Twisted Violet Blueberry Gin Sour

This Violet Blueberry Gin Sour is a far cry from the classic lemon-based gin sour. Pretty violet liqueur ramps up the floral undertones that the blueberries impart to this cocktail and a mix of lemon & lime juice helps balance the sweetness. Expect to shake up a fruity, floral and lip-smackingly fresh libation.

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It's been a while since I've talked up a cocktail on LittleSugarSnaps. The weeks seem to roll by far too quickly at the moment and suddenly we are in May. April kind of got paused since I was either preparing for, or being on, or feeling the jet-lag from a 2-week Transatlantic holiday. So the working weeks of April ended up registering as nothing more than a hazy blur to me. Seriously. And now it's May.

Whilst I was away, my garden sprang to life. It is currently awash with tiny purple flowers so I couldn't resist using a few of them to adorn this pretty, fruity & floral Violet Blueberry Gin Sour.

The classic Gin Sour is a simple, yet winning, combination of gin, lemon and sweetener. I think of the classic Gin Sour as a canvas to carry other flavours. Merging this popular drink with violet and blueberries transforms it into something altogether more fun and vibrant. The colour alone is captivating. The purple hues of the berries and the sweet, creamy and floral notes of the blueberries are accentuated by the delicately sweet & flowery violet liqueur. A blend of lemon and lime helps to counterbalance the sweetness and the inclusion of egg white ensures a velvet smooth texture and a pretty foam on which to lay our chosen trimmings.

Is this drink remotely similar to the classic? Probably not. But it really is an agreeable concoction.

One thing I love about cocktails is that they are, 9 times out of 10, a breeze to prepare. This Violet Blueberry Gin Sour falls into the easy category. Once ingredients are gathered together, it can be easily assembled in less than 10 minutes.

How to Make a Violet Blueberry Gin Sour

In cocktail making, quality ingredients are essential to achieve a smooth and enjoyable drinking experience. I recommend using a floral gin such as BBR London Dry Gin and Briottet Violet Liqueur.

You'll be pleased to know there is nothing complicated involved in the making of this cocktail. Follow the 6 easy steps below and you'll be on your way to zesty, fruity & floral cocktail heaven faster than you can put a duvet cover on.

• Begin by putting the blueberries into a jug and squash using a cocktail muddler or the end of a rolling pin. Then pour in the gin and muddle a little more
• Strain through a fine-meshed sieve, pressing down on the solids to extract all juice and gin. Discard the fruit pulp
• Optional (but recommended) extra step: strain the liquid a second time - this time through filter paper or a nut bag. I really advise this step since it helps remove tiny specks of fruit from the liquid and results in a lovely smooth drink
• Next pour the blueberry gin into a cocktail shaker without ice and add the remaining ingredients. Put the top firmly on the shaker and give a good hard shake (at least 30 seconds). This is the dry shake
• Now add 6 ice cubes to the shaker, cover and shake again, vigorously, for another 30 seconds. This is the wet shake
• Strain the drink into 2 cocktail glasses and garnish with blueberries and flowers. Serve immediately

See. There's nothing complicated going on is there?

Why Dry Shake and Wet Shake the Cocktail?

If you are new to using egg whites in libations, you may be wondering why we bother to shake the cocktail twice - once without ice and once with. The reasoning behind this technique is simple

• The dry shake (shaking without ice) serves to emulsify the egg whites by allowing air to be incorporated into their proteins. And the added bonus is that you can shake... and shake... and shake without fear of melting ice over-diluting the drink. The dry shake is vital to help create a stable, voluptuous and downright beautiful foam
• The wet shake (with ice) follows the dry shake to chill and dilute the drink

All in all, a well-shaken cocktail made with egg white with result in a smooth and silky, almost creamy mouthfeel. In this Violet Blueberry Gin Sour, the resulting foam also makes the ideal blank canvas to add any stylish embellishments that take your whim. 

If you like the sound of this cocktail, be sure to take a look at my violet daiquiri and my hibiscus margarita. These floral cocktails are equally inventive and delicious.