The Viral Taylor Swift 'Lavender Haze' Cocktail Is My New Go-To Drink

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My new favorite party trick: serving gin and tonics with lime wedges on the rims and instructing my guests to squeeze them into their drinks for a little color-changing surprise. The secret? Empress 1908 Indigo Gin.

You've probably seen purple gin cocktails like mine all over TikTok. The buzzy spirit is a collaboration between Victoria Distillers, one of the oldest artisanal distilleries in Canada, and the Fairmont Empress Hotel in Victoria, British Columbia. And now that it's gone viral, the trend-spotters at Firstfinds predict you'll be seeing the color-changing purple gin a lot this holiday season. Swifties on social media have even been using it for cocktails inspired by the Taylor Swift song "Lavender Haze."

In addition to winning TikTok's heart, the color-changing gin is also Delish's pick for the best gin for gin and tonics. At 42.5% ABV, Empress 1908 is great in martinis, negronis, gimlets, French 75s and a whole host of gin cocktails. With its distinctive color-changing abilities and balance of citrus and botanical notes, even a simple, three-ingredient cocktail will win ample praise.

You might be wondering what makes this gin change color? Thankfully, the answer is not artificial coloring. Phil Lecours, a Master Distiller at Victoria Distillers who helped develop the spirit, says it's the result of a happy accident in the Empress Hotel's famed tea room. Though they initially chose one of the hotel's most popular tea blends, Blue Suede Shoes, "for its distinctive earthy flavor notes," they discovered upon infusing the gin that "the addition of butterfly pea blossom resulted in a beautiful indigo hue."

According to Lecours, "Butterfly pea blossom contains compounds called anthocyanin, and based on the pH of the mixer added to the gin, the deep indigo color will change to bright lavender, soft pink, or fuchsia." An acidic mixer, like lemon juice, will lean more fuchsia, while a neutral mixer, like tonic water, will turn the drink a lighter purple or blue.

But the color-changing ability isn't the only reason Empress is a favorite of mixologists: it also tastes great. "While other gin brands use lemon and orange peel, we use grapefruit peel and coriander seed for added citrus flavor and a whole rosebud to add softness and warmth," Lecours said. Personally, I love that it doesn't have the overly piney taste that juniper berries bring to most London Dry gins.

Though Empress 1908's new elderflower rose gin (released in September 2023) doesn't have the same color-changing effect, the addition of red rose petals and black carrots gives the gin a gorgeous red color that elevates even a simple gin and tonic.

Believe me, if this color-changing gin can convince both my coworkers and my college friends who saw me drink Skol from the bottle that I'm a competent bartender, it can win over the biggest cocktail snobs you know. Grab a bottle from Drizly, Total Wine & More, Wine.com or your neighborhood liquor store (375 ml bottles retail for $26.95 and 750 ml bottles for $39.99) and get pouring.

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