Purpendicular

COCKTAIL INGREDIENTS:
- 30 ml Butterfly Pea Flower Infused Gin
- 15 ml Mount Rigi Aperitif
- 15 ml Fresh Lime Juice
- 15 ml Suze
- 10 ml Simple Syrup
- 22,5 ml Egg White

GARNISH:
- Grated Persian Black Lime

INSTRUCTIONS:
• Pour gin into a chilled cocktail glass.
• Combine rest of the ingredients in a cocktail shaker.
• Dry shake (without ice) to emulsify the egg whites.
• Add ice and shake until chilled.
• Double strain into a prepared cocktail glass and watch colour change.
• Garnish with some grated Persian black lime (optional).

I have recently been experimenting with infusions and wanted to try infusing gin with butterfly pea flowers to use in cocktails for its colour changing effect. I have also picked up a bottle of Mount Rigi aperitif on my holiday, which has been standing on my shelf for a while now. So, I though why not to use both in a single cocktail. The result of this experiment is right here – a balanced cocktail: light, not too sweet, with a hint of bitterness.

When making this cocktail I drew a little inspiration from Boozy Suzy and how a touch of Suze gentian liqueur raises complexity of the cocktail, without making it overwhelmingly bitter. At this moment all fell into place. Blue gin in a glass with its strong juniper notes and slightly grassy infusion of butterfly pea flowers. Mount Rigi with sweet cherry flavours, balanced by the sourness of lime and light refreshing bitterness of Suze. A touch of simple syrup to make the flavours pop a little more and egg white foam for the texture finishing the cocktail. Additionally, if you have some at hand, I recommend to grate Persian black limes as a garnish on top of the foam for their fantastic fragrance which works very well in this cocktail.

Butterfly pea flowers and lime acid react together giving the cocktail its distinct deep purple colour. And since I’m a fan of Deep Purple music, it was a no brainer to name this cocktail Purpendicular, after a great Steve Morse’s era Deep Purple album.

I hope you’ll enjoy it.