The Blue Gin

[Expat]

I wanted to share something which has been giving a lot of pleasure to myself and a few select friends.

Under the category of taking Gin to the next level, I present the Blue Gin!

The magic of the blue gin is it's reaction with acids such as tonic water or a splash of lemon.

Color change is instant to an eye pleasing purple

Definitely a party pleaser!

The color is natural, coming from the Butterfly Pea Blossom, which grows in areas like Thailand, but are readily available for sale on Amazon. The blooms have a wonderful lite sweet aroma, but don't otherwise impart any flavor to the gin, so far as I can detect.

The process of infusion is remarkably simple. Take a high quality gin (Odin's Easy Gin for example) at your preferred drinking strength, I go with 50%. Add 1g per litre of dried blooms, seal your container and let stand for 24 hours.

Remove the blooms using a coffee filter and your done!

I've not seen any color change over to time, (perhaps because the stuff gets used up so fast) but it's probably better that it's not stored in direct sun.

Enjoy!

[NZChris]

A nice touch with the flowers is to make blue ice cubes to put into a G&T, which then slowly goes pink as you enjoy it. Don't tell your guest what to expect.

To color my blue gin, I used tea made from the flowers when diluting.

[Twisted Brick]

So cool, Expat! Thanks for sharing!

This is indeed a true crowd favorite, but it's a little-known fact it also works wonders in the bedroom.

If I remember correctly, this wonder herb, commonly known as Clitoria Ternatea is said to provide the male the 'strength of 1000 horses' and the stamina of a pack of sled dogs.

Extreme care, however, must be taken ingesting it, for there is a threshold (unfortunately, for males only). Too much (apprx 500ml per session) completely reverses its aphrodisiac powers, which can only be treated with prescription medication (Mycoxaphalin). If medication isn't available, a good 12hr sleep works the same, only a lot slower.

Ingest with care!

[Expat]

LOL Twisted I hadn't heard of that before.

I'd imagine that drinking half a liter of 50% gin would also have some serious effects lol

[cranky]

That is so cool!!!

Now I need to get around to making a big batch of gin so I can do that

[NZChris]

That is so cool!!!

Now I need to get around to making a big batch of gin so I can do that

Build a small still. A big batch of crap gin is a real PITA to get rid of. I know because I've done it, (fixing a friend's gin).

[durty_dunderpants]

well damn that's fun!

chris what strength of tea is needed for diluting the gin and making the ice cubes?

[fizzix]

I learn something new here everyday whether I like it or not, and this is just too cool!
Here's a Butterfly Pea Blossom LINK to Amazon for those interested.

[GCB3]

This is really cool. Thanks so much, ExPat. And thanks for the link, Fizzix!

[GCB3]

Build a small still. A big batch of crap gin is a real PITA to get rid of. I know because I've done it, (fixing a friend's gin).

+1 to what Chris said! Without going into all the details of “my friends” bad, large batch, let’s just say that “my friend” now has a small batch pot still for refining recipes! Chris is giving good advice!

[cranky]

That is so cool!!!

Now I need to get around to making a big batch of gin so I can do that

Build a small still. A big batch of crap gin is a real PITA to get rid of. I know because I've done it, (fixing a friend's gin).

I figure my little 4 gallon would probably do the job nicely, although I do have a 1 gallon in the works specifically for gin and I could always borrow a 1.5 liter one I built for someone a few years ago. I made a really nice gin with that one before I gave it to him and always wish I had made a bigger batch so a year or two ago I started a batch of neutral just for gin. I got about half as much low wines as I need to run the big column I just need to find enough time to make and run the rest.

[NZChris]

... and I could always borrow a 1.5 liter one I built for someone a few years ago.

Do that.

I use my 1.3l to produce gin concentrate that can make up to a gallon of finished product when blended with neutral. I have made concentrate using Birdwatchers when I didn't have enough clean neutral for blending, then made it up once I'd gotten around to making the neutral. You could probably do several different gin runs in a day, giving you a variety to choose from.

