You only need one neat little trick and a bit of science for a myriad of Magical Color Changing Alcohols that’ll wow your friends and family at your next get-together! Read on to find out how you can make show-stopping cocktails with one secret ingredient! And get the recipes for the color changing cocktails (galaxy cocktails) right here!
Just as I promised in my earlier post, I am back with COLOR CHANGING COCKTAILS made with COLOR CHANGING ALCOHOL! 🙂
It’s been amazing to see how much you guys loved my Color Changing Magic Ice and Galaxy Lemonade Slushie! The video on Facebook has reached nearly 2 million people now with over 10,000 shares. Since I published that post, I’ve been getting messages from readers who tried the idea and made their own magic ice and galaxy lemonade slushies and that’s beyond rewarding! 🙂
And now I’m ready to switch things up a little, with alcohol! 🙂 I made FOUR amazing, classic cocktails with not only my color changing magic ice, but with COLOR CHANGING ALCOHOL too! How awesome is that?
If you want to make color changing alcohol (not just color changing ice), bear with me because there’s a little bit of science behind the process. The more you understand, the easier it’ll be for you to customize your drinks. And I’ll go through it all, step by step. If you’re here from Facebook, I definitely recommend watching the video (coming soon!) and reading the information here on making color changing alcohol.
If you prefer the easier option – then you can skip the color changing alcohol, and simply use regular alcohol along with the color changing magic ice in your cocktails. The “magic” is still mesmerizing to see, and you can go right to THIS POST, for all those color changing cocktail recipes.
But if you stuck around, come on over, I’ve got just the trick for you to WOW your friends and family with magical color changing alcohol, that will knock their socks off! 🙂
I used the same pH-dependent secret ingredient here (not so secret really) as in my galaxy lemonade slushie to color the alcohol. But there’s a catch – alcohol is naturally acidic. We already know that butterfly pea / blue pea flower tea turns PURPLE in slightly acidic (low pH) solutions. So when you infuse butterfly pea into clear spirits like vodka, gin or tequila – you end up with purple-ish alcohol. Vodka being the most purple, with gin giving you a more Prussian blue color. You can still use this alcohol for a striking effect, and find that it changes to a beautiful pink when you add lime or lemon juice (making it more acidic). Since gin is less acidic than vodka and tequila, it’ll retain more of a blue color.
HOWEVER, there’s a simple way to neutralize vodka and tequila and create an even more splendid color change in your color changing cocktails. The trick is to add just the tiniest amount of baking soda! Baking soda is basic (higher pH), so it raises the pH of your naturally acidic alcohol so that the butterfly pea induced color change becomes ever more prominent. One cup of butterfly pea infused vodka, requires less than 1/8th of a teaspoon of baking soda to change to a blue-shade! It’s such a negligible amount that it won’t affect the taste in any way, but it still produces that magical color change we want! But please note that this step is optional, and if you prefer not to add anything to your alcohol, you’re more than welcome to skip this step. It only heightens the theatrics! 🙂
I use a very rough titration technique to achieve the color change. I measure out the alcohol that I’ll be using, and then use the tiniest amount of baking soda (using a flat skewer), and add it gradually to the vodka/tequila and swirl to get the blue color. You can use this method to change the color of butterfly pea infused vodka/tequila. Just add a tiny amount of baking soda at a time, while mixing in between, until you achieve your desired color. Also note that gin retains the blue color from the outset since it’s not as acidic as vodka and tequila, so it does not require any baking soda.
You can get Dried Butterfly Pea Flower Tea
(blue pea flowers) from Amazon or Ebay (unless you live in a place where the plant grows naturally). You can get dried whole flowers, or just the flower petals or even crushed flowers. If you’re lucky enough to have access to fresh flowers, just use the fresh petals (remove the calyx). But they do offer butterfly pea flower extract (called B’lure 
) on amazon, which looks pretty darn cool. I haven’t used it, but apparently you only need to use a few drops per cocktail.
The infused alcohol takes on the color of your blue pea flowers in a matter of hours (immediately, if use the B’lure extract). But I like to infuse it overnight. Just make sure to store the alcohol in clean, washed jars, because if your container has any acidic residue, that will affect the color.
MAKING THE DRINK
You can make the drink any way you want! I’ve given you some options, but in order to get the effect of the color change, I wouldn’t advice using this for cocktails that require some shaking.
Prepare the drink (without the alcohol) in a glass, and then pour the color changing infused alcohol in as the last ingredient, so that you and your guests can enjoy the color change. If you add crushed ice into the glass, it slows down the color change, making it even better (so it’s ideal for Moscow/Kentucky mules or juleps). Alternatively, you can serve the alcohol in a glass, and then pour the lemon/fruit juice last, in front of your guests for the color change. And then top your drink with crushed, color changing magic ice too if you like! 🙂
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How to make Color Changing Alcohol (Vodka, Tequila and Gin)
Ingredients:
- 15 - 24 dried butterfly pea / blue pea flowers 5 - 8 flowers per cup of alcohol
- 240 mL good quality vodka 1 cup
- 240 mL good quality gin 1 cup
- 240 mL good quality silver tequila 1 cup
- 3 clean jars
- 3 clean bottles
- Strainer and funnel
- ¼ tsp baking soda + flat toothpick
Instructions:
- Place each of the spirits in the 3 clean jars. Add 5 - 8 flowers into each jar, close tightly and lightly shake the contents to mix.240 mL good quality vodka, 240 mL good quality gin, 240 mL good quality silver tequila, 3 clean jars, 15 - 24 dried butterfly pea / blue pea flowers
- Label and leave the jars in a cool place to infuse overnight.
