I bet you’ve never had this much fun with a cocktail before! A flaming color changing shimmery cocktail – This Phoenix Cocktail is a fruity, tangy, floral and sweet, Gin and Elderflower Cocktail that’s magical enough for Halloween, and delicious enough for any time of the year!
If you thought I was done with these color changing, shimmery, super fun cocktails, I’ve got another one coming at you today! 🙂 And I’m totally in love with this one. It’s a magical color changing AND shimmery cocktail, which I like to call The Phoenix Cocktail! Technically, it’s a sweet, tangy gin and elderflower cocktail, but I like the sound of a phoenix cocktail better. Don’t you? 🙂
It may not be particularly spooky, but it’s definitely magical enough to be Halloween-worthy if you’re still on the lookout for an entertaining idea for a Halloween cocktail party. But it’s also great for any time of the year. I put together THREE of my FAVORITE techniques to create this color changing shimmery cocktail. This gin-based cocktail is made with color changing gin, which I made by infusing the gin with butterfly pea flowers. You can get the recipe for it, in the recipe below but you can read all about this simple technique and get the tutorial for it here. Next, I added some food-grade white luster petal dust to the infused spirit to make it shimmery! I’ve discussed how I first discovered this neat little trick and how I made shimmery liqueur with it here and here. I’m doing the same for this shimmery cocktail, BUT WITHOUT any added sugar syrup.
This phoenix cocktail (gin and elderflower cocktail) was also inspired by the bee’s knees cocktail, but instead of using honey, I used elderflower syrup to sweeten it (which is why I don’t call it a bee’s knees cocktail). You can make this color changing shimmery cocktail with lemon and elderflower syrup OR lemon and St. Germain liqueur.
Elderflower syrup – I made a lemon and elderflower syrup by combining strained lemon juice, elderflower syrup and vodka in a 1:1: 1/2 ratio (the vodka is optional in case you’d prefer a non-alcoholic version, but if you add vodka, the syrup will last longer since the alcohol acts as a preservative). You can use this syrup for non-alcoholic beverages as well (without the vodka of course).
St Germain Liqueur – If you have St Germain liqueur at home instead of elderflower syrup, you can absolutely use that for this color changing cocktail as well. Just mix strained lemon juice and St germain liqueur in a 1 : 1 1/2 ratio.
So why am I calling it The Phoenix Cocktail? I’m serving this drink with the shimmery gin in a cocktail glass with a very thin layer of Rum 151 layered on top, and the lemon and elderflower syrup on the side. Then I light up the cocktail to create a mesmerizing flame over the blue shimmery gin, and then the syrup is carefully poured in to make this shimmery cocktail “MAGICALLY” change color from blue to purple! 🙂 How freaking awesome is that?
This phoenix cocktail is a little extra special to me because for the last two years, the words “still I rise” (by Maya Angelou) have been near and dear to me. So just the mythology of the beautiful phoenix and the notion of rising from the ashes are something I’ve drawn inspiration from quite a lot lately. So it only made sense to me to channel that into one of my cocktail recipes! Along somewhat similar lines, I recently shared a Halloween-worthy flaming dragon’s blood cocktail as well! 🙂
A word of caution: this is a flaming cocktail, so it goes without saying that you HAVE to be mindful and follow some safety precautions when you light up a cocktail. The flames are only used here for the theatrics, so once your guests have been entertained with your magical cocktail, please extinguish the flame before you hand over the drink to your guests. There are three ways you can do that (without having to blow into another person’s drink);
- Place a metal or glass dish (or saucer) over the drink to put out the flame – this is the recommended and the easiest way (see video).
- IF you are serving your cocktail in HEAT-RESISTANT GLASSES, like the gibraltar glasses that I’m using, top the drink with some crushed ice to extinguish the flame. It’s important you are using safe, heat-resistant glasses because you don’t want your glass to shatter due to the heat.
- Alternatively, you can pour the lemon and elderflower syrup over the flames. The cocktail will change color, as the flames die out!
You can make this even MORE magical by creating sparks in your flame. Just take a pinch of ground cinnamon and sprinkle it over the flames (from a safe distance) and watch the flames create beautiful sparks! I like to think of the cinnamon as the metaphorical “ashes” that the phoenix rises from. 🙂 The cinnamon doesn’t actually add any flavor, so the sparks are just for extra fun.
