Lilac flower (vodka) sodas

This features a delicate and delicious syrup made with fresh lilac blossom and blueberries (the berries give the syrup’s subtle purple hue a little more oomph). Whether you add a splash of vodka to each glass is up to you.

Ingredients

For the syrup

1 cup of superfine sugar

Cupful lilac blossoms, plus extra to serve

½ cup blueberries

For each cocktail

Crushed ice, enough to fill each serving glass

1½ tbsp lilac syrup (above)

1½ tbsp vodka, optional Soda water, to top up

Squeeze of lime juice

2 lime wedges

The Homes & Gardens method

1. Start with the lilac syrup. Put the sugar and ¾ cup water in a saucepan. Warm through gently until the sugar dissolves then bring to the boil and simmer for a minute. Add the flowers and ½ cup of the blueberries, reduce the heat and simmer gently for 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and cool for 10 minutes. Strain through a fine sieve. Cool the syrup completely, then cover and chill for up to 5 days.

2. Fill as many serving glasses as needed with crushed ice. Add a 1½ tbsp measure of syrup (and an optional 1½ tbsp of vodka), diluting the syrup to the ratio one part to four with soda water.

Add a good squeeze of lime juice, a couple of lime wedges, a sprig of lilac and a few extra blueberries to each glass before serving for a really pretty cocktail.