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A twist on the classic Paloma. Using butterfly pea flower and spiked seltzer we created a mermaid inspired cocktail. The color changes with pH balance and creates a magical color and must try cocktail!
Pin this now to find it later
Pin ItCan you believe that gorgeous color comes from one single plant? Butterfly pea flower works magic, and we love using it in our recipes! In addition to this cocktail, we‘ve made natural blue ice cubes with it.You can buy butterfly pea flowers here!
We’re calling this cocktail Paloma by The Sea. It’s a perfect cocktail for a summer party or even a Halloween bash!
Table of Contents
What is Spiked Seltzer?
Spiked Seltzer is seltzer water with alcohol. They are great to drink alone as they have very little calories. In addition to being gluten free they have no sugar added (depending on the brand) and zero carbs. It’s made with purified water with a hint a natural fruit flavors.
Furthermore, the alcohol in spiked seltzers come from fermented sugars. It’s not a vodka or a beer, so it’s unique on it’s own!
However, they also make a wonderful ingredient for fun cocktails! They add some bubbles to a cocktail and a hint of flavor! You can use it to replace club soda in a cocktail.
Is Bon & Viv the same as Spiked Seltzer?
Yes! Bon & Viv is a brand of spiked seltzer. We used Bon & Viv Spiked Seltzer in this recipe. They have several delicious flavors. However, we used grapefruit to compliment the Paloma.
Spiked Seltzer Brands
In Addition to Bon & Viv, we also love these two brands of spiked seltzer:
- Truly Hard Seltzer
- White Claw Hard Seltzer
How to Make a Spiked Seltzer Paloma Cocktail
A Paloma is a simple cocktail made with grapefruit juice, lime juice and tequila. We call this cocktail Paloma by the sea because the beautiful blue hues. We used Bon & Viv and they have a mermaid on the can which inspired the name of the cocktail.
- First, start with making a homemade butterfly pea flower simple syrup. This will be the ingredient that turns the cocktail a beautiful shade of blue and purple.
- Next, add tequila, fresh lime juice and fresh grapefruit juice in a glass and stir.
- After that, add in the simple syrup and watch the cocktail turn purple from the fruit acid!
- Lastly, add in a few natural blue ice cubes and top with grapefruit spiked seltzer.
Butterfly Pea Flower
Butterfly pea flower is a plant most commonly found in South East Asia. It’s used as a natural food coloring. The color changes depending on the pH balance. It’s perfect to use in cocktails!
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Paloma by The Sea
Ingredients
Paloma by The Sea
- 2 1/2 ounces grapefruit juice , fresh squeezed
- 1 ounce tequila
- 1/2 ounce lime juice
- 1/4 ounce butterfly pea simple syrup , follow the recipe below
- 1 can spiked salter , to top off the cocktail
Butterfly Pea Flower Simple Syrup
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 2 tbsp dried butterfly pea flower
Instructions
Butterfly Pea Flower Simple Syrup
- In a small sauce pan, on low heat simmer the water and sugar together.
- Add in the butterfly pea flowers and watch the simple syrup turn a rich shade of blue.
- Simmer for 10 minutes so the color can absord into the simple syrup.
- Add more dried flowers if you don't achieve a nice shade of blue.
Paloma by the Sea
- In a glass, add the lime, tequila simple syrup and grapefruit juice and stir.
- The cocktail will turn pruple because of the lime juice acid, so pretty!
- Add in two butterfly pea flower ice cubes.
- Top the cocktail with sparkling spiked seltzer in grapefruit!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I followed the directions, but my cocktail did not turn blue. It was very sad.
If you used butterfly pea flowers, there is no way it wouldn’t change color; maybe you didn’t use enough.
How did you make the blue ice cubes?
Add ~ 15 Butterfly Pea Flowers to 2 C boiling water and steep for 30 minutes.
Drain flowers, and freeze blue water into ice cubes.