15 Indigo Gin Cocktails That Will Absolutely Mesmerize You This Season

Updated at: 24-05-2026 - By: John Lau

There is something undeniably magical about watching a drink transform before your eyes. One moment it is a deep, jewel-toned indigo sitting beautifully in the glass. The next, a squeeze of citrus sends it swirling into a soft blush pink or a dreamy lavender hue. That little moment of wonder is exactly why indigo gin cocktails have captured the hearts of cocktail lovers everywhere, and honestly, once you experience it yourself, there is simply no going back.

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Whether you are planning a brunch with your closest friends, hosting an intimate dinner party, or simply treating yourself to something extraordinary on a Friday evening, indigo gin cocktails deliver on every level. They are visually stunning, botanically complex, and endlessly versatile. This guide brings you 15 show-stopping recipes that celebrate everything that makes these violet-blue beauties so irresistible.

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The Story Behind Indigo Gin: Where Color Meets Craft

To truly appreciate an indigo gin cocktail, it helps to understand the spirit at its heart. The category is most famously represented by Empress 1908 Indigo Gin, a handcrafted spirit produced by Victoria Distillers on the waterfront of Sidney, British Columbia, Canada.

The story of this extraordinary gin begins not in a distillery, but in one of North America’s most iconic hotels. The Fairmont Empress Hotel has stood proudly overlooking the Inner Harbour in Victoria, British Columbia since 1908, welcoming royalty, dignitaries, and discerning travelers with its signature afternoon tea service for well over a century. In 2016, the master distiller at Victoria Distillers began exploring how the hotel’s curated tea blends could inspire something entirely new. After a year of botanical experimentation and what can only be described as a multi-sensory journey, Empress 1908 Indigo Gin was born in 2017.

What makes this gin so visually distinctive is its eighth botanical: butterfly pea blossom. This exotic flower, discovered in a tea blend at the Empress Hotel called Blue Suede Shoes, is responsible for the gin’s deep, natural indigo color. The butterfly pea blossom, also known as Clitoria ternatea, originates from Southeast Asia and has been used in traditional cooking and herbal medicine for centuries. Its pigment contains anthocyanins, the same family of natural compounds found in blueberries and purple cabbage, which are highly sensitive to pH levels. When the gin meets an acidic mixer like lemon juice or tonic water, those anthocyanins react and the color shifts dramatically from indigo to pink, fuchsia, or soft lavender, depending on the acidity involved.

The other seven botanicals in Empress 1908 each play an important supporting role. Juniper provides the classic piney, citrusy backbone that defines gin as a category. Grapefruit peel adds bright freshness and a slight bitterness. Coriander seed brings warmth and depth. Rose petal lends a soft floral lift. Ginger root introduces gentle spice. Cinnamon bark rounds everything out with subtle warmth. And the proprietary Fairmont Empress Blend Tea, sourced exclusively from the hotel and crafted by the Metropolitan Tea Company from leaves of Assam, Kenya, South India, Ceylon, and China, contributes an earthy, slightly oaky complexity that sets this gin apart from anything else on the market.

The result is a contemporary botanical gin bottled at 42.5% ABV with a flavor profile that is at once citrus-forward, gently floral, and softly spiced, with dry, clean tea tannins on the finish. It drinks like a serious gin and looks like a work of art.

The acclaim has followed accordingly. Empress 1908 received a Gold Medal at the New York World Wine and Spirits Competition in 2017, the title of Best Alcohol Drink at the World Beverage Innovation Awards in 2017, a Silver Medal at the 2019 New York International Spirits Competition, and an impressive 90-point rating from Wine Enthusiast. It has since grown into one of the most recognized gin expressions globally, celebrated not as a novelty but as a genuinely exceptional spirit.

