By day, I’m the Assistant Vegetable Gardener at Lucille’s Garden. By night, I bartend at a local restaurant. I recently got to fuse these two worlds in leading a private mixology workshop at Tyler Arboretum.

I developed a handful of signature Tyler-inspired cocktail recipes for the occasion featuring fresh ingredients grown at Lucille’s. Here’s one to try for an upcoming party or celebration! Its name points to Tyler’s year of origin as a public garden: 1944. Cheers to 80 years of Tyler!

The ’44 Trust

Ingredients:

2 oz. lavender-infused whisky

1 oz. tulsi simple syrup (see recipe below)

3 dashes of Angostura Bitters

Lemon peel

Sprig of lavender

Directions:

In a cocktail shaker combine 2 oz. of lavender whiskey, 1 oz. of tulsi simple syrup and 3 dashes of Angostura Bitters. Add ice and stir. Pour into a rocks glass and express the oil of a lemon twist over the glass, then drop into the glass to garnish.

Herb-Infused Simple Syrup

Ingredients:

1 cup water

¼ – 1 cup sugar (The traditional recipe calls for a cup of sugar; use less if mixing with something sweet such as lemonade.)

1 cup fresh herbs of choice

Directions:

Pick herbs of choice, wash and put in a clear glass jar with a wide mouth.

Boil water. When the water comes to a boil, slowly add sugar, mixing to create the syrup.

Pour over herbs. Let sit for at least 30 minutes.

Strain liquid, discarding herbs. Put the resulting simple syrup in a clean jar and store in a refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

Suggested Herbs:

Here at Lucille’s Garden we have successfully grown and used the following herbs to create some delicious simple syrups:

• Lavender
• Mint
• Tulsi
• Sage
• Basil
• Rosemary
• Chamomile

Cocktail Shakers for Sale in the Visitor Center

Tyler Arboretum Cocktail Shakers are now available for purchase at the Visitor Center.

Priced at $20.00 each, this 16 oz. three-piece set is made of stainless steel and engraved with Tyler’s logo. A perfect gift for the nature-loving aspiring bartender!