Lovage or Leave It
By Olivia CounterPublished on November 16, 2025
Time
10 minutes
Yield
Makes 1 cocktail
Ingredients
2 tablespoons fresh lovage leaves, plus lovage leaf for garnishing½ ounce Simple Syrup 1 ounce vodka ½ ounce lemon juice ⅛ teaspoon lemon or grapefruit bitters 2 ounces dry sparkling white wine, chilled
Before You Begin
If fresh lovage is unavailable, you can substitute an equal amount of celery leaves.
Instructions
- Add 2 tablespoons lovage leaves and ½ ounce simple syrup to base of cocktail shaker and muddle until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add 1 ounce vodka, ½ ounce lemon juice, and ⅛ teaspoon lemon bitters, then fill shaker with ice. Shake mixture until fully combined and well chilled, about 15 seconds. Double-strain vodka mixture into chilled flute glass. Slowly add 2 ounces chilled sparkling white wine and, using bar spoon, gently lift vodka mixture from bottom of glass to top to combine. Garnish with lovage leaf and serve.
Time
10 minutesYield
Makes 1 cocktailIngredients
2 tablespoons fresh lovage leaves, plus lovage leaf for garnishing
½ ounce Simple Syrup
1 ounce vodka
½ ounce lemon juice
⅛ teaspoon lemon or grapefruit bitters
2 ounces dry sparkling white wine, chilled
Ingredients
2 tablespoons fresh lovage leaves, plus lovage leaf for garnishing
½ ounce Simple Syrup
1 ounce vodka
½ ounce lemon juice
⅛ teaspoon lemon or grapefruit bitters
2 ounces dry sparkling white wine, chilled
Ingredients
2 tablespoons fresh lovage leaves, plus lovage leaf for garnishing
½ ounce Simple Syrup
1 ounce vodka
½ ounce lemon juice
⅛ teaspoon lemon or grapefruit bitters
2 ounces dry sparkling white wine, chilled
Why This Recipe Works
Lovage leaves look like broad Italian parsley but taste much more intense. Because of its intensity, lovage is very effective at infusing cocktails. We muddled it before shaking the cocktail. Neutral vodka didn’t interfere with the verdant herbal notes, and lemon juice made this unique cocktail taste bright.
Before You Begin
If fresh lovage is unavailable, you can substitute an equal amount of celery leaves.
Instructions
- Add 2 tablespoons lovage leaves and ½ ounce simple syrup to base of cocktail shaker and muddle until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add 1 ounce vodka, ½ ounce lemon juice, and ⅛ teaspoon lemon bitters, then fill shaker with ice. Shake mixture until fully combined and well chilled, about 15 seconds. Double-strain vodka mixture into chilled flute glass. Slowly add 2 ounces chilled sparkling white wine and, using bar spoon, gently lift vodka mixture from bottom of glass to top to combine. Garnish with lovage leaf and serve.
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