Dazzle in the dark with this phosphorescent gin and tonic cocktail pod. We find a new way to play with the frozen reverse spherification technique by capitalizing on the tonic water, which contains quinine. The phosphors in quinine absorbs ultraviolet light and then re-emits it as visible light under a black light. This fun recipe is sure to bring on the oohs and aahs.
Ingredients
- Gin Cocktail:
- 60g (2 oz) Gin
- 5 Drops Ginger Aromatic Elixirs
- 3 Drops Citrus Aromatic Elixirs
- 240g (1 cup) Tonic Water
- 3g (1 tsp) Calcium Lactate Gluconate
- Small Pinch Shimmer Dust
- (For color)
- Rum Cocktail:
- 60g (2 oz) White Rum
- 3 Drops Baking Spice Aromatic Elixirs
- 240g (1 cup) Tonic Water
- 3g (1 tsp) Calcium Lactate Gluconate
- Small Pinch Shimmer Dust
- (For color)
- Tequila Cocktail:
- 60g (2 oz) Silver Tequila
- 5-8 drops Citrus Aromatic Elixir
- 240g (1 cup) Tonic Water
- 3g (1 tsp) Calcium Lactate Gluconate
- Small Pinch Shimmer Dust
- (For color)
- Setting Bath:
- 1000g (1 quart) Distilled Water
- 7g (2 ½ tsp) Perfected Sodium Alginate
Equipment
- Silicone Mold
- Black Light
Timing
Active Time: 20 Minutes
Total Time: 4 Hours
Yield
10-18 Glowing Cocktail Pods
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Mix Cocktail Ingredients
In a container place all the ingredients for a cocktail listed above. If you are making multiple cocktail flavors we suggest using different types of shimmer dust. This way you can decipher which ones are which once frozen and or spherified.
Mix all the ingredients until the calcium has fully dissolved into the cocktail. It is okay if the carbonation is released from the tonic water.
Pour the cocktail into a silicone mold or an ice cube tray. This all depends on the size of sphere you are looking to create.
-
Create Alginate Setting Bath
While the pods are freezing, mix the distilled water and perfected sodium alginate together with a whisk and allow it to hydrate for at least 1 hour before use. You will know this is ready to use because it will be completely clear.
Once the spheres are frozen solid. pour the perfected sodium alginate solution in a small shallow pot and heat to 120-130°F.
-
Set Cocktail Pods in Warm Setting Bath
Drop a frozen sphere into the Perfected sodium alginate solution, and let set for 2-3 minutes.
Do not over crowd the pot, placing the pods too close together will cause them to gel together.
If the cocktail pod floats, do your best to baste the top gently with the sodium alginate solution to make sure it gels evenly.
If there is a small air bubble do not try to pop it or you could ruin the entire pod.
-
Rinse and Remove Excess Water
Once finished remove the pod from the solution with a spherification spoon and rinse in room temperature freshwater.
Remove from the rinse water and dab any excess water off the bottom of the spoon with a paper towel.
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Serving Presentation
To display and serve the spheres place them on or under a black light.
The UV light is absorbed by the quinine in the tonic water and makes them glow a bright blue.
To store the spheres for further use, simply place them in a container with any excess cocktail mixture and refrigerate.
Summary
Recipe Name
Glow In the Dark Cocktail Pod
Author Name
Modernist Pantry
Published On
Preparation Time
Total Time
Comments (2)
March 14, 2022 7:21 am
Hi,
What a great website! Very useful and clear!
I just have a question regarding the sodium alginate bath for this recipe. Why do warm sodium alginate bath when you set the cocktails pods? Compared to other recipes where the bath was used cold. In which case(s) is it better to warm the sodium alginate bath?
Thank you very much in advance for your help!
Many thanks
Manon
March 14, 2022 4:39 pm
We used a warm setting bath for this because the cocktail pods are much larger and we found that sometimes The ice cube would pop the sphere. The warm setting bath melts the ice cube much faster and allows for an easier sphere making experience.