- When the spirits turn dark purple or blue in color, strain the alcohol into bottles.3 clean bottles, Strainer and funnel
For the vodka and tequila
- If the liquor is purple, and you prefer the alcohol to be blue, using the flat toothpick or a small spoon, transfer a pinch of baking soda into each of the bottles. Swirl to mix and check the color.¼ tsp baking soda + flat toothpick
- Repeat with very small amounts of baking soda, until it turns blue (stop adding as soon as you notice the desired blue color).
- Store all infused liquors in a cool place (or fridge or freezer), until needed.
Nutrition Information:
“This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.”
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A. L.S. says
I think this is so cool and live the different colors. Will this work with white or clear RUM?
Dini says
Hi!
Yes this should work with clear or white rum!
I hope that helps!
Donna Sproat says
Great recipe but if you just add lemon or lime it changes color also rather than using the baking soda
Dini says
Hi Donna
This is a color changing alcohol that changes color with an acid like lemon or lime as stated in the post.
The baking soda is not for the final color change. It is to neutralize any color change that occurs after the flowers infuse into the liquor, to make it blue again.
Jac says
Very nice
Crystal says
Thanks for sharing this cool trick! Do you know if infusing the alcohol impacts it’s shelf life?
Dini says
Hi Crytal
I’m not sure if it does. Straight alcohol, has some preservation qualities. I have kept the infused alcohol for a few months (as long as they do last in my home), and haven’t had an issue.
Hope that helps!
Nicolás Vera says
Hi, I am a high school chemistry teacher in Chile and I have been fascinated by your preparations, I have even thought of showing them in my lessons.
Congratulations
Ebenezer Adjei Anang says
I loved this!
Joy says
This is brilliant! I made the gin but it goes blue to purple. How do I get the range in my glass of blue, pink, purple? Thanks
Dini says
Hi Joy!
The way butterfly pea tea works is that the more acidic an ingredient it is, it turns pink (more concentrated). If it’s only a little acidic, it turns purple (more diluted).
To get the blue, purple pink gradient, as you can see from my galaxy lemonade, you will need to use plain crushed ice at the bottom, followed by butterfly pea tea ice and then add lemon syrup to the bottom of the glass first, and top it with vodka. The ice will slow down the flow and help create layers. I can’t guarantee a blue, pink to purple gradient but you will get some kind of color gradient by using ice to slow the flow of liquid and control the rate of mixing.
Hope that helps!
Cassie Strain says
So cool. Can’t wait to try
Adrianne Dee says
Hi! By any chance do you have the flower picture I don’t find it anywhere I’m from Guatemala I don’t know how exactly it’s called here… thanks!!!
Dini says
Hi Adrianne!
If you look up “butterfly pea flower” on google you should be able to see a picture of what the flower looks like 🙂
I hope that helps!
Marla says
What Can Ibuse with Vodka to make it look cloudy
Dini says
Hi Marla
Do you mean shimmery like this?
You can get information you need in the post that I linked above. I used pearl luster dust, as it’s a neutral color that doesn’t add color to the liquor.
Hope that helps!
Nandi Mpofu says
….. I have no much knowledge about how to make vodka but interested in making my own … pink vodka .. does the change of colour change over time and how long does it stay that colour?
Dini says
Hi Nandi
I don’t make vodka either, as I buy it from the store.
I usually only make small batches of the color changing vodka. So I don’t know how long the color will last. Without an acid the vodka will be blue, but if an acid is added it will change color but also change the flavor of the vodka.
If you want pink vodka without a change in flavor, then I recommend adding pink food coloring.
I hope that helps
iyanthi says
Love to get cocktail recipes
eminex says
I loved this recipe so much!Pls i wish to change a pure white alcohol into coloured alcohol what can i add pls ,its urgent and i want to use it to produce coloured alcohol
Dini says
Hi Eminex
If you want to change the color of the alcohol urgently, then I recommend using food coloring instead. It won’t have a color changing effect, but it will be the color you prefer.
I hope that helps
Bertus Mostert says
Fantastic
Vicky says
Looks fab! Will have to try out
What’s the shelf life of the liquid?
Dini says
Hi Vicky
I’ve kept this for a year without any issues. However, I try to only make small batches to avoid keeping them too long.
I hope that helps!
Rudy says
Hey, I am a bit confused at the end. Do I still have put it in the fridge even if I don’t add baking soda? Are only the vodka and tequila infused bottles need to be refrigerated?
Dini says
Hi Rudy
Sorry for the confusion.
I like to keep infused liquor in the fridge or freezer (vodka, gin or tequila or any other kind). It doesn’t matter if you add baking soda or not.
