Now that St. Patrick’s Day is over for another year, cocktail lovers are looking forward to the next excuse they have to mix up a delicious drink. Seeing as spring has sprung, florals are officially back in season, making Crème de Violette a popular liquor of choice.

While not ideal for sipping on its own, the pretty purple alcohol makes a great addition to several must-try recipes – some of which put a subtle spin on old favorites. Most bartenders seem to prefer mixing Violette with gin or vodka, though some find it pairs nicely with whiskey. No matter what your preferences are, you can find at least one new drink worth trying this spring below.

The Risk Pool

Ingredients:

• Gin
• Crème de Violette
• Simple Syrup
• Lime Juice
• Grapefruit Juice

The Risk Pool is a modern take on the Aviation from cocktail creatives at Death & Co. It’s easy enough to make – mix two ounces of your gin of choice with half an ounce of simple syrup, three-quarters an ounce of lime juice, half an ounce of grapefruit juice and a quarter ounce of Crème de Violette in a cocktail shaker. Then, add ice and put some extra strength in your shake for 20 seconds before straining into a chilled coupe. For an optional garnish, try fresh violets or grapefruit peel.

The Attention

Ingredients:

• Gin
• Vermouth
• Crème de Violette
• Absinthe
• Orange Bitters

The Attention is a cocktail that’s been around for decades, though the original recipe of equal parts gin, vermouth, Crème de Violette and absinthe isn’t for everyone. Zozzled Cocktail’s version changes things, seeking harmony among ingredients rather than perfect balance. To try their recipe, you’ll need one and a half ounces of gin, three-quarters an ounce of dry vermouth, a quarter ounce of Violette and two dashes of both absinthe and bitters. Stir your ingredients with ice and strain them into a chilled cocktail glass.

Grey Lady

Ingredients:

• Gin
• Vermouth
• Maraschino Liqueur
• Orange Bitters
• Crème de Violette
• Lemon Twist
• Cherry Garnish

The Grey Lady has been described as “an Aviation for the martini lover,” with some Crème de Violette connoisseurs even favoring it over the latter. To make one of your own, you’ll need two ounces of gin, three-quarters an ounce of dry vermouth, one tablespoon of maraschino liqueur, two dashes of orange bitters and a rise of Violette stirred together. In addition, you’ll want to express and discard a lemon peel before straining, twisting and serving your Grey Lady with a cherry garnish.

Bourbon Revival Remix

Ingredients:

• Buff Trace
• Simple Syrup
• Lemon Juice
• Crème de Violette

If you’re growing bored of your usual Bourbon Revival this spring might be the time to switch things up. One Reddit user on r/cocktails suggests using two ounces of Buffalo Trace (or your whiskey of choice), half an ounce of simple syrup, half an ounce of lemon juice and Créme de Violette instead of the drink’s usual Crème de Cassis. Shake together then strain over ice for your enjoyment.

Arsenic and Old Lace

Ingredients:

• Gin
• Green Absinthe
• Crème de Violette
• Dry Vermouth

Arsenic and Old Lace is a beloved spring cocktail with several variations, though one of the most popular comes from New York’s Maison Premiere restaurant. There, they mix one and three-quarter ounces of gin (Plymouth is their specific recommendation), three-quarter ounces of green absinthe, half an ounce of Crème de Violette and a quarter ounce of dry vermouth (Dolin is suggested). Stir your ingredients with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail coupe to recreate the Maison Premiere experience.

Moscow Mule with Crème de Violette

Ingredients:

• Vodka
• Lime Juice
• Ginger Beer
• Crème de Violette
• Lime Wedge

Yet another classic that can be beautifully reimagined with the help of Créme de Violette is a Moscow Mule. One Reddit user recommends adding half an ounce to the traditional recipe, which is two ounces of vodka and half an ounce of fresh lime juice poured into a copper mug with ice. On top of that goes four ounces of ginger beer and after adding your special ingredient you can gently stir, top with a lime wedge, and enjoy!