I love Aperol, as I mentioned before. If you’re not familiar with it, it’s the sweeter cousin of Campari. It’s bright and light, and it its slight bitterness doesn’t take over the drink. In fact, it plays nicely with nearly everything it comes into contact with.

Especially lemon. And gin.

It plays so well with lemon, in fact, that a friend gave me a bottle of acid phosphate, and I loved mixing Aperol with acid phosphate. That was it. Maybe a little ice, but just Aperol and acid phosphate besides.

But I wanted something a little sweeter and more aromatic, as well. Enter lavender syrup.

Lavender syrup is easy to make. See my earlier post for the specific directions on how to make flavored simple syrups.

To make the Lion’s Sense Cocktail, build in a rocks glass over ice:

• 1 1/2 oz gin
• 1 oz Aperol
• 3/4 oz lemon juice
• 3/4 oz lavender syrup

and add a lemon twist.

Slightly bitter, aromatic, and sweet, the Lion’s Sense is a great pre-dinner or post-dinner drink. Or even a porch sipper. Hell, anytime.

Cheers!