Culturally, indigo gin cocktails have become a phenomenon on social media, particularly among women aged 25 to 40 who are drawn to drinks that are as beautiful as they are delicious. The color-changing effect has inspired thousands of home bartenders to experiment with layering, pH chemistry, and botanical pairings. The gin category as a whole has seen a significant renaissance, with premium and super-premium expressions growing rapidly in markets across North America and Europe. Empress 1908, with its Instagram-ready indigo hue, sits at the very forefront of that movement.

It is also worth noting that no artificial colors are used in the production of Empress 1908. While the vivid indigo hue will naturally fade over time, every drop of that color comes from real butterfly pea blossoms. That commitment to natural ingredients is part of what makes crafting indigo gin cocktails feel like such a genuine and special experience.

15 Best Indigo Gin Cocktails List

The Classic Indigo Gin and Tonic

This is where every great indigo gin journey begins. The Classic Indigo Gin and Tonic is deceptively simple, yet strikingly beautiful. The moment tonic water hits that deep indigo gin, the liquid blooms into a pale, ethereal blue with swirling violet undertones. It is effortlessly elegant, lightly floral, and completely refreshing.

Ingredients:

2 oz Empress 1908 Indigo Gin
4 oz premium tonic water (Fever-Tree or Q Tonic recommended)
Ice cubes
1 strip of fresh grapefruit peel, for garnish
1 sprig of fresh rosemary, for garnish

Instructions:

Step 1: Fill a large copa glass or highball glass generously with ice cubes.
Step 2: Pour the Empress 1908 Indigo Gin over the ice.
Step 3: Gently pour the tonic water down the side of the glass to preserve the bubbles and encourage the color shift.
Step 4: Give the drink one gentle stir to combine.
Step 5: Express the grapefruit peel over the glass to release its oils, then drop it in.
Step 6: Add the rosemary sprig and serve immediately.

The tonic water transforms the gin into a luminous aqua-blue, making it look like a tiny piece of the ocean poured into your glass. This one is pure magic with zero effort.

Empress Lavender Lemonade

Few things in life feel as luxurious as a lavender lemonade that also happens to be a stunning deep pink. This cocktail is a favorite for summer entertaining and weekend brunches because it is easy to batch, visually spectacular, and tastes like sunshine filtered through a flower garden.

Ingredients:

2 oz Empress 1908 Indigo Gin
1 oz fresh lemon juice
1 oz homemade lavender simple syrup (combine equal parts water and sugar with 2 tbsp dried lavender, simmer for 10 minutes, strain and cool)
2 oz cold sparkling water or lemonade
Ice cubes
Dried lavender sprig and lemon wheel, for garnish

Instructions:

Step 1: Combine the gin, fresh lemon juice, and lavender simple syrup in a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
Step 2: Shake vigorously for 15 to 20 seconds until well chilled.
Step 3: Strain into a rocks glass filled with fresh ice.
Step 4: Top with sparkling water or lemonade.
Step 5: Garnish with a dried lavender sprig and a lemon wheel.

The acidity of the lemon juice triggers a gorgeous shift from indigo to a deep raspberry pink. Serve this at your next gathering and watch every single guest reach for their phone to photograph it before taking a sip.

Indigo French 75

The French 75 is already one of the most glamorous cocktails ever created. Add the indigo color shift from Empress gin and you have something that feels worthy of a rooftop terrace in the south of France. Bubbles rise through a blush-pink base, catching the light with every sip.

Ingredients:

1 oz Empress 1908 Indigo Gin
0.5 oz fresh lemon juice
0.5 oz simple syrup
3 oz chilled brut sparkling wine or Champagne
Lemon peel twist, for garnish

Instructions:

Step 1: Add the gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup to a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
Step 2: Shake for 20 seconds until very cold.
Step 3: Strain into a chilled Champagne flute.
Step 4: Top slowly with the sparkling wine, pouring down the side of the flute.
Step 5: Garnish with an elegant lemon peel twist.

