Grow a Cocktail Garden: 7 Plants for Sipping, Not Just Snacking

If you want a truly unique garden, here’s an idea: The Cocktail Garden. Plants specifically grown to add to your home mixology station. With a small space, you can grow a specialty garden with fresh herbs and spices to make your cocktails (or mocktails) more amazing.

For each plant, I’ll share some tips on how to grow it in your garden, plus a few cocktails that make use of the plant. I’ll also include at least 1 mocktail option for those of us who enjoy a fancy drink without the booze. Let’s get growing!

Plant #1: Mint

Mojito – Rum, lime, mint, soda water
Mojito (mocktail) – Muddled mint, lime juice, sugar, soda water
Mint julep – Bourbon, mint, sugar
Southside – Gin, mint, lime
Whiskey smash – Whiskey, simple syrup, lemon, mint

If you’ve only got room for 1 plant, you better make it mint. Spearmint, peppermint, apple mint, lemon mint, mojito mint – the variety of options is astounding! For the cocktail garden, I’d look for mojito mint or spearmint for a delicious, classic flavor. However, any mint will work in a variety of tasty beverages.

Growing tip: Plant mint in a container, not directly in the ground or raised bed. This plant is known to spread easily, which can become a nuisance. Keep it contained in a pot, and prune (or harvest) regularly to keep it under control.

Plant #2: Basil

Basil Gimlet – Basil, gin, lime, sugar (optional)
Basil Limeade (mocktail) – Lime juice, crushed basil, simple syrup, soda water
Tomato Bloody Mary Twist – Garnish or infuse with basil

Basil is another great culinary herb that can be used for many drinks. Plus, if you’re not thirsty, fresh basil is a welcome addition to many home cooked dishes. Basil is easy to grow in pots or in a garden bed, and loves lots of sun and even watering. It can even be grown indoors in a sunny window, or with a modest grow light.

Growing tip: Pinch out flowers regularly to keep basil leafy and bushy. If the flowers develop too far, the foliage can start to taste harsh and bitter. You can also replant basil seeds every 2-3 weeks to have a fresh supply all season long.

Plant #3: Strawberries (or Raspberries)

Handful of strawberries just picked from the garden

Strawberry Basil Margarita – Tequila, muddled strawberries, basil, lime juice, triple sec
Strawberry Lemonade Fizz (mocktail) – Fresh strawberry purée, lemon juice, honey/simple syrup, soda water
Strawberry Mojito – Rum, muddled strawberries, mint, lime, soda water

As if you needed another reason to grow your own strawberries. These delicious berries are perfect for a delicious and subtle drink garnish, or for making an infused simple syrup. To make a syrup, simply simmer fresh mashed strawberries with sugar and a touch of water until it is reduced to a slightly thickened consistency.

Growing tip: For consistent harvests (rather than just 1 big harvest in June), grow everbearing strawberries. You’ll get smaller berries, but a longer harvest window throughout the growing season. Also, make sure the soil is well mulched to avoid the berries lying in the soil and rotting.

Plant #4: Cucumber

Cucumber Gin & Tonic – Gin, tonic, cucumber slices
Cucumber Sparkler (mocktail) – Muddled cucumber, mint, lime juice, soda (or ginger ale)
Pimm’s Cup – Pimm’s, cucumber, lemon, ginger ale (optional add ins: strawberry, mint, orange rind)
Cucumber water – Ice water steeped with fresh-sliced cukes

Cucumbers are some of the most gratifying plants to grow in the vegetable garden. They love warm weather and bright sunshine, and take just 2 months from seed to harvest. They’re also super versatile (dill pickles, anyone?), and the subtle flavor is also wonderful garnish for tasty cocktails and mocktails.

Growing tip: Try growing cucumbers vertically (tied to a trellis or similar) to save space in the garden. This method also keeps the plants healthier.

Plant #5: Chili peppers

Spicy Margarita – Tequila, fresh lime juice, muddled chili, simple syrup
Spicy Lime Spritzer (mocktail) – Muddled chili, lime juice, agave, soda
Chili Paloma – Tequila, grapefruit, chili syrup

I love spicy food. But have you ever tried a spicy drink? It’s delicious! The contrast between ice cold liquid and the spicy sensation is amazing. If you’re on the adventurous side, grow 1-2 chili pepper plants in your cocktail garden to spice up your beverages.

Growing tip: Grow peppers in small containers (around 1-2 gallons) to keep the plants relatively small. Otherwise, the plants can grow to be pretty huge. If you’ll have a use for the bigger harvest, grow in as big a space as you’d like!

Plant #6: Lavender

Lavender Lemonade – Vodka, lavender syrup, lemonade
Lavender Lemonade (mocktail) – Lemon juice, lavender, simple syrup, sparkling water
Blueberry Lavender Fizz – Vodka, blueberries, lavender, soda

Lavender is incredibly aromatic, and serves many uses in the kitchen. It is a powerful medicinal herb, with a variety of uses from sleep aid to aroma therapy to sweet treats. A little goes a long way, however, so be sure to start small or follow a recipe closely to avoid an overpowering flavor.

Tip: Only grow culinary lavender (English lavender) for use in cocktails and other consumables. This has a mild, more pleasant flavor than other varieties.

Plant #7: Rosemary

Rosemary Greyhound – Vodka, grapefruit juice, rosemary syrup
Rosemary Grapefruit Spritzer (mocktail) – Grapefruit juice, simple syrup, soda, rosemary garnish
Gin Rosemary Fizz – Gin, rosemary syrup, lemon

Rosemary has a powerful pine-like flavor that adds a warm depth to a variety of liquors. It can be used as a garnish, which will primarily work on the olfactory system when sipping your drink. Or, you can infuse it into a syrup.

Making rosemary syrup: Add 1 cup each of water and sugar to a pot and toss in 1-2 sprigs of fresh rosemary (a little goes a long way). Bring to a light simmer for 5 minutes or so (don’t vigorously boil). Remove it from the heat and allow the syrup to steep for 10-15 more minutes, then remove the rosemary and store the syrup in a glass bottle in the fridge for 1-2 weeks.

Growing tip: Rosemary is a perennial in many climates, so it may be able to survive the winter where you live (typically USDA hardiness zones 7 and higher). Be sure to plant it in a location where you don’t mind it growing for several years!

This is a fun one! If you’re new to gardening, or you just have a special love for hand-crafted drinks, I hope you’ll give some of these plants a shot. 🍹