Vodka with soda, lavender and pink pepper

Ingredients:

• 0.5 cups of sugar
• 1/4 cup dried lavender
• 1 teaspoon pink peppercorns + extra for garnish
• 1 vanilla bean
• 240 - 360 ml of quality vodka
• 1 liter of sparkling water
• Sprigs of fresh lavender, for decoration
• Lemon wedges, for garnish

Preparation:

1. Combine the sugar, lavender, pink peppercorns, and 1 cup of water in a small saucepan. Split the vanilla bean in half lengthwise, scrape out the seeds with the back of a knife, and add them to the saucepan. Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat, stirring to settle the lavender to the bottom. Cook until the sugar dissolves, about 2 minutes. Turn off the heat and let the syrup steep for 10 minutes.
2. Strain the lavender syrup through a sieve lined with cheesecloth and refrigerate until completely cool.
3. Fill 4 Collins glasses with ice. Add 60-90 ml of vodka and 30 ml of lavender syrup to each glass, and top with sparkling water. Crush a few peppercorns on a cutting board with the side of a knife.
4. Stir the cocktail with a long spoon and garnish with lavender, lemon wedges and crushed pink peppercorns.