The lemon juice and sparkling wine together push the color from indigo through soft violet and into a romantic blush pink. This is a brunch cocktail, a celebration cocktail, and an “I deserve this” cocktail all rolled into one.

Indigo Gin Fizz

Light, airy, and utterly refreshing, the Indigo Gin Fizz is the kind of drink that feels appropriate at any hour of the day. The botanical notes of the gin shine through beautifully in this simple, effervescent recipe, while the color lands somewhere between ocean blue and soft lilac.

Ingredients:

2 oz Empress 1908 Indigo Gin
0.75 oz fresh lemon juice
0.5 oz simple syrup
2 to 3 oz club soda or tonic water
Ice
Lemon peel, for garnish

Instructions:

Step 1: Chill your glass of choice in the freezer for at least 10 minutes.
Step 2: Add the gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup to a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
Step 3: Shake firmly for 30 to 45 seconds until thoroughly chilled.
Step 4: Strain into the chilled glass.
Step 5: Top with club soda or tonic water.
Step 6: Garnish with a curled lemon peel.

The result is a tall, sparkling drink with a pale blue shimmer and tiny rising bubbles. It is clean, crisp, and herbaceous in the best possible way.

The Butterfly Martini

Inspired by the legendary Vesper Martini made famous by James Bond, this indigo gin version is a sophisticated stunner. The combination of gin, vodka, and a hint of Lillet Blanc creates a spirit-forward cocktail with layers of citrus, botanical depth, and that unmistakable indigo elegance.

Ingredients:

2 oz Empress 1908 Indigo Gin
1 oz quality vodka
0.5 oz Lillet Blanc aperitif
1 large piece of lemon peel, for garnish

Instructions:

Step 1: Add the gin, vodka, and Lillet Blanc to a mixing glass filled with ice.
Step 2: Stir gently but consistently for 30 seconds until well chilled and slightly diluted.
Step 3: Strain into a chilled martini glass.
Step 4: Express the lemon peel over the surface of the drink to release its oils.
Step 5: Run the peel around the rim and rest it elegantly on the glass edge.

The deep indigo color holds beautifully in a martini glass with minimal dilution. The Lillet Blanc adds honey and citrus sweetness that pairs exquisitely with the juniper backbone of the gin. This is the cocktail you make when you want to feel like the most interesting person in the room.

Blackberry Rosemary Gimlet

This is the cocktail that berry lovers dream about. Fresh blackberries are muddled into a classic gimlet base, then elevated with a fragrant rosemary syrup and the naturally earthy notes of Empress Indigo Gin. The color is a deep jewel-toned purple with pink highlights and an intoxicatingly aromatic garnish.

Ingredients:

2 oz Empress 1908 Indigo Gin
0.75 oz fresh lime juice
0.75 oz rosemary simple syrup (simmer equal parts sugar and water with two fresh rosemary sprigs for 10 minutes, strain and cool)
5 to 6 fresh blackberries, plus more for garnish
Ice
Fresh rosemary sprig, for garnish

Instructions:

Step 1: Add the fresh blackberries to a cocktail shaker and muddle until fully broken down.
Step 2: Add the gin, lime juice, and rosemary simple syrup to the shaker.
Step 3: Fill with ice and shake vigorously for 20 seconds.
Step 4: Double strain through a fine mesh strainer into a chilled coupe glass.
Step 5: Garnish with a skewer of fresh blackberries and a rosemary sprig.

The result is a rich, velvety deep-purple cocktail with an aroma that is equal parts herbal garden and berry patch. This one is absolutely bewitching.

Indigo Negroni

The Negroni is one of the most beloved cocktails in the world for good reason: it is complex, bold, and endlessly satisfying. Swapping the standard gin for Empress 1908 transforms this bitter classic into a visually dramatic cocktail with an almost hypnotic crimson-indigo color layered over ice.

