An Earl Grey tea cocktail is one of those drinks that looks like it came from a craft cocktail bar — and then you realize you made it at home in under thirty minutes. Floral, lightly citrusy, and just a little effervescent, this one is built around our Raven Tea — an organic Earl Grey blended with real bergamot oil and organic lavender right here in Owings Mills. A splash of sparkling wine, a pour of honey syrup, and a dash of bitters, and you have a cocktail that feels genuinely special for a weekend brunch, a backyard gathering, or a quiet evening that deserves something a little elevated.
Earl Grey has always been one of the great tea varieties for cocktail making. The bergamot oil that defines it — a citrusy, slightly floral flavor from Italian bergamot oranges — plays beautifully with acidic ingredients like fresh lemon juice and with the subtle sweetness of raw honey. The black tea base brings body and a gentle tannic structure that keeps the cocktail from going too sweet. Add lavender to that picture, and you have a flavor profile that's brighter and more interesting than most of what you'll find in a standard cocktail shaker.
This recipe uses vodka as the base spirit, but it's genuinely great with gin too — botanical gins in particular love the bergamot and lavender notes in Earl Grey. We'll cover that and a few other variations below. Whether you're a cocktail experimenter or someone who just wants a reliable recipe they can make again and again, this one delivers.
What Makes Earl Grey Tea a Great Cocktail Base
Earl Grey is a black tea flavored with oil of bergamot, a small citrus fruit grown primarily in Calabria, Italy. It has been popular since at least the early 19th century, named — depending on which story you believe — after Charles Grey, the second Earl Grey and British Prime Minister in the 1830s. The bergamot oil gives it a characteristic floral-citrus note that you don't get from plain black tea, and that distinction is exactly what makes it so useful in cocktail making.
When you steep Earl Grey in a spirit or use it as a mixer, the bergamot oil infuses into the liquid and adds a layer of aromatics that citrus juice alone can't replicate. It's complex without being overpowering. The tannins from the black tea base give the cocktail structure — the same way a dry vermouth adds backbone to a martini. And when you layer that with honey syrup and fresh lemon, the result is a drink with genuine depth.
Our Raven Tea takes this foundation further by adding organic lavender to the blend. The lavender doesn't overpower the bergamot — it adds a soft, floral finish at the end of each sip that works especially well with sparkling wine. If you've ever had a lavender cocktail that tasted more like perfume than a drink, that's a dosage problem. In Raven Tea, the lavender is calibrated — present but not overwhelming.
The Role of Honey Syrup (and Why It's Better Than Simple Syrup Here)
Most classic cocktail recipes call for simple syrup — equal parts sugar and water. It works, but it adds sweetness without much else. Honey syrup gives you sweetness plus flavor. And in a cocktail built around floral, citrusy Earl Grey tea, that floral note in the honey matters.
Making honey syrup is straightforward: combine equal parts honey and warm water, stir until fully dissolved, and you're done. The warm water isn't hot — you don't want to cook the honey. Just warm enough to help it melt into a pourable liquid. Store it in a sealed jar in the refrigerator and it will keep for two to three weeks, which means you can make a batch ahead of a party and have it ready to go.
For this cocktail, we recommend using any of our Eastern Shore honeys. A wildflower honey will add a round, complex sweetness. If you want to lean into the floral character of the Raven Tea, our Spring Honey — influenced by hundreds of lavender plants on Chesterhaven Beach Farm — is a genuinely beautiful pairing.
Ingredients
This recipe makes two cocktails. Here's what you'll need:
- 1 ounce vodka (or gin — see variations below)
- 2 tablespoons Raven Tea loose leaf
- 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice (about 1 lemon, peeled and juiced)
- Lemon peel from the juiced lemon
- 1/4 cup honey syrup (equal parts honey and warm water, fully dissolved)
- 1/4 cup warm spring water (for the steep)
- 1 dash bitters
- 1 splash dry sparkling wine or prosecco
- Lemon slice or twist for garnish
You'll also want a wire-mesh tea strainer, a large glass or pitcher for the steep, and two highball glasses for serving.
