Green, Gold, and Purple Cocktails: Colors and Flavors of Mardi Gras

Estimated reading time: 7 minutes

Get into the Mardi Gras celebratory spirit with a colorful twist inspired by the green, gold, and purple colors the holiday is known for. From the classic New Orleans Hurricane to the untraditional Purple People Eater, today, we’re featuring colorful cocktails that embody the essence of Mardi Gras with bright and bold flavors. Not in the bartending mood? No worries! We’ve also included simple tips to dress up any beverage for your Fat Tuesday celebration at the beach.

Green Cocktail: Midori Sour

With a striking, electric green hue, nothing says “get the party started” better than the Midori Sour. Its star ingredient is Midori, a Japanese sweet liqueur made from muskmelon and the Yabari melon. This cocktail has many variations, some calling for sour mix, lime soda, and even egg whites. But the recipe we’re featuring here takes on a modern twist. Instead of sour mix, this recipe incorporates freshly squeezed lemon and lime juice while being topped off with club soda. This updated version is a lighter, fresher take on the Original Midori Sour. If you want it sweeter, you can easily substitute club soda for Sprite or another type of citrus soda.

What you’ll need:

• 1 ounce Midori
• 1 ounce vodka
• 1/2 ounce lemon juice, freshly squeezed
• 1/2 ounce lime juice, freshly squeezed
• Club soda, to top
• Garnish: lemon wheel

For step-by-step instructions on how to make a Midori Sour, visit Liquor.com

Midori Sour fun fact: In 1978, Midori made its debut at New York City’s infamous Studio 54 at a cast party for the film “Saturday Night Fever.”

More green cocktail recipes: https://mybartender.com/drinks/green-cocktails/

Gold/Yellow Cocktail: The Hurricane

If you’re planning to throw an exuberant beachside Mardi Gras party and need a cocktail to round out the occasion, look no further than New Orleans’ very own, the Hurricane. Often described as sweet, fruity, and boozy, this cocktail is widely recognizable by the tall, wide, and curvy glass that it’s served in, known as the Hurricane glass. There are a few versions of this cocktail, some with vodka and gin and some with amaretto and orange liqueur. Here, we’ve included the most popular recipe, which incorporates two types of rum, lime juice, orange juice, passionfruit puree, grenadine, and simple syrup.

What you’ll need:

• 2 ounces light rum
• 2 ounces dark rum
• 1 ounce lime juice, freshly squeezed
• 1 ounce orange juice, freshly squeezed
• 1/2 ounce passion fruit puree
• 1/2 ounce simple syrup
• 1 teaspoon grenadine
• Garnish: orange half-wheel
• Garnish: preserved cherry

For step-by-step instructions on how to make a Hurricane, visit Liquor.com

The Hurricane fun fact: The employees at Pat O’Brien’s bar in New Orleans invented the Hurricane during World War II due to the surplus of rum.

More yellow/gold cocktail recipes: https://wineflavorguru.com/yellow-cocktails/

Purple Cocktail: Purple People Eater

Another sweet and sour combo but with a berry and citrus twist, the People Purple Eater is often associated with Halloween due to its color. However, this cocktail could be a fun addition to your Mardi Gras-themed beach party. Combining the red tones from grenadine and cranberry juice with blue curaçao makes it a mesmerizing purple shade. Other ingredients include vodka and sweet and sour mix.

What you’ll need:

• 1 ounce vodka
• 1 ounce blue curaçao
• 1 ounce sweet and sour mix
• 1 ounce grenadine
• 1 ounce cranberry juice
• Simple syrup for rimming the glass
• Purple sugar such as sanding sugar

For step-by-step instructions on how to make a Purple People Eater, visit MyBartender.com

Purple People Eater fun fact: One of the ingredients used in the Purple People Eater cocktail, blue curaçao (pronounced ‘cure-ah-souw’), is made from the dried peel of the Laraha orange found on the Caribbean island of Curaçao. Its notable blue tone is from food coloring.

More purple cocktail recipes: https://mybartender.com/drinks/purple-cocktails/

Mardi Gras Cocktail Garnishes and Accessories

Let’s face it. Not everyone has the passion to be a home bartender nor is inclined to put in the time and resources to stock a full bar. For those who prefer to crack open a can of soda or a bottle of wine but still want to get in the Mardi Gras spirit, here are some tips to dress up your beverages for the festivities.

Fruit

Using fruit is a quick and healthy way to dress up any beverage for Mardi Gras. Plus, you can easily find them at your local grocery store. Limes are often the go-to green fruit for garnishing cocktails. Other options include green apples, white grapes, kiwis, and honeydew. For yellow fruits, popular choices include lemons, pineapples, star fruits, and pears. Berries, such as blackberries and acai, are great options for purple, as well as plums and red grapes.

Once you’ve collected your fruits, give them a good rinse, cut them into slices or wedges, then add them to your drinks. If you’re using berries or small fruits, there’s no need to cut them into pieces. Adding them as is would suffice. Alternatively, with fruits such as limes and lemons, you could use the skin as a garnish.

Rimming Sugar, Salt, and Glitter

Have fun and be creative by adding colorful rimming sugar or salt to your cocktail glasses. Color options are endless, and you can find a hue for any occasion. However, for your Mardi Gras celebration, you can save time searching and opt for a rimming sugar combo pack from Brew Glitter. Another fun way to dress up your drinks is by infusing edible beverage glitter. Whether it’s a cocktail, mocktail, or soda, you can make your drinks sparkle in Mardi Gras colors! There are different glitter varieties to choose from, including glitter spray, dust, and color-changing glitter.

Cocktail Picks and Straws

If you’re pressed for prep time or need a solution requiring the least effort, pick up a pack or two of Mardi Gras-themed cocktail picks and straws. Dress your drinks up for the occasion by simply adding these to your glasses or cups, and you’re good to go. You can also use these picks to make your appetizers and desserts more festive and use leftover straws as labels for various food items.

Regardless of your bartending skill level or how much time and effort you want to put in, serving up beverages at your Mardi Gras bash should be a fun experience. Now that you’ve explored our list of colorful cocktails and are equipped with some tips and tricks, it’s time to put it all into action. So gather your friends for a beachside Mardi Gras celebration!

For more recipes and inspiration, visit Beach Homes Lifestyles.