Can we just call it cocktail time? Let’s just take a minute and take in a cocktail.
I’ve got too many Post-It notes with too many tasks on them.
I’ve got too much hairspray in my hair, and not enough butter in my fridge.
There’s clothes that need putting away, and cats that need brushing. There’s just days and days full of full.
You know? Of course you know. Of course you do.
Let’s just take a quick minute and call it cocktail time. Please and thank you.
I’d like to introduce you to chilled, lime wedges, sprigs of rosemary, and homemade rosemary syrup.
I made this cocktail along with my Perfect Cheese Plate… and I threw a party… for one. No biggie.
We’ll add sparkling water… so we’re not doing sweet rosemary vodka shots. That would be odd… and strangely awesome.
That’s not what we’re doing here.
This cocktail is a combination of sweet and savory. The rosemary syrup is sweet and earthy. Fragrant too. Such a lovely compliment to fresh lime and cold vodka.
Remember when I made Homemade Ginger Ale with ginger syrup? That was seriously one of my favorite recipes of the year. Making syrups is so dreamy easy. With this cocktail, you’ll feel fancy as you sip. I like. I hope you do too!
Rosemary Syrup for Rosemary Lime Cocktails
makes 1 cup of syrup
1 cup water
1 cup sugar
3 sprigs fresh rosemary
Combine all three ingredients in a small sauce pan over medium heat. Bring to a boil and allow the sugar to dissolve. Remove from the heat, cover, and allow to rest for 30 minutes. Remove the sprigs of rosemary and allow to cool. Store in an airtight jar in the fridge.
To make the cocktail you’ll need:
vodka
lime wedges
ice cubes
rosemary syrup
sparkling water
Here’s what you do:
Fill a glass with ice cubes. Squeeze some lime in! Pour in a few tablespoons of rosemary syrup. Pour in a few more tablespoons of vodka. Top with sparkling water. Stir. Drink. Repeat.
104 Responses
Hi Joy! I’m sorry if this was already asked, but how long can I keep the rosemary syrup in the fridge?
about 1 month. They’ll begin to taste stale beyond that.
These sound like the perfect antidote to the week. Thank you!
I just recently posted a very similar cocktail from a local Denver restaurant; using lemon and gin in lieu of lime and vodka but the truth is…that rosemary simple syrup is the BOMB. I’m serving it next over some lime sherbet for a light dessert. So damn good!
Heya Joy –
Going to Vegas with the girls and told them I would bring this with me. Do you think it would be okay to make a couple of days in advance and keep unrefrigerated on the drive from LA to Vegas? Yay, Vegas! Yay, Rosemary Lime Cocktails!
Thanks :)
This is utterly brill. I boiled the simple syrup with some lime peel too — turned it pale yellow, but nice flavor. The rosemary is ambrosial. I forgot the sparkling water….and loved it…..Thank you! (And thanks to Lydia for the tip on using up the rosemary syrup; my liver thanks you.)
That looks so refreshing!!!!!! I’d try with some lemon basil… But the winter air just killed that poor thing :( Nice post!
Hi Joy!
My friend Meg and I made these cocktails the other night…
then this morning I didn’t have maple syrup for my pancakes so I put rosemary syrup on them….
you should try it.
Your rosemary syrup is transforming dishes in my kitchen! Thank you!
Also love cocktail time! Need to make this!
Just made these on Friday to finish off a dinner party, they were perfect! Delicious, easy, unexpected, and refreshing :) all of the guests were happy. Thanks Joy!
YUM! I wanted to let you know that I featured this on my “What I Bookmarked This Week” post – stop by and see!
Parties for one are such important things. Especially when everything is full of full. Thanks for reminding us ;-)
This is PERFECT as I have leftover rosemary sprigs from a potato dish I made and was unsure of what to do with them. Thank you!
Really fantastic. Thanks so much!
Sounds amazing but for some reason the “print this” part just loads a blank page. Am I the only one?
