Purple Rain Recipe
Butterfly Pea Flower Infused Vodka, Pamplemousse, Lime Juice, Agave
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Ingredients
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Cocktail
Garnish & Finish
Butterfly Pea Flower Vodka (makes ~1 cup)
Method
Butterfly Pea Flower Vodka (advance step)
- 1
Infuse vodka
Place 1 tablespoon dried butterfly pea flowers in a clean jar. Pour 8 oz (1 cup) neutral vodka over the flowers, seal, and let steep at room temperature for 30–60 minutes, checking color. For a deep blue/purple, steep up to 2 hours; do not exceed 4 hours to avoid vegetal bitterness. Strain through a fine mesh sieve or coffee filter into a clean bottle. Yield ~8 oz infused vodka. Store refrigerated and use within 2 weeks.
Cocktail Preparation
- 2
Chill glass
If desired, place a coupe or rocks glass in the freezer for 5–10 minutes or fill it with ice water while you prepare the cocktail to chill.
- 3
Combine ingredients
In a cocktail shaker, add 2 oz butterfly pea flower–infused vodka, 1.25 oz fresh pamplemousse (pink grapefruit) juice, 0.5 oz fresh lime juice, and 0.5 oz agave syrup. Add a generous handful of ice (about 1 cup).
- 4
Shake
Shake vigorously for 12–15 seconds, until the shaker is well chilled and slightly frosted. This aerates and slightly dilutes the drink, balancing the citrus and agave.
- 5
Strain and finish
Double-strain (use a Hawthorne/mesh and fine strainer if available) into the chilled coupe or a rocks glass over fresh ice if you prefer it on the rocks. If you want a longer, lighter drink, top with 1.5 oz soda water and gently stir once to integrate.
- 6
Garnish
Garnish with a lime wheel on the rim and either a dehydrated grapefruit slice or a single butterfly pea flower (edible) floated on top. The butterfly pea flower vodka will produce a vivid bluish-purple base; the grapefruit and lime will shift the hue toward pink/purple depending on acidity, giving the 'Purple Rain' effect.
- 7
Serve
Serve immediately. Encourage guests to stir if using soda water to watch the color shift and enjoy.