Can red dragon fruit be substituted in a key lime and rice spirit liqueur without losing colour and flavour?

Expanded Explanation

Yes, but the substitution changes both the visual impact and the flavour weight of the liqueur. Red dragon fruit brings stronger colour and a slightly fuller fruit impression than white dragon fruit, even though both are still relatively delicate compared with bolder fruits. If you swap red for white, expect a paler result and a softer overall profile, which means the citrus and botanicals will stand out more clearly.

If red dragon fruit is unavailable, white dragon fruit can still work, but it benefits from support. A little extra fruit, slightly more honey, or a very restrained increase in lime zest can help prevent the liqueur from feeling thin. The goal is not to force dragon fruit into a dominant flavour, but to preserve its soft tropical body while keeping the key lime bright and clean.

Avoid replacing dragon fruit with strongly aromatic fruits such as passion fruit or pineapple if you want the same style. Those fruits will pull the liqueur in a completely different direction and overpower the gentle balance between rice spirit, lime, lemongrass, and pink peppercorn. For the closest result, stick to dragon fruit varieties and adjust texture and sweetness rather than intensity alone.