Hope that helps!
Nia Bleu says
Bomb asf!
Rachael says
Hi Dini,
So if I’m understanding this correctly, as-is, the vodka should change from blue to purple when you mix it in a cocktail. I’m wanting a more-purple color for a witches brew I’m doing with dry ice for Halloween. Do you use the butterfly pea powder, or the dried flowers? And do you notice a difference between the products?
Thanks,
Rachael
Dini says
Hi Rachael
Yes, butterfly pea flowers turn blue to purple/pink when an ACID is mixed in.
You can definitely make a cocktail for Halloween that you want to be purple. The higher the acid content in your cocktail, the more pink-ish it becomes.
Dry ice releases CO2, and can reverse the color changes of the drink. When I add dry ice to butterfly pea, the purple color becomes more bluish purple as the dry ice evaporates.
You can find a happy balance between turning the cocktail purple and adding dry ice, but you may need to experiment.
Both the flowers and powder will give the same effect. I prefer flowers, because they’re cheaper and I just need to drop the flowers in the vodka to infuse and strain it to remove.
Hope that helps! 🙂
Rene says
Hello!
Any ideas how to fixate this blue vodka for some time? Inwould like to store it…
After 1-2 months blue color wears/bleaches out…
Any tipa for fixatives?
Tnx
Dini says
Hi Rene
I haven’t had the butterfly pea infusion color wear out before. The longest I’ve had it for is about 1 month or so. I can’t think of why it would lose its color though, so I can’t recommend a fixative unfortunately.
You could re-introduce some butterfly pea powder if you like. You can get freeze-dried or powdered butterfly pea flowers which will make it easier to mix in the color if it does fade after some time.
Stela says
Hi
I tried to infuse two types of Vodka – good quality vodka(famous brand) and low budget cheap vodka. I’ve read somewhere that high quality vodka’s have higher pH than others so that means that “cheaper ones” are more acidic ( with lower pH) – resulting B. Pea tea getting purple.
But the result was a bit strange – The “better” Vodka was coloured purple after infusing, and the cheap was blue! (The same colour as gin!)
Does that mean that cheaper vodka is acctually better? (As in quality)
Or maybe i understood something wrong.
Thank you 🙂
Dini says
Hi Stela
I’m not entirely sure if the ph level has to do with high quality vs low quality. It’s probably more to do with the manufacturing process. But you are correct, if the vodka has a lower ph level it will turn the vodka purple when infused with butterfly pea tea.
David Bertram says
Can you mix like a bunch of different flavors together to make it uniquely flavored?
Dini says
Hi David,
You could, but please bear in mind that the colors and flavors will react with the butterfly pea flowers. If you are adding an acid based fruit (lemon, berries, pineapple etc), the color and acidity of the fruits will change the final color of the alcohol, and since there’s already acid in the alcohol – they wouldn’t change color.
Spices and herbs are safer, IF they don’t impart a color to the alcohol.
Hope that helps.
Vickie says
If you use B’Lure extract – how many drops would you have to put into a 12oz cocktail to see the change?
Dini says
Hi Vickie!
I haven’t used B’Lure extract, but you can add as many drops to get the blue color that you prefer. The fewer drops, the lighter the blue color, and lighter the color change.
I hope that helps!
Kyrsten says
Have you tried infusing the flowers with flavored vodkas? Just wondering if it works and if you need to change the amount of baking soda you use?
Dini says
Hi Kyrsten,
I haven’t tried it, but it is possible, as this is a highly customizable technique with almost any spirit. It would be like infusing any type of spirit – the pH levels will affect the outcome.
So a lemon flavored vodka will have a higher pH than a neutral one (like maybe vanilla vodka). The amount of baking soda you need to add will depend on that too.
My recommendation is to avoid citrus infused vodka. For other flavored vodkas, just add a small pinch of baking soda at a time (if you need to) till it turns a dark blue (or a purplish-blue). You want to add the least amount of baking soda as possible so that it doesn’t affect the taste.
I hope that helps!
Liv says
Woooow, tht’s Amazing! Like a magic. I love the video, it’s awesome! 🙂
It’s just so cool 🙂
Danielle says
If you make this ahead for a party, will the color change after a few days?
Dini says
Hi Danielle!
The infused alcohol will stay the same color until you use it. It will only change color if anything acidic gets mixed in. Hope that helps!
Cheers
Dini
Hornedsword404 says
Hey I’m just curious all we have here is the powder, so what would you say is the rough amount of powder necessary?
Dini says
Hi
It depends on how much of a blue tinge you would like your alcohol to have. I would start with about 1/4 tsp per 2 cups, and add more if you want more color.
I hope that helps!
Toni says
So you basically recommend only about half a teaspoon of the powder for a whole bottle of gin (700 ml)?
Dini says
Hi Toni
If the powder that you have is pretty strong, just 1/2 tsp should be enough. However, as per the comment, you can add more if you want more color.
Just make sure that the color change will also be visible at that color as well.
I hope that helps!
Heidi says
You don’t mention rum. Will rum not work?
Dini says
Hi Heidi!
I haven’t tried this with Rum, but white rum will absolutely work with this too! 🙂