Romantic Gin Rose Cocktail

This Romantic Gin Rose Cocktail is a beautiful and fragrant twist on the classic gin martini. Gently flavoured with homemade Rose Petal Syrup, the cocktail is delicate, sweet, and light with the most delicious floral aroma. The pale pastel pink shade makes it perfect for Valentine’s Day aperitifs, summer garden parties, and bridal showers.

Speaking of romance, there’s nothing like delicious food to get you in the mood. That’s why there are MANY tantalizing romance recipes on this blog. The best way to follow up this Gin Rose Cocktail is with a few Baked Oysters, Bacon Wrapped Filet Mignon, and for the final temptation… Italian Panna Cotta!

Romantic Gin Rose Cocktail

There is no better time to stop and smell the roses than February. June blooms are a long way away and garden roses (like me) are in hibernation mode. This romantic cocktail brings the romance back to our wintry selves in the form of the magical rose.

A well-made martini paired with a bouquet of fragrant roses is a great start to an evening of romance. Furthermore, if you’re feeling bold, why not combine the two?

This sophisticated cocktail contains all the usual ingredients in a classic martini, plus an aromatic rose simple syrup that softens the cocktail and adds a unique floral edge. There’s just the right amount of floral sweetness without going ‘overboard’ into soap or perfume territory.

Though this drink may appear soft and feminine, it is still a gin martini in masquerade. This romantic aperitif is sure to awaken hunger and leave you wanting more.

The Edible Rose

Who doesn’t love getting a big bouquet of roses? They brighten the whole room with their delicious scent. However, did you know this beautiful flower is also edible and even related to the strawberry? Genetically, roses are from the Rosaceae family, which contains fruits such as apples, pears and strawberries, as well as ornamentals.

All rose varieties are edible and contain high amounts of Vitamin C and contain antioxidant properties. Though rose petals are beautiful, they have a very subtle floral flavor. However, rose hips have a flavour similar to fresh lemon juice and contain the most nutrients. They are a popular choice for jams, jellies, and syrup recipes.

Many Middle Eastern recipes showcase rose petals and rose water, often paired with pistachios or almonds, saffron, honey, and cardamom in desserts, preserves, and drinks. Furthermore, north African food sometimes contains harissa paste or ras el hanout, both of which contain rose petals in savoury applications.

Ingredients in Gin Rose Cocktail

There are two components to this cocktail recipe, the rose simple syrup and the classic gin martini. For this recipe you’ll need a jigger or measuring glass, a cocktail shaker, a Hawthorne strainer, and one (or two) 4 – 6 oz coupe or martini glasses. Besides the recipe ingredients, you’ll need a few rose buds or tiny roses and a few sprigs of thyme for garnish.

• Water
• Sugar
• Dried Rose Petals
• Gin
• Dry Vermouth
• Ice

Fresh organic rose petals or dried pesticide-free rose petals are the best choice for this and other recipes containing rose. Avoid buying flower shop roses (unless they guarantee they are pesticide free), buying or picking roadside roses (due to exhaust fumes).

Because this is an alcohol-forward cocktail without a mixer, the quality of gin will be noticeable. I recommend using only top shelf gin, especially those that have a fresh floral infusion like Hendrick’s Flora Dora gin, Fleurette Gin (New Alchemy), Botanist, Bloom Jasmine & Rose Gin, Le Gin De Christian Drouin, or Terai Gin.

If you use either McQueen Ultraviolet or Empress 1908 Gin, the cocktail will have a more violet colour.

Vermouth is an aromatised sweet, fortified wine which also contains botanicals. The most common varieties of vermouth are sweet (red) and dry (white), although other forms exist. The most popular variety for martinis is white vermouth. A martini isn’t really a martini without it so this is a key ingredient and can’t be substituted.

The Rose Syrup

The key component to this cocktail recipe is getting the rose simple syrup just right. That said, as the name implies, it is incredibly simple to make. Any simple syrup recipe starts with equal portions of sugar and water in a 1:1 ratio.

This custom rose simple syrup contains real rose petals, not rose water or essential oils. The amount of rose petals you add will determine how pronounced the floral essence is. The rose flavouring in this cocktail should be subtle so it doesn’t take over the aromatics in the gin and vermouth.

To make a perfectly balanced Rose Simple Syrup, place 1 cup water and 1 cup sugar in a small saucepan. Set the pan over medium heat and stir until dissolved. Add the dried rose petals.

Bring mixture to a simmer. Cook simple syrup for 8-10 minutes or until the liquid has reduced and is the consistency of syrup. Remove from the heat and set aside to cool and infuse. Strain out the rose petals before using.

How to Make a Gin Rose Cocktail

Once the rose simple syrup is at room temperature, it’s time to make the cocktail! Since this spirit forward cocktail does not contain ice, it is important to chill the serving glass ahead of time. To do this, simply place a martini or coupe glass in the freezer for 20 minutes or fill with ice and set aside.

Next, fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add the cooled rose simple syrup* followed by the 2 ounces of gin then 1 ounce of vermouth. Place the lid on the cocktail shaker and shake vigorously until the sides of the shaker become frosty.

*The amount of Rose Petal Syrup you add is a personal preference. Two teaspoons will add the perfect amount of rose flavour without it overwhelming the botanicals in the gin. Feel free to start by adding one teaspoon, then tasting and adding more as needed.

Remove ice cubes from the cocktail glass and strain the cocktail into the glass. Garnish the cocktail with a sprig of fresh thyme and a rosebud.

Enjoy immediately as martinis taste best when fresh. Therefore, it is not recommended to ‘batch’ this cocktail unless you are making two gin cocktails. It is easy to double the recipe depending on the maximum volume of your cocktail shaker. An average sized shaker will mix 2-3 cocktails. However, never fill it more than 2/3 full (including ice).

Refrigerate leftover rose simple syrup in an airtight container for up to two weeks. 

Hi! I’m Bernice Hill and I am the recipe developer, photographer, and writer at Dish ‘n’ the Kitchen. It is my pleasure to share easy to follow recipes that are delicious, nutritious, and approachable for the whole family.

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