As an additional tip, keep your gin in the freezer and the lemon elderflower syrup in the fridge so they are chilled. Use sturdy glasses because then there’s less of a chance of your drink tipping over. And never fill the glass to the brim. Keep the rum 151 bottle and other flammable items away from your cocktail. If you’re still unsure, please leave out the flames. This gin and elderflower cocktail is still shimmery AND color changing. There’s enough magic right there to outshine even a phoenix! 🙂
This shimmery cocktail isn’t just absolutely spectacular to look at, but it’s also super delicious! The fruity, tangy, floral flavors of the lemon elderflower syrup make this an absolute delight to drink. That’s what I really like about elderflower syrup – with notes of lychee, peach and lemon, and a lovely floral fragrance, it’s one of my favorite flavors to use in cocktails. And it pairs beautifully with the earthy, sweet, floral notes of gin!
And even if you forego all the color changing, shimmery, flaming theatrics, this cocktail still stands strong on its own as an elegant, delicious gin and elderflower cocktail. It’s the taste that truly matters, and this one delivers. But I have to say, all that other stuff really does make it fun! 😀
If you would prefer a NON ALCOHOLIC VERSION, you can use the lemon and elderflower syrup (without the vodka) to make a delicious color changing galaxy lemonade, like this one!
For more COLOR CHANGING COCKTAILS head over here.
WATCH THE RECIPE VIDEO
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Color Changing Shimmery Phoenix Cocktail - Elderflower and Gin Cocktail
Ingredients:
Lemon elderflower syrup (makes 1¼ cups - for at least 4 cocktails)
- ½ cup strained lemon juice freshly squeezed
- ½ cup elderflower syrup cordial
- ¼ cup vodka see recipe note if you're using St-Germain liqueur
Color changing shimmery gin (makes 1¼ cups - for at least 4 cocktails)
- 5 dried butterfly pea flowers
- 1 ¼ cups gin
- ¼ tsp white / pearl luster dust edible or food-grade luster dust
Phoenix cocktail (for one cocktail)
- 67 mL butterfly pea infused, color changing gin chilled in the freezer, 1½ jiggers
- 67 mL lemon and elderflower syrup chilled, 1½ jiggers
- 2 tsp rum 151 optional, PLEASE USE WITH CARE
- Pinch of cinnamon optional
- 1 ice cube or some crushed ice
Instructions:
Lemon elderflower syrup (makes [adjustable]1¼[/adjustable] cups - for at least 4 cocktails)
- Pour all the ingredients into a jar. Shake or stir to combine. Chill the syrup until needed.½ cup strained lemon juice, ¼ cup vodka, ½ cup elderflower syrup
Butterfly pea infused color changing gin (makes [adjustable]1¼[/adjustable] cups - for at least 4 cocktails)
- Place the butterfly pea flowers and gin in a jar. Close the lid and let the flowers infuse the alcohol for a few hours (3 hours to overnight), until the gin turns a deep blue. You can see the video and photos of the gin in this post.5 dried butterfly pea flowers, 1 ¼ cups gin
- Strain the gin to remove the flowers. Discard the flowers and pour the gin into a glass bottle. Add the white luster dust and shake it to make a shimmery spirit. Place the gin in the freezer to chill.¼ tsp white / pearl luster dust
Phoenix cocktail
- Place the ice cube in a heat resistant ¾ cup glass (like a rock glass or small tumbler) - this step is optional, and serves to keep the drink nice and cold.1 ice cube
- Shake the color changing gin to mix in the luster dust that may have settled to the bottom. Pour 1½ jiggers of the gin per drink into the glass.67 mL butterfly pea infused, color changing gin
- OPTIONAL - Using the back of a spoon, carefully layer 1 - 2 tsp of the rum 151 over the gin (per drink). Using a long nose firelighter or long match stick, light up the rum 151 layer.2 tsp rum 151
- Serve the drink with 1½ jiggers of lemon and elderflower syrup on the side. Pour the syrup into the drink to change the color of the drink from blue to purple. Sprinkle a pinch of ground cinnamon over the flame to create sparks (optional).67 mL lemon and elderflower syrup, Pinch of cinnamon
- Smother the fire by placing a saucer / small dish over the glass for a few seconds. Stir and serve the drink. Enjoy!
Tips & Tricks
If using St-Germain liqueur
Replace the elderflower cordial and vodka with the liqueur (¾ cup).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.”
Sarah says
Hi Dini, just wanted to say hi! We’re putting together a Halloween cocktails roundup featuring this beautiful creation. We’re always amazed by your work.