Ingredients:

1.5 oz Empress 1908 Indigo Gin
1 oz sweet vermouth
1 oz Campari
Large ice cube or sphere
Grapefruit twist, for garnish

Instructions:

Step 1: Place a large ice cube in a rocks glass and chill the glass slightly.
Step 2: Add the gin, sweet vermouth, and Campari to a mixing glass filled with ice.
Step 3: Stir gently for about 30 seconds until well chilled.
Step 4: Strain over the large ice cube in the rocks glass.
Step 5: Garnish with a grapefruit twist, expressing the oils over the drink before placing it on the rim.

The Campari and vermouth meet the indigo gin in a gorgeous swirl of deep ruby and violet. This is a serious, spirit-forward cocktail for those evenings when you want something with substance and soul.

Grapefruit Sparkling Indigo Martini

Citrusy, floral, and completely irresistible, this grapefruit martini is one of the most visually dramatic indigo gin cocktails you can make. The fresh grapefruit juice triggers an instant color transformation that turns the drink from deep indigo into a vibrant coral-pink right before your eyes.

Ingredients:

2 oz Empress 1908 Indigo Gin
1 oz fresh grapefruit juice
0.5 oz Lillet Blanc
0.5 oz simple syrup
Splash of club soda
Fresh grapefruit slice, for garnish

Instructions:

Step 1: Combine the gin, grapefruit juice, Lillet Blanc, and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker with ice.
Step 2: Shake vigorously for 20 seconds.
Step 3: Strain into a chilled coupe or martini glass.
Step 4: Add a small splash of club soda for a gentle fizz.
Step 5: Garnish with a half-moon grapefruit slice on the rim.

The drink arrives as a luminous coral-pink with the grapefruit oil glistening on the surface. It tastes as bright and cheerful as it looks, equal parts tart, floral, and refreshing.

Strawberry Absinthe Gin Rickey

This is where things get daring and absolutely delightful. A twist on the classic Gin Rickey, this recipe adds muddled fresh strawberries and just a whisper of absinthe for an anise-kissed depth that plays beautifully against the sweet berry and the botanical gin. The color is a vibrant magenta pink with a foamy top.

Ingredients:

2 oz Empress 1908 Indigo Gin
0.5 oz fresh lime juice
0.25 oz absinthe (a small but impactful addition)
3 fresh strawberries, hulled and halved
0.5 oz simple syrup
Club soda, to top
Ice
Fresh strawberry and lime wheel, for garnish

Instructions:

Step 1: Muddle the fresh strawberries in the base of a cocktail shaker until fully pulped.
Step 2: Add the gin, lime juice, absinthe, and simple syrup.
Step 3: Fill with ice and shake for 20 seconds.
Step 4: Double strain into a highball glass filled with fresh ice.
Step 5: Top with club soda.
Step 6: Garnish with a fresh strawberry on the rim and a lime wheel.

The absinthe is subtle but transformative, adding a herbal anise whisper that makes every sip a little mysterious. This is a warm-weather cocktail that feels like an adventure.

Indigo Gin Sour

Silky smooth with a gorgeous foam top, the Indigo Gin Sour is a showstopper at any gathering. The egg white (or aquafaba for a vegan version) creates a pillowy, cloud-like layer above a deep lavender-pink base. It looks dramatic, tastes balanced, and feels indulgent in the best possible way.

Ingredients:

2 oz Empress 1908 Indigo Gin
0.75 oz fresh lemon juice
0.5 oz simple syrup
1 egg white (or 1 oz aquafaba for a vegan version)
Ice
Dried lavender or a few drops of bitters, for garnish

Instructions:

Step 1: Add the gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, and egg white to a cocktail shaker without ice.
Step 2: Dry shake (without ice) vigorously for 15 seconds to emulsify the egg white and create foam.
Step 3: Add ice to the shaker and shake again for another 20 seconds until well chilled.
Step 4: Strain into a chilled coupe glass.
Step 5: Use a toothpick or dropper to place a few dots of bitters on the foam, then drag through to create a decorative pattern.
Step 6: Garnish with a pinch of dried lavender.

