by Alyson Brown of Wild Folk

Summer! It's a time to celebrate the season - soak up the sunshine, wear a flower crown, dine al fresco and sip on flower-infused cocktails and mocktails. Three of my favorite flowers to include in summer cocktails are wild roses to honor self-love, elderflower to awaken a youthful spirit, and orange blossom to bring peace and happiness to the mind and body. Here are three of my favorite floral libations to sip on during these bright summer days.

The Wild Rose

1.5 oz Wild Roots Spirits Cucumber Grapefruit Gin 1.5 oz wild rose cordial 2 dashes Peychaud's bitters 5 pink peppercorns a splash of soda water

Combine gin, wild rose cordial, bitters and pink peppercorns in a shaker with ice and give it a few good shakes. Strain into a glass and top with soda water if you wish.

Elder FLower Spritz

3 oz Brut Champagne 1.5 oz elderflower cordial lemon twist

Pour elderflower cordial into a glass over ice. Top with Champagne. Gently express the oils from a lemon peel over the top of the drink and garnish with a twist.

Alyson Brown, founder of Wild Folk Flower Apothecary, celebrates a flower-infused lifestyle, using the powerful magic of flowers to express their symbolic resonance and energetic strengths. She is currently working on her first book titled The Flower-Infused Cocktail: 50+ Flowers With A Twist, set to release Fall 2020. It's the flower lover’s favorite book with a fresh take on traditional mixology, infusing the taste of over 50 different edible flowers with history and folklore. For flower magic, cocktail recipes and more, visit www.wildfolklore.com.

Orange Blossom Lemonade

32 oz of your favorite lemonade 5 naval oranges, juiced 8 oz orange blossom water orange slices for garnish

Mix all the ingredients into a pitcher and garnish with fresh orange slices. Easy crowd pleaser.

Make it a Cocktail 3 oz Orange Blossom Lemonade 1.5 oz Wild Roots Spirits NW Vodka 2 dashes of grapefruit bitters

Combine lemonade, vodka, and bitters in a shaker with ice and give it a few good shakes. Strain into a glass, garnish with an orange slice.