Yawza! Now I know how I’m ringing in the weekend! Thanks Joy!
I was defiantly inspired by your ginger syrup and have also been on a syrup making kick for some time now.
love rosemary, and never thought about putting it in a drink… a cocktail drink …. sounds amazing! and a must to make on my list :)
This looks awesome! Hmm, speaking of booze- I can’t wait to see what happen(ed/s) with your beer brewing!
I never would have thought of lime and rosemary together! YUM! I am soooo trying this.
p.s. your Salted Caramel Cheesecake was so effing good! I’m making it again this weekend!
Kacie
cheesecake redo!!
Yea, cocktail hour! Love the glassware…
I need a drink stat! Those black friday commercials were starting to get to me. Now I’m wondering, do you take thr rosemary off the stem and use just the sprigs? How long of stems do you think? Inquiring minds need libations so thank you I’ll be making this ASAP!
Looks like my kind of cocktail…
So refreshing! Feels like partying!
your perf cheese plated saved me. have a feeling this is going to do the same.
Totally intrigued by the homemade rosemary syrup and these refreshing cocktails. Yes, can we call it cocktail time at this hour of the day? :)Love these!
Hi – can you tell me where you got the martini glasses? We’ve been looking for something like that, preferably no bigger than 6 oz…. Thanks!!!
thrift store!
Cheers! Uuhhh, I guess it’s only 10:30am here. Oh well. :)
My boyfriend and I are both huge fans of rosemary! And you made this look so easy, I think it’s a definite must-make cocktail :)
This looks so refreshingly amazing!! I love rosemary. A lot. And vodka…
How long does the rosemary syrup keep in the refrigerator?
Sounds like a great combination of flavors :)
Whoa! I can’t wait to make this with gin and sip on it while I put up my tree! Fragrant festivities to the max. Thanks for being a joy, Joy.
O.M.G. This has my name on it! Definitely will make this ASAP. Is it too early to do it now?
Yum! Get’s me thinking what other herbs would work well in a cocktail…
It’s definitely shaping up to be one of those kinds of weeks for me…might be a tad early in the day to power in anything but caffeine right now, but it’s only a matter of time! =)
i need one of these right now! :)
I am soooo making this.
Joy- you NEVER cease to amaze me. Cupcakes, cookies, breads, and DRINKS. You know how to do it girl :)
WOW – looks good, and like Emily said, refreshing!
This sounds SO refreshing! And the earthiness and pine-like flavor of the rosemary would be perfect with holiday goodies! Thanks for the ideas, Joy!
Would gin be good instead of the vodka, or would it be too woodsy in addition to the rosemary?
This looks delicious! My house is surrounded by huge rosemary plants! Can’t wait to mix ’em up with and make this!!
Yes, I agree, the homemade ginger ale was the best thing I’ve made all year too! I would come home from work, all hot & sweaty, fill a glass with ice, add the syrup, top with lime sparkling water and enjoy. It was wonderful! I think it’s time to make another batch!
I’m obsessed with fresh rosemary. What a refreshing drink! Thanks for the cool idea.
I’m a margarita lover, so this recipe looks to be right up my alley–thanks!!
Refreshing.
Especially after a long hard day of…shopping. ;-)
…I could get drunk just from the smell of Rosemary alone! *swoons* And now add Vodka you say? Sa-weet! ;o)
…And that is the cutest idea using the crumpled paper for your photo shoot. I love how you did that. I know, I know, I am easily amused, forgive me. *giggle*shrug*
…I think I just may ‘treat’ myself to a cocktail now, well not now, it’s 7:45 in the morn’ here but later, anyway; thank you! :o)
…Blessings
I always get a few comments when I ask for a vodka tonic. I’m only 25 and apparently that means I should be drinking martinis or something less like an “old man drink.” I’m glad you’ve brought vodka into sophisitication. I will definitely be indulging in this recipe tonight. I could have used a drink like this last night. I’m a bit sad I didn’t check sooner, though my day didn’t end until 11pm, so there wouldn’t have been much time. Oh well… twice as many drinks tonight!
