The Natural Ingredients Gin Distillers Use To Create Organic Blue Gin

Gin originated hundreds of years ago with the earliest gin recipes featuring juniper berries. As this popular spirit spread throughout Europe, production methods and recipes evolved with different ingredients impacting gin's taste, texture, and color. One way that gin has evolved is through its impressive color-changing reaction when mixed with juices, alcohol, and other components. And at The Illusionist, we're making this remarkable color-altering skill part of our craft!

Blue gin has become a uniquely popular spirit because of its distinct color, flavor, and texture. Whether you're a new gin drinker or have enjoyed gin cocktails for years, you might be surprised at all the ways you can use gin to create tasty beverages. Let's explore the natural ingredients used to create blue gin and how to mix blue gin with other beverages to make vibrant pink and purple cocktails.

What gives blue gin its color?

Nature gives flowers and other plants their aroma, taste, and color so there's no need for our experts at The Illusionist Distillery to use artificial ingredients. Clitoria ternatea is a plant commonly known as the butterfly pea flower which is used as a natural aroma enhancer and food dye, enabling food and beverage manufacturers to produce a blue hue without using artificial ingredients.

What other natural ingredients are used to make gin?

For many gin producers, refining the recipe is an extensive process that involves making multiple batches and processing feedback to find that perfect blend. Natural ingredients include angelica root, cranberries, cardamom, lemongrass, ginger, chamomile, mace, citrus fruits, and chamomile. A refined herbal mixture produces a fruity spirit with layers of flavor.

The distillation process ensures that our Illusionist Dry Gin is 45 percent alcohol while also being smooth. The silky texture sets our blue gin apart and ensures it's the best gin for mixing the perfect cocktail.

What makes our blue gin change color?

The butterfly pea flower performs magic when mixed with beverages like tonic water, champagne, lemon juice, and other acidic mixtures. Combining these types of ingredients creates a chemical reaction that turns the blue hue into a pink or purple shade depending on the combination of beverages.

Is tonic water the only liquid you can use to make gin cocktails?

Gin is an incredibly versatile spirit and can be used with a variety of different mixers to create the perfect drink, and with blue gin, the sky's the limit!

Classic Gin Mixers: The traditional G&T is a classic gin drink that consists of tonic water which gives it its notorious zesty flavorful. And while it's a classic, it's not the only mixer that complements gin. You can combine ginger beer with gin to enjoy the sweet and spicy taste of a Gin Mule or mix gin with ginger ale, flavored seltzer, and other sodas to create an assortment of tasty beverages.

Classic Gin Cocktails: Popular cocktails include a gin Cosmopolitan which combines The Illusionist blue gin with cranberry juice, orange liquor, lemon peel, and lime slices to create a sweet drink with a tangy bite. The Singapore Sling is another favorite among consumers and is made by shaking gin, Benedictine, cherry-flavored Heering, lime, and Angostura bitters with a splash of soda on top.

Complex Gin Cocktails: This is where you get to have fun and experiment with different tastes and colors, and our blue gin can assist you on your mixing journey! Get your creative juices flowing with English Garden which has gin, elderflower liqueur, apple juice, lime juice, and cucumber for a refreshingly bitter taste. Or, try Apple Bees Knees which combines gin, honey, and lemon juice with a frothy finish. Additionally, you can play around with your own recipes and merge juices and spices together that no one has ever mixed before!

For more, check out our list of cocktails below that change to pink and purple hues when blended with our delicious deep blue gin.

Recipes for Pink and Purple Gin Cocktails

Wow your guests and patrons by modifying the color of their cocktails right in front of them as you produce their drinks! There are endless cocktail recipes to add to your menu that consist of blue gin that you can change to pink, lilac, or periwinkle by simply adding another ingredient.

Pink Gin Cocktails

The Illusionist Bee's Knees

• 6cl Illusionist Dry Gin
• 2cl freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1,5cl honey syrup
• Combine all the ingredients into a shaker and complete with ice
• Shake for 15 seconds
• Strain the mix into a cocktail glass
• Garnish with edible flower

The Illusionist Dry Gin & Tonic

• 4cl Illusionist Dry Gin
• 12-16cl neutral flavored tonic of choice
• Pour the gin into a highball glass with ice
• Fill with tonic water
• Take an orange zest for garnish

The Illusionist K.I.S.S.

• 5cl Illusionist Dry Gin
• 1,5cl Freshly squeezed lime juice
• 2 Barspoons ginger marmelade
• 1 Lemongrass stem
• Combine the above elements into a shaker with ice
• Shake for 15 seconds
• Strain into a longdrink glass and top off with tonic
• Garnish with lemongrass, pressed to release the aroma

The Illusionist French 75

• 4,5cl Illusionist Dry Gin
• 2,5cl Freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1,5cl Chamomile syrup
• Shake all elements together with plenty of ice
• Strain into a chilled glass filled with ice
• Top with champagne or sparkling wine of your choice
• Garnish with lemon zest

Purple Gin Cocktails

The Illusionist Aviation

• 5cl Illusionist Dry Gin
• 1,5cl Maraschino
• 0,5cl Créme de Violette
• 2cl freshly squeezed lemon juice
• Combine all the ingredients into a shaker and complete with ice
• Shake for 15 seconds
• Strain the mix into a coupette glass
• Garnish with a lemon zest

The Illusionist Martini

• 5cl Illusionist Dry Gin
• 1,5cl Dry Vermouth
• Combine all the ingredients into a glass and complete with ice
• Stir
• Strain the mix into a V-shape glass
• Garnish with lemon zest

The Illusionist Rosemary Fizz

• 5cl Illusionist Dry Gin
• 3,5cl freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 2,5cl homemade rosemary syrup
• Combine the above elements into a shaker with ice
• Shake for15 seconds
• Strain into a longdrink glass and top off with soda
• Garnish with a rosemary sprig and lemon zest

Magic Is Real

• 5cl Illusionist Dry Gin
• 2cl Bergamotte Liqueur
• 2cl Lemon juice
• 1 Barspoon Honey
• 1cl Monin Syrup Paragon Timur Berry
• Combine all elements into a glass of choice with plenty of ice
• Tip: Add the Illusionist Dry Gin at the end for a beautiful float effect
• Garnish with flowers of the season

The Illusionist Sour

• 6cl Illusionist Dry Gin
• 3,5cl Freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 2,5cl Simple syrup
• 1 Egg white
• 3 Dashes Angostura Bitters
• Combine the above elements into a shaker without ice
• Shake
• Add ice to the shaker and give it a hard shake
• Double strain into a coupette glass
• Garnish with a lime or orange zest and angostura

Blue gin has become increasingly popular among gin drinkers and bartenders alike. Adding natural ingredients like butterfly pea flower to gin recipes produces beverages with a sweet aroma and a rich blue hue. Blue gin changes colors when mixed with other ingredients which is why blue gin can be turned into a soft pink or lavender cocktail when served.