Beautiful and delicious: Durham Distillery launches color-changing gin

But at Durham Distillery, the color of Kinship, the latest Conniption gin, showcases how science and art can come together to make something special.

Durham Distillery co-owner Melissa Katrincic said Kinship is infused with butterfly pea flowers, a plant native to Asia that’s known for its bright colors.

The butterfly pea flower is what's helping to transform Kinship into the vivid indigo color.

“I have no doubt this is it. This is what’s going to get us to being known as a national gin brand, and I couldn’t be more excited,” said Katrincic.

Katrincic and her husband, Lee, said the idea for Kinship came from them wanting to add another gin to their lineup. The couple was able to use some of the flavors already offered through their distilling method.

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"It's a combination of the three botanicals that we've always used in our gins - juniper, Indian coriander and cardamon," said Melissa Katrincic.

While the color is what draws people in, the flavor is what really sells the gin.

“This is a gin that’s just beautiful but it’s also really delicious,” said Katrincic.

The gin’s flavor profile includes fresh lemon and orange peel, which Katrincic said gives it a “juicy finish.”

Like the other gins Durham Distillery makes, Kinship uses vacuum cold distillation with rotary vapors. The distillery was the first in the United States to use the method.

Those wanting to see science in action can watch the gin change colors when mixed with citrus.

“We were so excited,” Katrincic said. “Of course, you know the science behind it but still you’re geeking out. You’re like, ‘Look, how pretty.’”

Currently, distillery workers are bottling about 5,000 bottles a day of the gin, which will then be sold in North Carolina, Georgia, New York and Florida.

"We're launching in all four states within 30 days of each other essentially," said Katrincic. "That is why we are making a lot."

So far, the response to the gin has been incredible with Durham Distillery selling 400 bottles in the first week.

The distillery has also created a lineup of drinks using the gin at Corpse Reviver, their bar and lounge.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved using butterfly pea flower extract in September 2021.

In a release on the approval, the FDA said butterfly pea flower was "the industry's first plant-derived natural blue source approved by the FDA."