Lavender Shandy

The beertail is an under-appreciated style of cocktail. Sure, the style of beer you would want to be mixing with should be able to stand on its own. After all, a well-brewed beer is its own drink. By the same logic, a well-distilled spirit should be considered its own drink. Okay, that was a terrible comparison, considering a well-distilled spirit is very much its own stand-alone cocktail.

However, a great spirit and a great beer, with just a bit of tweaking, can create something greater than the sum of their parts. That’s where the Lavender Shandy comes in.

Lavender Shandy

• 2 oz high-quality vodka
• .5 oz lavender syrup
• Lemon shandy beer (We like Leinenkugel’s)

Freeze a beer Weizen beer glass. Once frozen, add the lavender syrup and vodka to the bottom of the glass and stir well. Gently pour the shandy down the side of the glass. Gently stir. You’re going to have a lot of froth because of the syrup, so be prepared for a flare up, no matter how gently you stir. Serve.

We like Leinenkugel’s Lemon Shandy because it swings a bit sweeter, but offers some really pleasant citrus bite. The lavender syrup adds a few extra layers, and the vodka strengthens the back.

Mark Vierthaler is the founder and Editor of Cocktails, 365. His work appeared in The Tasting Panel Magazine, Savvy Host, Liquor.com, and countless other websites and blogs. He is Bar Smarts certified, and works with bars and restaurants in cocktail creation and pairing. To contact him, e-mail cocktails365@markvierthaler.com