The foam settles into a perfectly white cloud over a lavender-pink base. It is stunning, velvety, and utterly satisfying.

Elderflower Indigo Spritz

Move over, Aperol Spritz. The Elderflower Indigo Spritz is the sophisticated, floral upgrade your aperitivo hour has been waiting for. Light, fragrant, and endlessly bubbly, this cocktail is a masterclass in botanical elegance. The elderflower brings a honeyed sweetness that perfectly complements the earthy gin, while prosecco keeps things festive and bright.

Ingredients:

1.5 oz Empress 1908 Indigo Gin
0.5 oz St-Germain elderflower liqueur
0.25 oz fresh lemon juice
3 oz cold prosecco or sparkling wine
1 oz sparkling water
Ice
Lemon slice and edible flower, for garnish

Instructions:

Step 1: Fill a large wine glass or spritz glass with ice.
Step 2: Pour in the gin and elderflower liqueur.
Step 3: Add the fresh lemon juice and stir gently.
Step 4: Top with prosecco, pouring slowly down the side of the glass.
Step 5: Add a splash of sparkling water.
Step 6: Garnish with a lemon slice and an edible flower for a truly luxurious presentation.

This cocktail blooms into a soft lilac and pink as the prosecco mingles with the indigo gin. It looks like spring in a glass and tastes like pure, botanical joy.

Indigo Gin and Jam Cocktail

Sometimes the most creative cocktails come from the most unexpected combinations. This recipe uses real fruit jam to create a depth of sweetness and a gorgeous color complexity that you simply cannot achieve with syrups alone. Muddled fresh mint adds a garden-fresh lift that keeps everything bright and lively.

Ingredients:

2 oz Empress 1908 Indigo Gin
1 heaping tbsp raspberry jam (high-quality, seedless preferred)
6 to 8 fresh mint leaves
2 oz tonic water, to top
Ice
Fresh raspberries and mint sprig, for garnish

Instructions:

Step 1: Add the mint leaves to a mixing glass or beaker and muddle gently to release the oils without tearing.
Step 2: Add the raspberry jam and gin, then stir firmly until the jam dissolves into the gin.
Step 3: Fill a rocks glass with ice and strain the mixture over the ice.
Step 4: Top with tonic water and give one gentle stir.
Step 5: Garnish generously with fresh raspberries and a sprig of mint.

The jam adds a thick, fruity richness that is completely unlike anything you will find in a standard cocktail. Depending on the jam you choose, the color can shift from magenta to deep jewel-toned ruby. A perfect drink for a lazy afternoon on the patio.

Lavender Elderflower Gin Sour

This elegant variation on the classic gin sour brings together lavender syrup, elderflower liqueur, and a frothy aquafaba top for a cocktail that is both visually stunning and achingly delicious. It sits in the beautiful intersection of floral, tart, and soft, making it ideal for spring brunches and garden parties.

Ingredients:

2 oz Empress 1908 Indigo Gin
0.75 oz fresh lemon juice
0.5 oz St-Germain elderflower liqueur
0.5 oz lavender simple syrup
1 oz aquafaba (liquid from a can of chickpeas)
Ice
Culinary lavender sprig and lemon slice, for garnish

Instructions:

Step 1: Combine the gin, lemon juice, elderflower liqueur, lavender syrup, and aquafaba in a cocktail shaker.
Step 2: Dry shake without ice for 15 to 20 seconds until a good foam develops.
Step 3: Add ice and shake again for another 20 seconds.
Step 4: Double strain into a chilled coupe glass to catch all ice chips.
Step 5: Garnish with a lavender sprig laid across the foam and a lemon slice perched on the rim.

The foam settles into a dreamy white cloud streaked with the faintest lavender tint. Every sip is soft, floral, and deeply satisfying, with the elderflower adding a honeyed depth that lingers beautifully.

