Named after the quintessential Fleetwood Mac song, “Dreams,” our Dreams Cocktail, Inspired by Stevie Nicks, is the 19th cocktail in our 2023 Summer Concert Cocktail Series. This beauty is an upscale version of a Gin and Tonic, with a lime simple syrup for a touch of zest.
What Makes this Gin Cocktail Change Color?
The Empress 1908 Gin in this cocktail is a beautiful blue-indigo color, but when you add the tonic into it, it will change into a lighter magenta. The tonic changes the gin’s pH balance, which in turn changes the color of the gin’s pigments. When you mix it with tonic water, which has a low pH, the gin’s color changesy. For example, gin infused with butterfly pea flowers can change from blue to a delicate purple or pink color, like this gin cocktail does. The way gin changes color makes for a fun party trick, and also represents Stevie Nicks’s versatility as an artist. Though she’s changed up her style and musicianship over the years, like gin, she’s never sacrificed quality.
Dreams Cocktail, Inspired by Stevie Nicks
Ingredients
For the Cocktail
- 1 ½ oz Empress 1908 Gin, chilled
- 3 oz tonic, chilled
- ½ oz lime simple syrup, chilled (recipe below)
- Garnish: Lime wheel, orchid flowers, and dry ice
For the Lime Simple Syrup
- 1 cup sugar
- ½ cup water
- ½ cup fresh squeezed lime juice (4-5 limes, be sure to pick bright green limes without brown spots)
Instructions
For the Cocktail
- Pour chilled gin into a coupe glass.
- Add in tonic slowly (this will change the color).
- Now add in lime simple syrup and stir with a bar spoon.
- Add a lime wheel to the glass rim and place an orchid against the side of the lime wheel inside the cocktail.
- Optional step: Using metal cocktail tongs, add in 1 to 2 small pieces of dry ice to get a bubbling smoke effect. Before enjoying, make sure the dry ice has completely melted or remove any remaining pieces.
For the Lime Simple Syrup
- Wash the outside of the limes under cool water.
- Juice the limes until you have ½ cup of juice.
- Set the lime halves aside as you will use them later.
- Place the sugar and water in a small saucepan. Add in the lime juice. Heat the syrup on medium-high heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves.
- Remove from the heat and add the juiced lime halves into the lime syrup.
- Cover the saucepan with a lid and let the limes steep for 1 hour.
- Strain the lime syrup into a container through fine mesh strainer. Let the limes drain and squeeze them to get as much juice out of them as possible.
- Let the syrup cool to room temperature, then pour it into a jar. The Lime Simple Syrup will keep in the refrigerator in a sealed container for up to 2 weeks or if you add a tablespoon of vodka or rum it will last longer.
Recipe by Sarah Cascone / Styling by Anna Calabrese / Photography by Dave Bryce / Story by Star Laliberte
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