At Urbane Eight, we love connecting plants, lifestyle, and creativity. This season, we’re showing how your indoor herb garden can inspire delicious cocktails. Here are five Taylor Swift–inspired recipes, each highlighting a fresh herb you can grow at home. These drinks are more than just recipes — they’re a reminder that you can start herbs from seed, enjoy them in your kitchen, and even bring them into your glass.
Why Herbs Belong in Cocktails
Fresh herbs add layers of flavor and fragrance that bottled mixers can’t replicate. Growing herbs indoors allows you to harvest sprigs when you need them, ensuring maximum freshness. Lavender, rosemary, sage, cilantro, and mint are versatile options that thrive indoors, especially when started from seed. In our heated greenhouse, we nurture these same plants year-round — and we can help you grow them at home, too.
The Cocktail Lineup
1. Lavender Haze (with Fresh Lavender)
Inspired by Taylor’s dreamy track, this cocktail is floral, romantic, and perfectly refreshing.
Ingredients
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2 oz gin
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1 oz honey-lavender simple syrup (made by steeping fresh lavender sprigs in honey and water)
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0.5 oz lemon juice
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2 oz soda water
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Fresh lavender sprig for garnish
Method
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Prepare honey-lavender syrup by simmering honey, water, and fresh lavender sprigs, then straining.
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Combine gin, syrup, and lemon juice in a shaker with ice.
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Shake well and strain into a glass filled with fresh ice.
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Top with soda water.
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Garnish with a sprig of lavender.
Growing Tip: Lavender seeds can be started indoors under grow lights. Once established, you’ll have a steady supply of sprigs for syrups and garnishes.
2. Champagne Problems (with Rosemary)
Elegant and bittersweet, this cocktail is perfect for a winter toast or special occasion.
Ingredients
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3 oz prosecco or dry champagne
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0.5 oz St-Germain (elderflower liqueur)
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0.5 oz lemon juice
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1 fresh rosemary sprig
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1 sugar cube
Method
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Place a sugar cube and a rosemary sprig in the bottom of a champagne flute.
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Add lemon juice and St-Germain.
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Top with prosecco or champagne.
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Stir gently to dissolve the sugar cube.
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Garnish with another fresh rosemary sprig for aroma.
Growing Tip: Rosemary is easy to grow indoors in containers. Keep it in a sunny spot, and prune regularly to encourage bushy growth.
3. All Too Well (Cider & Sage)
Warm, cozy, and autumnal, this cocktail channels the Red album perfectly.
Ingredients
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1.5 oz bourbon
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1 oz fresh apple cider
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0.5 oz maple syrup
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1 fresh sage leaf (plus more for garnish)
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Pinch of ground cinnamon
Method
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Lightly muddle one sage leaf in the bottom of a shaker.
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Add bourbon, apple cider, maple syrup, and ice.
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Shake well and strain into a rocks glass over a large ice cube.
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Sprinkle with ground cinnamon.
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Garnish with an additional sage leaf.
Growing Tip: Sage grows well indoors and can tolerate cooler temperatures, making it ideal for year-round growing in pots.
4. Karma Is My Boyfriend (with Cilantro)
Spicy, zesty, and playful, this drink is bold enough to match the energy of Midnights.
Ingredients
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2 oz tequila blanco
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0.75 oz lime juice
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0.75 oz triple sec
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0.25 oz cilantro-jalapeño simple syrup (made by simmering fresh cilantro and sliced chili in sugar water, then straining)
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Tajín seasoning for rimming the glass
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Fresh cilantro sprig for garnish
Method
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Rim the glass with lime juice and dip in Tajín.
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In a shaker, combine tequila, lime juice, triple sec, and cilantro-jalapeño syrup with ice.
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Shake well and strain into the rimmed glass over ice.
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Garnish with a sprig of fresh cilantro.
Growing Tip: Cilantro is fast-growing from seed. Sow small batches every few weeks for a continuous harvest of fresh leaves.
5. Enchanted (Mint Garden Glow)
Sparkly and whimsical, this cocktail is as magical as the song it’s named after.
Ingredients
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1.5 oz vodka
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1 oz white cranberry juice
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0.5 oz lemon juice
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0.5 oz mint syrup (made by simmering fresh mint leaves with sugar and water)
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Edible glitter (optional)
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Fresh mint bouquet for garnish
Method
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Make mint syrup by simmering mint leaves with sugar and water, then straining.
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Add vodka, cranberry juice, lemon juice, and mint syrup to a shaker with ice.
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Shake well and strain into a chilled martini glass.
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Add a pinch of edible glitter if desired.
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Garnish with a sprig or bouquet of fresh mint.
Growing Tip: Mint is one of the easiest herbs to grow indoors. Keep it in a container to prevent it from spreading, and harvest regularly to encourage new growth.
Growing Herbs at Home: From Seed to Sip
Starting herbs from seed is simple, rewarding, and sustainable. All you need are seeds, pots with drainage, quality soil, light (a sunny windowsill or grow lights), and consistent watering. Within a few weeks, you’ll have herbs ready to harvest for cooking, garnishes, and cocktails.
At Urbane Eight, our heated greenhouse allows us to ship houseplants, seeds, and accessories year-round. We’re proudly Canadian, now also shipping select dry goods to the USA. Our eco-friendly packaging ensures plants and supplies reach you safely while keeping our environmental footprint small.
Conclusion
Herbs bring depth, fragrance, and freshness to cocktails — and when you grow them yourself, the experience is even more meaningful. These Taylor Swift–inspired drinks show how easy it is to elevate cocktails with lavender, rosemary, sage, cilantro, and mint straight from your own garden.
At Urbane Eight, we’re here to help you grow, sip, and enjoy year-round. Stay tuned for curated finds, seasonal tips, and events that connect the joy of plants with everyday living.