A Rainbow of Cocktails: How to make Drinks by Color

How to Add Color to Your Cocktails: A Rainbow of (Natural) Color

A fun colored cocktail can create an entirely different ambience to your craft cocktail experience. Unfortunately, brightly colored cocktails are usually the sign of artificial colors, “red dye #2″ or unnaturally bright hues.

But, it doesn’t have to be this way! In fact, here are dozens of beautifully and brightly colored natural ingredients that you can use to make cocktails of just about any color

How to make Red Cocktails

Cosmopolitan , Hurricane and Strawberry Daiquiri are some well-known red cocktail , but the possibilities go far beyond these classics! Check your kitchen cabinets, home bar and vegetabl drawer for some red-inspiring ingredients.

You can turn to liqueurs, like Campari and Martini Riserva, to achieve a bold red colored cocktail. Or, get some help from red colored bitter’s, grenadine, fruity raspberries, pomegranates, or tart cranberries. There’s so many options for the color “red”, it’s hard to go wrong!

How to make Orange Cocktails

Moving down the rainbow, orange cocktails  are naturally next. Aperol can turn a standard glass of champagne into an orange and tasty Aperol Spritz. Or, some fresh mango can turn a summer margarita into a blended glass of orange-y goodness. Pro tip: add a tajin rim for a spicy kick. You may not have tajin, but as you look through this list, I think you’ll find you may already have a naturally orange color-boosting ingredient tucked away in your pantry or fridge!

How to make Yellow Cocktails

Creating a naturally yellow cocktail will generally require fruits like pineapple, lemon and yellow dragon fruit. So, definitely expect a sweet and fruity concoction!You can also create a rum-forward Dirty Banana cocktail with banana liqueur and  real bananas. (Warning: this cocktail is just as filling as it is tasty!)

Not all yellow ingredients are fruit, however – yellow bell peppers, beets, carrots and squash aren’t nearly as sweet and bring their own unique flavors too. Try experimenting with them in syrups or purees to bring out their color and flavor!

How to make Green Cocktails

Feelin’ lucky? Then why not spruce up your cocktail with a fun green hue! Green doesn’t have to be relegated to St. Patrick’s Day (and certainly doesn’t have to be filled with food coloring.) While Apple Pucker can create a vibrant apple martini and Midori can brighten up a sour, both liqueurs are pretty sweet. If you want something more refreshing, then cucumber, lime, mint and basil are all great options. I love getting creative when creating cocktails, so why not try several green elements together? I’ll be the first to tell you that cucumber and mint are a match made in heaven! 

How to make Blue Cocktails

If you’ve ever had a blue cocktail (does Blue Lagoon, Blue Hawaiin or Blue Monday ring a bell?), then the blue hue was most likely thanks to blue Curaçao. While I won’t knock Blue Curaçao, it’s also made with artificial coloring and wouldn’t exactly qualify as “natural”. While there aren’t a ton of natural blues out there, here are a few! Try playing with purple cabbage, blue spirulina, or even blue corn flowers. Feeling less adventurous? Blueberries work well too!

How to make Purple Cocktails

Why would you want to make a purple cocktail? Why not? Purple is a color found quite often in natural ingredients, from fruit to vegetables to flowers, teas and spices. It’s a beautiful and vibrant color with loads of flavor options! Lavender liqueur (or fresh lavender), elderberry, hibiscur  or muddled blackberries can all add a delicious taste while creating a gorgeous purple hue in your glass.

Naturally Flavored Cocktails

So that’s a wrap! Hopefully this guide has given you some great inspiration for naturally flavored cocktails that span the whole rainbow. Whatever color you’re trying to create, you have options for sweet, savory, and somewhere in between.  By the way: if you’re looking to make a lighter or “pastel” colored drink, I recommend adding egg whites or other cocktail foams. These foams will lighten up the color as well as creating a deliciously velvety texture.

Making something gorgeous?  Come share with us in our Craft Cocktail Club!  I’d love to see your naturally colored cocktail creations!