How to Make an Earl Grey Tea Cocktail
First: Steep the Tea and Spirit Together
Add the Raven Tea loose leaves, lemon peel, fresh lemon juice, and your vodka (or spirit of choice) to a large glass or pitcher. Add the warm water. Give it a gentle stir just to make sure everything is submerged, then leave it uncovered at room temperature for 20 minutes. This is a room-temperature cold infusion method — you're not brewing with boiling water, which means the tea releases its aromatics slowly and gently into the spirit without going bitter. The lemon peel steeps alongside, adding bright citrus oil to the mix.
Don't rush the steep. Twenty minutes is the sweet spot for Raven Tea at room temperature. Less than that and the bergamot and lavender notes won't fully develop; much longer and the tannins start to build in a way that can make the cocktail taste astringent.
Second: Strain and Build the Cocktail
After 20 minutes, strain the mixture through a wire-mesh tea strainer into your serving glass. Press gently on the leaves to extract the last of the liquid, then discard the solids. You should have a beautiful, amber-gold tea-and-spirit base. Pour this into a highball glass filled with ice. Add the honey syrup and a dash of bitters. Stir gently to combine — bitters have a strong flavor, so one dash is the right amount. The bitters add a savory, aromatic complexity that keeps the cocktail from skewing too sweet or too floral.
Third: Add the Sparkling Wine and Garnish
Top with a splash of dry sparkling wine or prosecco. The bubbles lift the cocktail and integrate the flavors in a way that makes the drink feel lighter and more celebratory than a still cocktail would. Use a dry sparkling wine — extra dry or brut — rather than anything sweet, since the honey syrup is already handling sweetness. Garnish with a fresh lemon slice or a lemon twist expressed over the glass for extra citrus aroma, and serve immediately.
Variations Worth Trying
Earl Grey Gin Cocktail
Gin is arguably the most natural fit for Earl Grey tea. A good botanical gin — particularly one with juniper and citrus-forward notes — amplifies the bergamot and lavender in Raven Tea rather than competing with them. Swap the vodka 1:1 for gin and follow the same method. The result has a little more herbal complexity and pairs particularly well with a sprig of fresh thyme as a garnish.
Earl Grey Whiskey Cocktail
If whiskey is your spirit of choice, this recipe adapts well. Use a lighter whiskey — Irish or a mild bourbon — rather than anything heavily peated, which can overpower the floral tea notes. The honey syrup plays especially nicely with whiskey's natural vanilla and caramel undertones. For more whiskey and honey pairings, see our full roundup of whiskey honey cocktails.
Earl Grey Cocktail Mocktail Version
Leave out the spirit entirely and increase the sparkling water or sparkling wine substitute to 3/4 cup. You still get all the flavor from the tea, honey, and lemon — and the bitters give it enough complexity that it doesn't feel like something is missing. This is a great option for guests who aren't drinking, and honestly a nice afternoon drink on its own merits.
Serving Suggestions and Occasions
This cocktail was designed for brunch — and it genuinely excels in that setting. The tea base keeps it from feeling heavy in the afternoon, and the sparkling wine element makes it feel festive without being a full champagne cocktail. Serve it alongside a cheese board, a fruit spread, or something savory like a quiche or smoked salmon toast.
It also works beautifully at a garden party or any outdoor gathering where you want something that looks impressive but is easy to batch in advance. You can steep a full pitcher of the tea-and-spirit base the night before, refrigerate it, and then strain and build cocktails to order. The flavor actually deepens overnight.
For your spring or summer entertaining, it pairs naturally with our other floral honey cocktails — the Bee Collins is another crowd-pleaser for warm-weather gatherings. If you're building a full cocktail menu, the Earl Grey Tea Cocktail makes a great opener while the Bee Collins works as a refreshing afternoon drink.
If you want to gift the ingredients, our Tea and Honey Gift Set includes Raven Tea alongside honey products and a tea infuser — everything someone would need to make this cocktail at home. It's a thoughtful gift for a cocktail enthusiast, a tea lover, or really anyone who appreciates things made with care.
