“The Purple Lemon Drop is a product of the 21st-century craft cocktail renaissance and social media age. Its parent, the classic Lemon Drop, was invented in the 1970s by Norman Jay Hobday at Henry Africa's in San Francisco. The "purple" evolution is tied to two key ingredients: the revival of Crème de Violette in 2007 and the launch of Empress 1908 Gin in the late 2010s. Empress Gin's butterfly pea flower infusion creates a dramatic color transformation from indigo to lavender when mixed with acidic ingredients like lemon juice. This visual magic made it an instant hit on social media platforms, representing the modern trend of cocktails designed for the eye as much as the palate.”