If you’re a gin lover, you can’t afford to miss the new colour-changing gin, by homegrown brand NIsaki. The Indian dry gin which is produced in Goa can change colours when mixed with soda, tonic or water and it’s almost like a party trick!
The premium rice-based, triple-distilled gin is made with a unique selection of sixteen organic ingredients including a selection of botanicals, a secret citrus blend, handpicked Macedonian juniper berries and a signature tea blend along with some others. The blend also consists of Indian spices and some ginger which adds a sense of soft warmth.
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Nisaki gin is then distilled in copper pot stills in batches of 200 litres, diluted to bottling strength, and rested in pharmaceutical-grade blending tanks for up to 21 days. The gin which is indigo in colour, turns violet when mixed with a splash of soda, a soft blush when mixed with tonic and electric blue when mixed with water. The brand just debuted in Goa and is priced at Rs 1849.
The colour-changing gin trend has picked up traction all around the world, particularly in South Asian countries where blue pea flower is the go-to ingredient that can change the colours of spirits that are in the shades of blue. These flowers contain a natural pigment called anthocyanin, which is a water-soluble pigment found in many plants, responsible for the blue, purple, and red colours in various flowers, fruits, and vegetables.
The interesting thing about anthocyanins is that their colour can change depending on the pH level of the solution they are in. In acidic environments, they tend to appear red, while in alkaline or neutral environments, they appear blue or purple.
When you infuse butterfly pea flower into water or alcohol, as in the case of making a drink, the anthocyanins in the flower leach out into the liquid, giving it a blue colour. However, when you add an acidic ingredient like lemon juice, the pH of the solution decreases, causing the colour to change from blue to purple or pink. If you want to serve colour-changing gin cocktails at home, try this hack!
- Boil water and steep butterfly pea flower tea (packaged tea leaves are available in markets) and allow the tea to cool to room temperature.
- Once the tea has cooled, strain out the flowers. Pour the clear gin into a glass container or bottle.
- Add the cooled butterfly pea flower tea to the gin. Mix gently until well combined and you’ll see it has turned blue!
- To turn the gin purple, add a small amount of lemon juice or citrus fruits. The acidity will cause the colour to change.