Tips for Making It Ahead
If you're making this for a group, you can batch the steep: multiply all ingredients except the sparkling wine, steep the combined mixture in a large pitcher for 20 minutes at room temperature, then strain and refrigerate. The base will keep for up to 48 hours. When you're ready to serve, pour over ice, add honey syrup and bitters per glass, and top with sparkling wine to order. This way the bubbles stay fresh for each pour.
Make your honey syrup a day ahead and refrigerate it — it keeps for 2 to 3 weeks. If you're using our Eastern Shore honey, you may notice it begins to crystallize as it cools. That's a sign of raw, minimally processed honey — just warm it briefly with the water when you make the syrup and it will dissolve completely.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Earl Grey tea bags instead of loose leaf?
You can, but loose leaf generally produces better flavor because the leaves have more room to expand and release their oils. Raven Tea is a loose-leaf blend, and the bergamot oil and lavender are more evenly distributed in the leaves than they would be in a compressed bag. If you do use bags, use two bags in place of the 2 tablespoons of loose leaf, and shorten the steep time to about 12–15 minutes to avoid bitterness.
What kind of vodka works best here?
A clean, neutral vodka works best — one that doesn't have a lot of its own flavor character competing with the tea and honey. You don't need to spend a lot. The flavor is coming from the Raven Tea, the lemon, and the honey syrup, and a straightforward vodka lets those ingredients lead.
What bitters should I use?
Classic aromatic bitters work very well here. Orange bitters are also a natural pairing with Earl Grey, since bergamot is a citrus fruit and orange bitters amplify that citrusy character. Lavender bitters, if you can find them, are a fun choice that reinforces the Raven Tea's floral notes. One dash is all you need regardless of which variety you choose.
Can I make this as a large batch for a party?
Yes, and it batches very well. Multiply all ingredients proportionally, steep in a large pitcher or bowl, strain, and refrigerate the base. Serve the sparkling wine separately so guests can pour it themselves — this keeps the carbonation fresh and also allows non-drinking guests to enjoy the tea-honey base as a still mocktail.
What food pairs well with this cocktail?
This cocktail has a light, floral, citrusy profile that pairs well with mild, savory foods — fresh cheeses like brie or chèvre, smoked salmon, cucumber sandwiches, and fresh fruit. It's a natural for brunch spreads. Avoid pairing it with anything very spicy or heavily smoked, as those flavors can overwhelm the delicate tea notes.
Is this the same as a London Fog cocktail?
No — a London Fog is a hot tea latte made with Earl Grey tea, steamed milk, and vanilla syrup. It's a warm, creamy drink that's typically non-alcoholic. This cocktail is cold, spirit-based, citrusy, and effervescent — a completely different experience, though it uses the same Earl Grey tea foundation.
Where can I find Raven Tea?
Raven Tea is available directly from our site at beeinspiredgoods.com, as well as at our retail locations in Owings Mills and Ellicott City, Maryland. It also comes in our Tea and Honey Gift Set alongside honey products — a nice option if you want everything for this recipe in one box.
More Honey Cocktail Recipes
If you're enjoying the combination of honey and tea in cocktail form, there are a few more recipes on the site worth exploring. Our classic hot toddy uses chamomile tea and Eastern Shore honey for a warm, cozy cocktail that's become one of our most-made cold-weather recipes. The Flu Beater Martini takes a different direction — vodka, turmeric tea, and honey with herbs — and makes a fun, herby sip. And if you want to explore the world of tea and honey pairings more broadly, our guide to the best honey for tea covers which varietals work best with different types of tea. Prefer to bake with Raven? Our Earl Grey cake with honey uses the same double-infusion technique in loaf form.
Browse our full artisanal tea collection to find the right tea for whatever you're making — every blend on the site works as a cocktail base, and each one takes the drink in a different direction depending on the flavor profile of the tea.
If you make this cocktail, we'd love to see it. Tag us on Instagram with #beeinspired — nothing makes our day quite like seeing our Raven Tea in someone's glass.
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