The Royal Treatment

For those moments that call for something truly special, The Royal Treatment is the cocktail equivalent of putting on your most beautiful dress. Inspired by the regal atmosphere of the Fairmont Empress Hotel itself, this recipe combines indigo gin with white cranberry juice and sparkling wine for a cocktail that shimmers and sparkles with every pour.

Ingredients:

1.5 oz Empress 1908 Indigo Gin
2 oz white cranberry juice
2 oz sparkling white wine
0.25 oz elderflower cordial
Ice
Fresh mixed berries (blueberries, raspberries, kiwi slice), for garnish

Instructions:

Step 1: Fill a large wine glass with ice.
Step 2: Pour in the gin and elderflower cordial, stirring once to combine.
Step 3: Add the white cranberry juice and stir gently.
Step 4: Top with sparkling white wine, pouring slowly for maximum bubbles.
Step 5: Garnish lavishly with fresh mixed berries and a kiwi slice for a truly opulent presentation.

The white cranberry juice plays the perfect supporting role, allowing the indigo hue to glow through in a soft, luminous way. The sparkling wine keeps everything festive and celebratory. Serve this at your next celebration and feel nothing short of royalty.

Pear and Fig Autumn Indigo Sour

Just because summer is over does not mean indigo gin cocktails need to take a back seat. This autumnal sour brings together the sweet, buttery warmth of ripe pear, the rich depth of fresh fig, and a hint of cardamom spice for a seasonal cocktail that feels like a cozy sweater in a glass. The color shifts from indigo to a warm amber-violet that perfectly captures the mood of fall.

Ingredients:

2 oz Empress 1908 Indigo Gin
1 oz fresh pear juice (or 2 slices of ripe pear, muddled)
0.5 oz fresh lemon juice
0.5 oz honey syrup (equal parts honey and warm water, stirred to combine)
1 fresh fig, quartered
Pinch of ground cardamom
Ice
Pear slice and half a fresh fig, for garnish

Instructions:

Step 1: Place the quartered fig into a cocktail shaker and muddle until well broken down.
Step 2: Add the gin, pear juice, lemon juice, honey syrup, and a pinch of cardamom.
Step 3: Fill with ice and shake vigorously for 20 to 25 seconds.
Step 4: Double strain through a fine mesh strainer into a chilled coupe glass.
Step 5: Garnish with a thin fan of pear slices and a half fig placed alongside.

The honey and fig create a gorgeous depth of sweetness that makes this cocktail feel warming and celebratory even as the evenings grow cooler. The cardamom adds an exotic whisper that makes every sip a small discovery.

Bringing It All Together

Indigo gin cocktails are more than a trend. They are a celebration of craft, chemistry, and creativity all poured into a single glass. From the storied halls of the Fairmont Empress Hotel to your home bar, the journey of Empress 1908 Indigo Gin is one that beautifully connects history, nature, and the pure pleasure of a well-made drink.

What makes these cocktails so special is that they invite you to be both bartender and scientist, watching in delight as a squeeze of lemon or a pour of tonic rewrites the story of the drink in real time. Whether you are drawn to the citrusy brightness of the Grapefruit Sparkling Indigo Martini, the romantic softness of the Lavender Lemonade, or the autumnal warmth of the Pear and Fig Sour, there is an indigo gin cocktail on this list that was made for your mood, your season, and your moment.

Stock your home bar with a beautiful bottle of Empress 1908 Indigo Gin, gather your botanicals and fresh garnishes, and give yourself permission to play, create, and indulge. After all, life is too short to drink anything that is not extraordinary.

Cheers to cocktails that are as beautiful as they taste.

Sources: https://chesbrewco.com
Category: Cocktails

15 Indigo Gin Cocktails That Will Absolutely Mesmerize You This Season Updated 05/2026

The Story Behind Indigo Gin: Where Color Meets Craft