Skip to main content

Purple or green? Meet the mixologist crafting color-themed cocktails

Charlotte Voisey, an award-winning mixologist at the cocktail bar two fifteen, has created an exciting line of colorful cocktails.

purple cocktail in glass
The Imperial Classes (Purple) cocktail. two fifteen

Cocktails come in an infinite variety of flavors and ingredients. What spirits to use? What type of cocktail glasses? But one basic element that’s often overlooked is color. How would crafting cocktails based on the idea of color work? We spoke to Charlotte Voisey, an award-winning mixologist at Two Fifteen, a cocktail bar located in PUBLIC, a hotel in New York, to learn all about this concept. Currently the Global Head of Ambassadors for William Grant & Sons with experience at Gramercy Park Hotel and Dorchester Hotel, Voisey has created an intriguing lineup of colorful cocktails at two fifteen.

Recommended Videos

“I loved the idea of stunning drinks of vibrant colors contrasting with the dark, sexy interior of the bar,” said Voisey. “It was also a subtle nod to when a cocktail in a bar becomes beloved and referred to as ‘the red one.'”

How to craft cocktails based on colors

Green cocktail with black background
Last Word (Green) cocktail at two fifteen. two fifteen

At two fifteen, there are four color-themed cocktails: Crimson (Red), Last Word (Green), Imperial Classes (Purple), and Paper Plane (Orange). Why these colors? “I could have gone on!” Voisey explained. “The challenge for a cocktail menu like this is sometimes choosing what to cut and save for next time as ideas flow fast. Red, green, purple, and orange are all vibrant, strong colors and were the first to come to mind.”

Each of these cocktails taps into a specific flavor profile inspired by the color palette. The Imperial Classes (Purple) is a spin on the pisco sour, combining red wine and butterfly pea flower to achieve the color. The Crimson (Red) is all about freshness, highlighting watermelon, lime, and Campari with Milagro tequila. The Last Word (Green) is herbaceous, possessing a brightness that matches its green color. This cocktail has an intriguing umami flavor that’s thoroughly unique. Finally, the Paper Plane (Orange) blends Monkey Shoulder Scotch, vanilla bitters, Aperol, Amaro, and lemon for a dry yet refreshing drink.

While cocktails, in general, are all about finding the right flavor balance, when color becomes a central factor, it adds an interesting element to cocktail creation. For Voisey, some of her favorites are delicate spirits combined with fresh fruit and herbs. Champagne is another favorite. An ingredient might be a good flavor pairing, but would it change the color so much that it throws off the cocktail’s central premise? At the same time, the parameters of a color restriction can be invigorating for creativity.

“A certain color will instantly inspire a range of ingredients to pick from, and invariably, within that, there are natural combinations that go together,” explained Voisey. “The same rules apply when it comes to balancing nuance of flavor, sweetness, acid, and intensity, as for any other well-made drink.”

Hunter Lu
Hunter Lu is a New York-based food and features writer, editor, and NYU graduate. His fiction has appeared in The Line…
This stunning purple cocktail is Mardi Gras in a glass
A gorgeous purple drink perfect for carnival season
Mardi Gras Gimlet

Ahead of Mardi Gras next month, you can start planning out your celebratory drinks - or even just treat yourself early.

We've got a recipe using a stunning purple vodka from Sugarfield Spirits that is colored using butterfly pea flowers, a traditional East Asian ingredient used in some Japanese cocktails. It gives a striking natural hue that's perfect for Mardi Gras season.

Read more
Red vs. green: Choose year team with these tequila cocktails
Show your team some love with these color-themed cocktails
Green Avocado Blitz

If you go all out for Super Bowl day and love to decorate your place in support of your team then you'll want to check out these tequila drinks, which come in team-supporting colors for the game today.

These cocktails from Tequila Cazadores use the brand's blanco variety which is perfect for mixing, and they come in two fun colors: red or green, so you can show your support for your chosen team. The green option for you Eagles fans uses avocado plus other traditional Mexican flavors like cilantro, jalapeño, and lime for a refreshing, savory-noted drink. And the red option for the Chiefs fans uses pomegranate for color and flavor, along with grapefruit and elderflower liqueur for a fruity, floral drink.

Read more
Kick off your celebrations with these game day-themed cocktails
A drink for whichever team you're cheering for
game day themed cocktails french blonde

We love any excuse for a themed cocktail here, and Game Day is no exception! From Nola's beloved local drink, the Hurricane, to Taylor Swift's own favorite, the French Blonde, there's fun to be had by picking a drink that's on point for the occasion. If you're hosting some buddies for the big game tomorrow, then this selection of recipes has something for everyone, covering drinks with rum, whiskey, gin, and vodka.
Bacardí Fourth Quarter Classic

Ingredients:

Read more