Ube · Zero proof
Kulay Lilang Ginto
Purple colored gold. Named for what Philippine writers call the crop. All the color, none of the proof.
GlassHighball glass, cubed ice.
- 30 mlube syrup (see Sourcing and syrups)
- 20 mlfresh lime juice
- 80 mlchilled coconut water
- 60 mlsoda water, to top
MethodStir syrup, lime and coconut water in the glass over ice. Top with soda and give it one gentle lift with a bar spoon.
GarnishA pinch of toasted coconut and a straw. Poured slowly, the soda leaves violet layers. Let it.
Cost estimate[VERIFY: booklet page 18 prices ube per unit but not coconut water or soda, so a full drink cost cannot be computed from source material]
What to expect in the glass
Light, clean and more savory than it looks. Coconut water brings a faint salinity and a nuttiness that reads as depth without any fat, which is why it works better here than coconut milk would.
The ube sits in the middle of the palate rather than the front, giving color and a soft starchy roundness. This is a drink to serve at three in the afternoon, not after dinner.
Zero proof drinks live or die on body, and this one is deliberately built on the lean side. If it feels thin to you, that is the honest weakness of the spec rather than a mistake in your execution.
Balance note
Printed as written, and the photograph opposite shows what it actually looks like: translucent, leaning fuchsia rather than violet, and faintly hazy. That haze is real ube. Around three quarters of the tuber's dry matter is starch, so a syrup made from the real thing never goes crystal clear and will throw a little sediment if it stands. Filter it through a coffee filter if that bothers you.
The thing to watch is body. Coconut water plus soda gives you very little weight, and there is no alcohol here to supply it. A pinch of salt is the cheapest fix and costs nothing in calories or color. Cutting the soda to 40 ml is the second lever. Serve it unstirred and the layers hold a minute or two, rather less if the guest walks across a room first.
Simon's note after tasting
Aroma: delicate toasted coconut and soft vanilla-like ube, with a fresh lime lift.
Palate: light, crisp and gently tropical. Ube brings subtle earthy sweetness and a faint nuttiness, while coconut water adds a clean mineral freshness rather than creaminess. Lime gives a bright, tart edge and the soda keeps everything lively and dry.
Finish: clean and refreshing, with lingering coconut, soft ube and a gentle citrus tang.
Overall: bright, sparkling and subtly exotic. Lightly sweet and citrus driven, with delicate violet ube notes rather than dessert-like richness.