- 2 ozFLORENA Butterfly Pea Gin
- 3 ozTonic water
- ½ ozFresh lemon juice
- ½ ozElderflower liqueur (St-Germain)
- IceLarge cubes
- GarnishLemon wheel or edible flower
How to Make It
Fill your glass with ice
Add large ice cubes to a highball glass or coupe. The butterfly pea gin is a deep indigo at this point — notice the color before you add citrus.
Pour the gin and elderflower
Add 2 oz FLORENA Butterfly Pea Gin and ½ oz elderflower liqueur over the ice. The indigo color is deep and vivid at this stage.
Add the lemon — watch the magic
Squeeze ½ oz fresh lemon juice directly into the glass. The pH shift from the citrus triggers the color change — the drink transforms from indigo to a vivid violet-pink before your eyes.
Top with tonic and garnish
Gently pour tonic water down the side of the glass to preserve carbonation. Garnish with a lemon wheel or edible flower. Serve immediately.
Bartender Notes
The color change is real chemistry
Butterfly pea flower contains anthocyanin pigments that are pH-sensitive. Indigo at neutral pH, violet at slightly acidic, pink-red at more acidic. Lemon juice lowers the pH and triggers the shift. It's not a trick — it's botany.
Elderflower is non-negotiable
St-Germain or any quality elderflower liqueur bridges the gin's botanical notes with the citrus. Without it, the drink is sharp. With it, it's floral and balanced. Don't skip it.
Tonic matters
Use a quality tonic — Fever-Tree or Q Tonic. Generic tonic is too sweet and muddies the color-change effect. Premium tonic stays clear and lets the gin's botanicals shine through.