Oh my lord…just gorgeous!
And, Joy – I featured your book on my Holiday Gift Guide for Food Writers :)
https://www.coconutcopy.com/2011/11/holiday-gift-guide-for-food-writers.html
xo
Lisa
You just gave me my drink idea for our New Year’s Day cocktail party. And my theory is that it is cocktail time somewhere in the world so we might as well join them!!
I loooove new cocktail recipes during the holidays. I’ve been thinking about having a fancy little pre-Christmas party and making everybody dress up. This just might be the perfect holiday cocktail for ma fancy party.
I just made your ginger syrup after I saw this post. But rosemary syrup sounds lovely, too. I think I’d swap the vodka for gin, like one of the facebook commenters suggested. Sounds great!
Rosemary syrup?! Genius! This could probably be a delicious mocktail too, right? Sounds good!
One of my favorite bars in town has rosemary vodka and all sorts of other cool flavors, so I can imagine just how tasty this drink is! I’ve had a chipotle tequila mixed drink, and a basil vodka lemonade drink there before too. Love the creativity!
two words, J.
juniper. syrup.
stick that in your gin and tonic. or, gin and juice if you’re feeling OG. *throws gang sign*
Stunning presentation. I want to try one right now. Very refreshing! :)
I’m okay with you calling cocktail time! As long as I’m invited :)
Oh yum! I had a rosemary limoncello cocktail a while ago when I went out to dinner and it was fabulous. Can’t wait to make these more workday appropriate cocktails!
Nothing like a good cocktail!
I’m sorry, did somebody say rosemary vodka shots? This looks amazing, and am I alone in thinking it is quite Christmassy? Those little sprigs look like Christmas trees. I am imagining these with gin and maybe a holly garnish? But then I feel like holly might be poisonous so maybe not.
I heart cocktail time! :)
Rosemary is one of my all time favourite herbs so this cocktail is an absolute winner. I love the combination with lime particularly.
That sounds so refreshing! It might be time to break out of my bourbon/wine rut.
You literally just read my mind. I was wondering what to do with all the leftover rosemary from Thanksgiving.
Wow! So beautiful! All you are missing are the giant square ice cubes…it’s all about maximum drinkability time here in hot Florida! ;-)
I’ll take one. Or three. It’s been that kind of day.
I made cheesy rosemary savory donuts. I bet this rosemary beverage would just be the icing on the donut cake.
This sounds really delicious!
I love this! I have rosemary sprigs and limes that I need to use up soon! Oh yes, and vodka. Can’t wait to try it! Nice photos too!
I love how you describe making syrups as “dreamy easy.” I’ve never made a syrup before, but I do like dreamy, and I love easy–count me in on this recipe! :)
I feel like that rosmary syrup has some serious potential for an amped up salad dressing… just sayin’
I have tons of rosemary in my backyard! Love finding new recipes that incorporate it. Going to try serving this cocktail at my next dinner party!
This looks great! Seems like it would be tasty made with gin as well? What kind of vodka did you use. Just wondering because the bottle looked pretty and I like a pretty bottle, box, package ect.
This is freaking awesome! I have a huge rosemary bush in my backyard that would love to be drenched in sugary syrup!
Thanks for giving me the excuse to make a cocktail ;)
Holy yum! This does fit the holiday theme. Well, any booze would :D
Yes please! Going to a holiday martini contest party next weekend…maybe this recipe will take first place!
HOLY REFRESHING! since i’m knocked up i’ll have to do the virgin version, but i could probably down a gallon of this :)
Gurl you can call it a cocktail time anytime ;-) Looks good…I love the crumpled paper background with sharpie…very cool look and perfect for blogging!
This looks amazing and refreshing! I would love to make this this week… it’s my first Christmas concert as an elementary music teacher next week and I’m freaking out!! vodka needed!