

1 ounce lavender syrup.
Juice of one lemon.
1-1/2 ounces Plymouth gin.
Sparkling water.
Ice.

To make the lavender syrup: bring 1 cup water, 1 cup sugar and the zest of one lemon to a boil; remove from heat, then add 1 cup lavender blossoms. Let steep overnight, then strain and bottle.

Fill a highball glass with ice, add the syrup, lemon juice and vodka, then top with sparkling water. You may leave out the gin to make it nonalcoholic, and it’s also great with white rum too.

Malika and Catherine publish a quarterly newsletter called “Food Notes and Stories” which looks really good. You can see what it’s all about, including excerpts, on their site. I might just have to become a subscriber.