[MDH]

Years ago I worked at a Sushi Restaurant. We used to cook rice with butterfly pea flower to make colorful rolls for people with young children. It's been used for centuries to make tea in Thailand and it actually kind of surprises me it's only just caught on here in North America.

[Expat]

Glad you guys like the idea

Haven't yet managed to make the stuff last more than a week lol mysteriously evaporates when the friends are around

MDH - Never thought about putting it in food, I knew about the tea hence the gin.

[MDH]

It looks as wild as you'd imagine.

[JK79sGin]

I've also experimented with the butterfly pea flowers. I found that cutting back to drinking strength with the tea didn't give a colour change quite as distinct as infusing the gin directly with the flowers.
I'm intrigued by the ice cube idea though! Looks fun

[NZChris]

The blue ice cubes in a G&T with a squeeze of lemon surprises the guests when they realize their gin is going pink. As the blue ice melts, the pink color gets more intense.

[GCB3]

ExPat and NZChris,
My butterfly blossoms came last night and I’m going to do the Gin infusion today. I’m also going to make some ice cubes. Thanks to both of you for the ideas.

Based on a Google search, the suggested tea recipe (for the cubes) is 1/4 cup of blossoms to 1-2cups water. I’ll probably split it at 1 1/2 cups water for a first try.

Thanks again.

[Expat]

my pleasure!

Circle back and tell us how it went.

Based on my experience a 1/4 cup is a LOT of blue lol. Perhaps water is less efficient at extracting the color than alcohol. I'm curious to see the results

[JK79sGin]

It may be more efficient to make as tea (ie boiling water) the cool for ice cubes

[GCB3]

Man, that’s some potent stuff! I made the tea (using boiling water) per the google recipe and I think you’re right, ExPat. It’s almost black it’s so deep blue. The tea has the same aroma as the dried blossoms but doesn’t have a strong flavor, even at this concentration, and there is no bitterness like you can get from overdoing conventional teas.
I have some freezing now and plan to try the ice cubes in a G&T tonight.

The 1 gm/lt Gin infusion is a beautiful deep blue after only an hour or so. I’m going to let it go the full 24 hrs as prescribed. I’ll report back (and look for a different tea recipe for next time).
Thanks

[NZChris]

The recipe I use for ice cubes is 16 flowers in 2 cups of boiling water. Strain when cooled.

[GCB3]

Thanks Chris. I haven’t measured, but, I’m thinking 16 blossoms may not be too far off from 1/4 cup. I’ll check it next time.
So, reporting back. The ice cube G&T’s were a success. The end product was a little more purple than pink which is probably due to the tea strength. That I can work with. Regardless, I think this will be a fun signature drink for my unsuspecting family.

Blue Gin

Diffusing Ice Cubes

[NZChris]

Put a squeeze of lemon in the glass to drop the pH.

[Evil Wizard]

I've been doing this as well. I love the stuff - always looking for a cheaper supply.

[Expat]

I've been doing this as well. I love the stuff - always looking for a cheaper supply.

Living in the grip of the LCBO I'm not surprised, prohibition by taxation and we're supposed to like it.

The blue is a beautiful thing; regular stock in my house now.

[HiroP]

I call mine "Magic Gin". A little pea flower macerated in high abv and the added sparingly to finished product is how I do it. I have found that adding citric acid to tonic water ( a pinch per 2 l) gives a noticeable bump to the colour change.

PS I was VERY lucky to experience a fantastic pea flower/rice/coconut milk dessert wrapped in a steamed banana leave dessert in the home of a friends wife in northern Thaiand. It looked like a giant amethyst crystal. The pea flower blossoms were from their neighbours driveway!!

[NZChris]

Thanks for bumping this thread, HiroP. It's reminded me to start making blue ice balls for summer gins

[LunaDogFever707]

A good store-bought drink for comparison is Empress 1908. One of my favorite gins

[Expat]

A good store-bought drink for comparison is Empress 1908. One of my favorite gins

Yeah, I'm aware of the Empress... But I wasn't... Impressed

It's okay, but overpriced imo