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This Earl Grey Cocktail is a refreshing alcoholic drink made with gin, lavender, lemon, and Earl Grey tea. Easy to make and easy to drink, this libation will become your new favorite cocktail!
Want more tea cocktails? You have got to try my Peach Bellini Tea Cocktail, Irish Whiskey Green Tea Punch and Green Tea Shot Recipe.
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- Earl Grey Cocktail
- Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Earl Grey Cocktail Ingredients
- How to Make an Early Grey Tea Cocktail
- Recipe Variations
- Eden’s Tips
- Spirits That Go Well with Tea
- The Best Tea for Cocktails
- Benefits of Earl Grey Tea
- Is Earl Grey Tea High in Caffeine?
- More Gin Cocktail Recipes
- Earl Grey Cocktail Recipe
Earl Grey Cocktail
It must be the caffeine in the tea, or maybe it’s the combination of the gin, tea, and honey… whatever it is, this Earl Grey tea cocktail is an energy booster!
I’ll sip on one when Zan comes home from work, and I’m like an Energizer bunny until 12am.
Tea is such a great ingredient to use in a cocktail due to its complex flavors, and I decided to mix it with gin to let the floral flavors of Earl Grey sing. The lemon and lavender work wonderfully well with Earl Grey, creating a refreshing libation.
This recipe is excellent if you’re looking for a “healthy” cocktail! It’s incredibly refreshing and easy to make because you can do the prep work beforehand.
It also makes a great early evening cocktail… if you want to stay up! Sometimes, I need the push to get me through my midnight work schedule!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Energy Booster: On those evenings when I’m ready for a cocktail but still have a few more things to get done around the house, this delicious drink is just what I need.
- Cozy Flavors: There’s nothing cozier than tea, and this cocktail combines that delicious flavor with honey, lavender, and fresh lemon juice – it just tastes like home!
- Classy with a Twist: This Earl Grey Cocktail is perfect for a classy affair like a bridal shower tea party or a dinner party. It’s like a tea party with a little pizzazz! This is also an excellent recipe for happy hour!
If you love Earl Grey Tea, then try my London Fog drink. It’s a tea latte, and it’s delicious!
Earl Grey Cocktail Ingredients
Earl Grey Tea – We use Earl Grey tea bags to brew the tea. We use cold tea for this recipe, so you can brew it before and then let it sit in the refrigerator until you’re ready.
Gin – Use good quality botanical gin. You can find a list of my favorite gins below!
Honey Simple Syrup – This is simple to make using water and honey and simmering in a small saucepan. It’s the perfect way to sweeten this drink.
Fresh Lemon Juice – Provides a bright, tangy flavor. The acidity and freshness of the juice balance out the sweetness of other ingredients and add a refreshing zing to the drink. Additionally, fresh lemon juice contains natural oils and aromas that can enhance the flavor and aroma of the cocktail.
Lavender Sprigs – This is optional, but we love the way it looks.
How to Make an Early Grey Tea Cocktail
Brew the tea: First, brew the earl grey tea – make extra to keep some in the fridge ready to make more! Read our guide to brewing tea.
Make simple syrup: Make a batch of honey simple syrup by heating honey in water until it has dissolved and cool in the fridge.
Combine, shake, and serve: Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice, shake, and strain into a glass. Garnish the drink with a sprig of lavender.
Recipe Variations
Add Foam: Add an egg white into the cocktail shaker for a frothy foam topping. Egg whites contain proteins that, when shaken, create air bubbles that get trapped in the liquid. These bubbles create a foam that adds texture and creaminess to the drink.
Change the Spirit: This cocktail would be great with vodka, too, though it would lose a bit of its botanical flavor.
Change the Tea: The flavors in this cocktail would go perfectly with English breakfast tea, too!
Eden’s Tips
- Temperature: Make sure the tea and the honey syrup is at room temperature, or cooler, before mixing it.
- Cocktail Shaking 101: Keep shaking the cocktail shaker until it has turned cold.
- Quality Matters: Always use a good quality spirit in any cocktail, but especially ones with delicate flavors like this Earl Grey Cocktail.
Spirits That Go Well with Tea
For this recipe, I chose gin as the alcoholic element as its botanicals work really well with the bergamot in Earl Grey tea. Other types of tea work better with different types of alcohol.
If you are a keen mixologist, why not experiment, mix, and match with other spirits? Rum, gin, whiskey, bourbon, and vodka all go great with teas.
If you’re making hot tea and want to add alcohol, there are lots of options for that as well! Some popular options include whiskey, brandy, rum, and liqueurs like amaretto or Grand Marnier.
Spiced rum or flavored liqueurs can add an extra twist to your hot tea cocktail. It’s important to note that alcohol can affect the taste and temperature of your tea, so it’s best to experiment with small amounts and adjust to your liking.
