Bright Blueberry Gin Cocktail
This beautifully Bright Blueberry Gin Cocktail is as refreshing as it is visually stunning! This easy gin cocktail recipe uses only 4 ingredients. Fresh lemon juice, Blueberry Simple Syrup, club soda, and Empress gin, are all layered to create a gorgeous cocktail, then it’s garnished with a sprig of fresh mint and plump, ripe blueberries. Once stirred, enjoy the color transformation of this impressive libation. Can easily be made keto friendly!
To learn how to make this beautifully layered cocktail recipe, see the printable recipe card below or take a look at the recipe video. For other really interesting recipe variations (including keto), and to learn the technique of layering cocktails, visit the Pimp My Recipe section in my Blog Comments & Tips below.
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RECIPE
(Printable recipe card below.)
BRIGHT BLUEBERRY GIN COCKTAIL
Ingredients
Instructions
- Fill a 10 ounce glass with ice cubes. Measure Blueberry Simple Syrup with a jigger, and pour into the glass over ice. Add lemon juice. To create a layered drink, slowly pour club soda over a bar spoon to float each layer. Then float the gin (do not stir).
- Garnish with a sprig of fresh mint and fresh blueberries. Serve immediately, then stir with a cocktail swizzle stick, and enjoy the color transformation!
Notes
- To release the oils from the sprig of fresh mint, slap the mint leaves directly over the cocktail, then drag the mint around the rim.
- For some really interesting recipe variations (including a keto friendly version), visit the Pimp My Recipe section in this recipe’s Blog Comments & Tips on the website.
- Makes 1 serving.
Nutrition Facts
Calories
232.54Fat (grams)
0.07 gSat. Fat (grams)
0.01 gCarbs (grams)
27.88 gFiber (grams)
0.09 gNet carbs
27.79 gSugar (grams)
26.65 gProtein (grams)
0.1 gSodium (milligrams)
33.31 mgCholesterol (grams)
0 mgNutritional information provided is strictly an estimate and will vary based on ingredient brands and cooking methods. Optional garnishes are not included in the nutritional calculations.
SERVING SUGGESTIONS
VIDEO
How to Make this Beautifully Bright Blueberry Gin Cocktail!
Blog Comments & Tips
A stunning layered cocktail!
This stunning Bright Blueberry Gin Cocktail is not only refreshing, but it’s an easy way to experiment with making layered cocktails. Using only 4 ingredients, this gin cocktail has a magical effect when it transforms from layers of vibrant color into a deep magenta when stirred. The combination of fresh lemon juice, Blueberry Simple Syrup, club soda, and Empress gin, combine beautifully to create a deliciously refreshing cocktail.
Layered cocktails are known for their visually stunning and intricate layers of different liqueurs, spirits, and syrups. Although layered cocktails, also known as "pousse-café," are often unstirred, and more about the sipping experience and enjoying the journey from sipping each layer from top to bottom, this cocktail is a bit different. This Bright Blueberry Gin Cocktail is meant to be stirred but not until after it’s served. It’s more of a stand alone cocktail rather than a "pousse-café."
The art of layering drinks involves creating distinct, colorful layers in a glass, with each layer maintaining its separation from the others, resulting in a visually appealing and often flavorful experience.
Here are some key elements to layering cocktails:
Layered cocktails rely on the principle of density. Different spirits and liqueurs have varying densities, with the lighter ones floating on top of the denser ones. When layered properly, the differences in density allow the ingredients to remain distinct.
The order in which the ingredients are layered in the cocktail is critical. Ingredients with varying sugar content and alcohol levels can help achieve the desired layering effect. It’s important to pour heavier (more viscous) liquids at the bottom, gradually layering the lighter liqueurs and ingredients towards the top.
There are a couple of techniques used to create layers in cocktails. As I am not a trained mixologist, I found this to be the easiest method for the home bartender:
Pouring each layer gently over the back of a bar spoon placed low over the glass (hovering directly over the ice cubes) allows the spoon to help disperse the liquid and slow down its descent, preventing it from mixing with the layer(s) below. I have used this technique in two ways; over the top of the spoon, and over the back of the spoon.
In this recipe video, I used the top of the spoon technique, because the density of these ingredients were different enough to allow the layers to remain separated.
Layering cocktails requires patience and precision. It’s important to pour each ingredient slowly so as not to disturb the layers that have already been created. It often takes practice to perfect this technique.
How do you ensure the best results from this recipe?
My 6 tips to making a great Bright Blueberry Gin Cocktail:
Use fresh squeezed lemon juice. Bottled will not do.
The Blueberry Simple Syrup is one key to this cocktail. It only takes a few minutes and can be made days in advance, so it’s conveniently ready if you are entertaining guests.
The other key ingredient to this cocktail is the Empress 1908 gin. With its brilliant blue color which is derived from infusing butterfly pea flowers into the gin, it’s a necessary ingredient to create this visually stunning cocktail. Plus it has floral notes, which combine well with the blueberry and lemon flavors.
To layer the cocktail, use the top (or back) of a bar spoon. It’s important to pour slowly to keep the layers separated.
Although the fresh sprig of mint is optional as a garnish, I find it to be an essential element in the aroma experience. It’s best to take the spring of mint, hold it directly over the cocktail, and firmly slap the mint a few times on the palm of your hand. This will help express the oils onto the top of the drink. Then finish by dragging (swirling) the leaves on and around the rim of the cocktail glass before you place the sprig into the drink as a garnish.
Don’t stir the drink until after it is served. Serve the cocktail with a cocktail swizzle stick to allow your guests to stir their own drink, and watch the color transformation from layers of purple and brilliant blue, into a deep magenta.
It’s time to customize and Pimp My Recipe.
Pimp My Recipe:
Make it Gingery: Do you love ginger beer? The flavors of ginger would pair perfectly with the other ingredients in this cocktail. Just replace the club soda with the same amount of ginger beer. Try it with Fever-Tree ginger beer. It is delicious and has a natural ginger flavor.
Muddle it Minty: This cocktail has a clean and citrusy flavor. For a more minty flavor, try muddling…it’s absolutely refreshing! Just pour the lemon juice, and Blueberry Simple Syrup into the bottom of the cocktail glass (do not add ice). Drop in 3 large mint leaves, and muddle together. Add ice, then continue floating the club soda (or ginger beer), and finally the Empress 1908 gin.
Make it Keto Friendly: Although I have not personally tried these sugar free syrups, these variations would work well to make this a keto friendly cocktail. Both products have solid high ratings. Try replacing my Blueberry Simple Syrup with DaVinci Gourmet sugar free blueberry syrup. Or, turn this into a sugar free Blackberry Gin Cocktail, by using the same amount of Monin sugar free blackberry syrup instead of Blueberry Simple Syrup (and garnish with fresh blackberries)!
Enjoy and let me know what you think by commenting below, rating my recipes, subscribing, following, and liking Prep My Recipe on Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok! Don’t forget to subscribe to get updates on new recipes and tips & tricks.
Santé!
Mich
Footnote: Remember to use the top or back of a bar spoon to slowly layer each ingredient in the cocktail glass.
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