Unicorn Gin Cocktail
Published 7/6/2024 • Updated 7/16/2024
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We’ve dubbed this unicorn gin cocktail the drink of the summer over here at Fit Foodie Finds! It’s a magic color-changing cocktail that goes from purple to pink with the squeeze of a lemon.
Get ready for this crowd-pleasing summer cocktail recipe we’ve been making on repeat for the past few months! You’ll combine a yummy herbal tea with gin and simple syrup, pour it into cocktail glasses and then finish off with a squeeze of lemon (this is the secret sauce!), which causes the drink to change from a purple to a pink color. It’s not a Harry Potter spell, but you bet your friends and family will think it’s just as cool 😋
If you are looking for more cocktail recipes to serve alongside these gorgeous gin cocktails, check out our Hibiscus Arnold Palmer Drink, Honey Greyhound Cocktails, or one of these Sex on the Beach Slushies. FUN.
Unicorn Gin Cocktail Ingredients
- Blackberry-raspberry hibiscus tea by Bigelow: we recommend this specific tea for the most drastic color changing drink. Any herbal tea will technically work, but this tea is vibrant in color, which means it will create a more noticeable change in color with the squeeze of a lemon.
- Gin: the higher quality gin, the better it will taste! We love Prairie Organic Gin 😀
- Simple syrup: feel free to use store-bought or make your own with our recipe!
- Orange bitters: any citrus bitters will do.
- Lemon wedges: don’t skip these! It’s what will change your drink color from purple to pink.
- Mint: fresh mint leaves make for a gorgeous garnish.
What makes it change color?
Herbal tea can change color when citrus is added because the citrus increases the tea’s acidity. This changes the pH levels of the tea’s ingredients, and can result in a color change of the tea itself when it’s a vibrant enough color.
Choosing the Best Tea
When it comes to choosing tea for this drink, you need to make sure it’s an herbal tea since that’s what causes the chemical reaction that changes the color of the liquid. BUT we will say, it’s best to go with a vibrant colored tea like raspberry or blackberry or hibiscus tea. And that’s exactly why we chose this Bigelow raspberry blackberry hibiscus tea — it makes for a vibrant colored drink and also the most drastic color change with the squeeze of a lemon. It really will change from purple to pink like in these photos!
Make it Non-Alcoholic
This is a great drink to serve if you want something that can be easily accommodated for an NA option. Simply omit the gin or substitute 1:1 for another clear liquid like sparkling water. Just avoid any colored liquid because it will impact the color changing quality of this drink!
Unicorn Gin Cocktail Recipe
Ingredients
- 8 oz. blackberry-raspberry hibiscus tea by Bigelow
- 12 oz. gin
- 1 tablespoon simple syrup
- ½ teaspoon orange bitters, any citrus bitters will do
- 4 lemon wedges
- Mint for garnish
Instructions
- Add 8 oz. of water to a jar and add one bag of tea. Allow the tea to infuse for 8 minutes.
- Next, add the tea, gin, simple syrup, and orange bitters to a pitcher and add 1 cup of ice. Stir with a cocktail spoon until the liquid is cold.
- Pour the cocktail into 4 separate cocktail glasses, holding the ice back.
- Add one full ice cube to each cocktail. Squeeze fresh lemon juice into each cocktail and watch as the cocktail turns from blue to pink.
Tips & Notes
- You can use your favorite herbal tea, but we highly recommend using blackberry, and raspberry hibiscus tea.
- We used Grey Whale Gin. The higher quality gin you use, the better.
Watch It
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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I greatly appreciate the valuable information you provided and the generous amount of time you dedicated to me. I am profoundly grateful. It is an immense blessing to have someone like you as a role model.
I’m always on the lookout for easy yet elevated cocktail recipes that I can whip up quickly for backyard barbecues or casual get-togethers, and this one sounds like it fits the bill perfectly.
I assume that’s meant to be 1-2 ounces of gin? Which measurement was used for the calorie count?
Hi Heidi — this recipe serves 4! And the nutrition information is for a single serving — hope this helps 🙂