The Best Tea for Cocktails
Depending on what sort of cocktail you want to make (and what spirits you want to add), there is a tea for every cocktail occasion:
- Earl Grey – Those citrusy bergamot and floral flavors go perfectly with gin or vodka! When you’re done with your Earl Grey Cocktail, try a London Fog cocktail with gin, Earl Grey, and a splash of vanilla – it’s seriously good.
- Black Tea – Rich and malty, this tea pairs beautifully with bourbon or dark rum. The caramel notes in these spirits bring out the tea’s natural sweetness – they complement each other perfectly.
- Green Tea – Light and grassy with a hint of sweetness. Japanese whisky lets these delicate flavors shine, or keep it simple with vodka. If you’ve got a nutty green tea, try it with aged tequila for something different.
- Rooibus – Warm vanilla and woody notes that work wonderfully with spiced rum or bourbon. The caramel flavors from these aged spirits make rooibos taste even better – especially in a hot cocktail.
- Fruit herbal teas – These bright and fresh teas are fun to experiment with! Light rum or vodka make great bases. Here’s a tip: match your spirit to your fruit – like using apple brandy with apple tea blends. The flavors really pop together.
Benefits of Earl Grey Tea
There are many benefits to drinking Earl Grey tea:
Rich in Antioxidants
Earl Grey tea is rich in antioxidants, which can help protect your cells from damage and reduce your risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease and cancer.
Detoxifies the Body
Regularly drinking Earl Grey tea may help your body detoxify from harmful chemicals and pollutants.
Boosts Energy Levels
Earl Grey tea contains caffeine, which can help increase your energy levels and improve your focus and cognitive function.
Reduces Stress Levels
The Bergamot in Earl Grey tea has stress-reducing properties, which can help lower your stress levels and improve your mood.
Improves Digestion
Earl Grey tea can help improve your digestion by stimulating the production of digestive juices and relieving stomach discomfort.
Is Earl Grey Tea High in Caffeine?
Yes, Earl Grey tea contains caffeine. A cup of Earl Grey tea typically contains about 40-50 mg of caffeine, which is about half the amount of caffeine in a cup of coffee. Caffeine is a stimulant that can help increase your energy levels, focus, and cognitive function.
When you start drinking Earl Grey tea, adjust your caffeine intake accordingly. If you’re used to drinking coffee or other caffeinated beverages, start with one cup of Earl Grey tea and see how you feel.
More Gin Cocktail Recipes
If you love the gin in this recipe, try any of these delicious cocktails:
If you have tried this Earl Grey Cocktail recipe, then please rate it and let me know how it turned out in the comments below!
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Earl Grey Cocktail
Ingredients
- 6 ounces Cold Earl Grey tea
- 1¼ ounces good quality gin
- 1¼ ounces honey simple syrup , (5 cups water, 1 cup honey in saucepan. Simmer until honey is dissolved)
- 1/4 ounce fresh-squeezed lemon juice
- 2 sprigs lavender
Instructions
- Brew 4 cups Earl Grey tea. This will give you enough to make a few cocktails. Store in the refrigerator to keep cold.
- Make a batch of honey simple syrup to store in the fridge as well. 5 cups water, 1 cup honey.
- Bring to a simmer until honey has dissolved.
- Then cool in the fridge.
- Add all of the above ingredients into a cocktail shaker, with 2 sprigs lavender and ice.
- Shake several times. Then strain the cocktail into a glass over one large ice cube.
- Garnish with lavender.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Would be nice if the “print” function worked. The cocktail is amazing. I used a lavender honey (not lavender-infused) that really made it special!
Hi! Thank you for letting me know about the print feature! we will work on getting that fixed!
For transport reasons, could you store the tea premixed with the syrup?
Yes!
I drink earl grey weekly and i have never heard of this before, now that I know I am behind. i need to catch up 😉
Well, this looks like a classy glass of deliciousness! Wishing I could dive into this right now! YUM!!!
I’m intrigued, that’s for sure! I can honestly say I have never had tea with alcohol, but wow, it’s sounds amazing! I love the use of the honey simple syrup. What a great idea! Plus I can use all the help I can get when it comes to keeping me up a little later!
OMG, I love what you turned a cup of earl grey into! Sounds like a fantastic drink for hot days. And the lavender, I bet it adds that little something, doesn’t it? Thanks for sharing!
I love Earl Grey tea so I’m positive I would love this gorgeous cocktail! I love the bit of lemon and lavender you’ve added to make it even more special.
Earl Grey is one of my favorite teas. This cocktail is fun and refreshing. Loved it.
I have everything to make this cocktail. I will be making it tonight after work and I can already tell it will be perfect on this warm evening on the patio.
Awesome!! Thank you Jacque!