Cocktail of the Month: Magical Gin & Tonic
By • July 17, 2024 0 393
Sipping on a gin and tonic by the pool … a perfect summer ritual. Both are cool, refreshing and thoroughly enjoyable.
The ease of a two-ingredient highball makes the G&T an effortless choice for a poolside soirée. Plus, with gin available in a wide range of flavor profiles, the drink can be mixed to suit your palate. You can choose from a variety of styles, including a citrus-forward spirit, something earthy with herbal notes, a delicate flowery elixir or a classic London dry gin.
What a typical G&T doesn’t offer is a visual “wow” factor. You can dress it up with edible flowers, a fancy fruit garnish or fresh botanicals, but next to brightly hued party tipples it will still tend to fade into the background. Vivid drinks — like a Blue Hawaiian or the slew of Barbie-pink cocktails that ruled last summer — are the attention-grabbers.
The latest trend in gin is putting an end to that.
Color-changing gins — with shades ranging from cool purples and dreamy blues to hot pinks — have been going viral on TikTok for the past two years. Transforming the tint of your drink with each ingredient added, they’re a mixology magic trick. Though it sounds like a gimmick, there’s some science behind the enchanting illusion.
The secret to this alchemy is the butterfly pea flower (Clitoria ternatea), native to Southeast Asia. When this flower is steeped in water or alcohol, it becomes a rich, dark indigo. Due to the presence of pH-sensitive pigments called anthocyanins, however, when an acidic mixer like tonic or citrus is added, a dramatic color transformation occurs, shifting the shade to a rosy fuchsia or cheery lavender.
According to bottleraiders.com, the acid causes a reaction in the anthocyanins, changing their molecular structure and altering how they absorb and reflect light. Hence, the color change. If my high school chemistry class had had experiments like this, I surely would have paid more attention.
Claiming to be the first to create these gins, two companies, Sharish and Ink, released commercial versions in 2015. But these fascinating spirits didn’t catch on until recently.
One producer, Pink Marmalade, says its color-changing gin was developed for an “Alice In Wonderland”-themed party. The company built a drink fountain for the event where guests could watch their drink being poured, then see it spellbindingly change color when the tonic went in.
Another leading brand, Empress Gin, calls the development a “happy accident” that occurred in the tea room of the Empress Hotel on Vancouver Island in the Canadian province of British Colombia.
Peter Hunt, head distiller and president of Victoria Distillers, led a collaboration to develop a recipe for a new gin using the hotel’s signature tea blends. One of the blends happened to contain the blue pea flower, and Empress 1908 Indigo Gin was born. Amy Glynn of Paste Magazine called the gin “eye-catching, dramatic and fun.”
What’s more, the brilliant color schemes are all naturally occurring; no artificial dyes are involved. The exact color of your cocktail will depend on what’s added. A highly acidic mixer, like lemon juice, will lean more magenta, while a more neutral mixer, like tonic, will turn the drink a light purple or blue.
The rainbow effects can be enhanced with other ingredients, but it’s important not to get too caught up in the wizardry. All of the above-mentioned gins are highly rated and don’t require a lot of spicing up to make a tasty tipple.
A simple gin and tonic will elicit some “oohs” and “aahs,” especially if you mix a batch in front of your guests. To stick with the color theme, garnish each with a slice of pink grapefruit or blood orange. Providing lemon and lime wedges for them to add will further heighten the experience.
This no-sweat “party trick” is sure to upgrade your mixology game and add a dash of dazzle to your summer shindig.
Magical Color-Changing Gin and Tonic
2 oz. color-changing gin (Empress, Pink Marmalade, Ink)
4 oz. tonic water
Citrus wedges
To serve a group, arrange a tray of highball glasses with ice cubes. Add 2 oz. gin to each glass. Just before serving, pour tonic in each glass and garnish with a citrus wedge. Then watch the transformation!