Gia says
Oh shucks. I got grain neutral 151 instead of 151 Rum (bc they don’t make bacardi 151 anymore and I didn’t know there were other kinds of 151 rum). I am still learning. Will using grain neutral 151 ruin the taste? Change the taste? What if I let it burn off? Thanks on advance for your help.
Dini says
Hi Gia
The 151 rum is purely decorative. It doesn’t add anything to the cocktail, other than the “theatrics” 🙂
That’s why I only add a little bit, and it’s burnt off.
It is harder to find 151 proof alcohol now. I’m not sure what the difference between grain neutral 151 and bacaradi 151 is unfortuntely.
I don’t feel comfortable recommending a product that I haven’t tried, so my recommendation would be to try the cocktail without the 151 alcohol, as it doesn’t add anything to the final flavor of the cocktail
I hope that helps!
Gia says
Hi! This recipe looks so fun! I saw that it can be made with St. Germaine instead of elderflower syrup and the ratio to use of lemon and St. Germaine. Would I still add the vodka?
Dini says
Hi Gia!
So if you’re using St Germaine, then you would replace both the eldferflower cordial AND the vodka with St. Germaine. So in this recipe, it will be 3/4 cup of St Germaine to make the lemon elderflower syrup.
I hope that helps!
Gertie says
if I wanted to ‘ship’ the mix so we can enjoy it remotely over zoom…is it safe to make the sparkling liq. and place in an airtight container for shipping – then have everyone mix it in real-time? Will it hold up you think?
Dini says
Hi Gertie
I’m not sure which part of the drink you want to ship, and what your concern might be?
The rum 151 shouldn’t be mix in, as it will just be diluted in the rest of the liquid. As for the shimmery effect, it will last even if shipping takes a few days (the shimmery effect will last for months, at least). The color change will only happen once an acidic liquid is added.
The logistics of shipping an alcoholic liquid will depend on your post service provider.
I hope that helps!
Lisa says
Thought tho. Yes I still want to see a brew book. Then I did a quick check… Are any of your drinks made without citrus? Or are there options for like taste and change minus the citrus? Making them is easy… But I’d like to taste them when I make them without my epi pen …. Thank you for your cocktail ideas
Dini says
Hi Lisa!
Thank you 🙂
Unfortunately I don’t have any citrus-free cocktails on the blog (so far, at least). In this recipe especially I rely on the citrus to create the color change as well 🙁
I hope it’s OK for me to ask, but when you have a citrus allergy, are you unable to have other tangy fruits like passion fruit and pineapple as well? Or just the citrus family?
Lisa says
Dude man a brew book!
Kim Phillips says
I’m going to try this one. Looks AWESOME!!!
Meghan says
Is there something this would mix well with to make it a bit lighter, without losing the color effects? Note: Store didn’t carry elderberry syrup, so used St. Germaine…
Dini says
Hi Meghan!
Could you let me know what you mean by “lighter”? Do you mean less alcohol? Less sweetness?
Meghan says
Thank you! I meant less alcohol.
Dini says
No problem!
Since you’re using st germain liqueur, the cocktail will be missing the sourness from the lemon. So I recommend only adding 1.5 fl oz of the liqueur, and 1 fl oz of the lemon juice to balance the flavor. If you want it to be more sour, you can add a little more lemon juice as well! This will reduce the alcohol amount and balance the flavor really well too. If the drink is too strong, you can add more lemon juice plus some ice cubes. This will have an impact on the shimmery effect, but not the color changing effect.
Hope that helps!
Meghan says
Thank you!
April says
I’m having a hard time getting it to light…any tips?
Dini says
Hi April
Are you using Bacardi 151 to light it?
Aj says
Thank you for such awesome ideas! the shimmering, flaming, color changing cocktail is so on point! I am currently infusing some cool booze with the pea flowers and can’t wait! I run a personal bartending service, and using your ideas have compounded my tips.
cakespy says
I want you to be my personal bartender. Please please please. 🙂
Dini says
Absolutely anytime!! 😀 <3
Jonathan says
Have you tried it with something besides the gin, like vodka as the base?
I want to make it for someone who doesn’t like gin at all.
Dini says
Hi Jonathan
I haven’t used vodka in this cocktail, but you should be able to. Since vodka has a more neutral flavor, it will taste more like a elderflower lemonade cocktail.
I hope that helps.