Empress 1908 Indigo Gin
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Hendricks Gin Vs The Competition
Tanqueray 10s similarity with the original Hendricks lies in that there is a distinct tinge of flowers in the palate and finish.
But that is all the two spirits have in common.
Tanqueray 10s clean, crisp balance in its blend makes it a preferred choice over Hendricks, especially when turning the gin as a primary building block for a martini. For a gin-and-tonic, though, they are neck-and-neck in terms of being the gin of choice – and going down to the makers personal choice.
Bathtub Gin is like Hendricks, in that their exterior presentations remind one of a Queen Victoria-era apothecary.
Bathtub Gin is packaged with brown paper, string and wax, and the bottle lettering has fonts that are dead ringers for late 1800s English medicine peddlers.
However, the cinnamon and cardamom in the gin can be overpowering for some palates. In contrast, Hendricks rose petals-and-cucumber infusion doesnt try to compete with the juniper base mix in the initial tasting.
Even in its starter form, Plymouth English Gin manages to subdue the juniper base yet tries to make the mixed botanicals – including coriander, orange, lemon, green cardamom, angelica root and orris root – share center stage in the drinkers mouth. As a result, the taste is more of the classic London dry gin.
Hendricks tries to do the same thing with its botanical blend, but the rose-and-cucumber starter taste could be a turnoff, for the gin taste purist looking for a predominantly juniper blast on the mouth.
The Top 7 Surprising Health Benefits Of Gin
The top health benefits of gin arent too surprising when you think about it. Made from juniper berries, a type of super fruit, gin serves as one of the healthiest spirits ever created. Its low in calories, and the botanical properties that survive the distillation process present plenty of health-boosting reasons gin is healthy.
Gin has grown in demand over the years, and distilleries continue to fuel its popularity. Data from the 2018 SIP Awards found that gin was tied with vodka as the number 1 category regarding the number of entrants. In line with trends, we present the most interesting benefits of drinking gin.
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Who Makes Sainsburys Gin
First place was awarded to Sainsburys Taste the Difference Blackfriars Gin. The £16 gin was praised for its complexity and balance. Made by G& amp,J Distillers, of Warrington, Cheshire, the gin is quadruple-distilled for purity and includes juniper berries, coriander seeds, angelica roots, orange and lemon peel.
The Story Behind Empress 1908 Gins Ingredients Colour Change Taste Where Its From And Our Favourite Cocktails
One of the most strikingly coloured spirits you will find on liquor store shelves and back-bars around the world today is Empress 1908 Gin from Sidney, British Columbia. While most gin purists would scoff at a gin that isnt clear, once you dig under the surface of what makes this gin, youll realize that it honours time-tested distillation traditions .
You might as well start with a drink in hand, so Ill start with this for point number 1:
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Empress 1908 Gin Review
Beautiful purple in color with tea as a key botanical.
Review Empress 1908 Gin
Made in: British Columbia, Canada, by Victoria Distillers.
Base: Corn
Method: Copper Pot still.
42.5% alcohol/85 proof
Botanicals 8 : Juniper, grapefruit peel, coriander, Empress Black tea blend, rose petal, cinnamon, ginger, butterfly pea blossoms.
Style: Modern gin
Designed to celebrate the Canadian city of Victoria the gin is named after the Empress Hotel in Victoria, British Columbia, which was built in 1908, as the name on the label says. The gin uses the hotels signature Empress black tea blend as one the key botanicals in the gin, and sports a regal blue-purple color which is imparted by the butterfly pea blossoms with which its distilled.
And that indigo color is perhaps the most defining characteristic of the gin. It makes for some very pretty cocktails without adding sweetness. The color is however transient, and the darker the color, likely the fresher the bottle is, as the blue fades with time.
Tasting notes
Sipped on ice this gin has a very astringent nature. There is just a little too much heat, even after a couple of minutes on ice to recommend this as a sipping gin.
The nose is loaded with floral notes from the tea, rose petal, and maybe the pea blossoms with an essence of citrus and juniper mixed in. You can also smell some underlying dark berries and a touch of spice â with just faint traces of ginger, coriander, and cinnamon.
The oral texture of the gin is thin, and sharp.
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The Colour Is Actually A Happy Accident
The Empress Hotel is really famous for doing Afternoon Tea every day. Its not that expensive, only $82.00 forTEA.
Locally, its well-known that if you get a chance to serve Afternoon Tea at the Empress, youre easily clearing 6 figures a year. Thats right, there are folks earning more than $100,000.00 a year by just serving tea. Its amazing.
Given that Afternoon Tea is such a long-standing and luxurious tradition, Empress Gin wanted to capture some of that in their bottle. They did this by experimenting with a number of signature tea blends from the Empress Hotel, and they ended up with two: Blue Suede Shoes, featuring butterfly pea blossom, and the Empress Blend Tea made by the Metropolitan Tea Company .
It was while they were testing different teas, in particular the Blue Suede Shoes blend, that they discovered that the butterfly pea blossom imparted an indigo hue to the gin.
BTW this is kind of proof that they didnt set out to just create a gimmicky colourful gin.
Common Hendricks Gin Prices List
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Type |
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$55.99 – $58.99 |
86.8 |
The original Hendricks Gin carries a juniper berry foundation, with the aforementioned rose and cucumber infusion very much present in the nose and finish.
The classic Scottish gin roots, however, are quite dominant in the palate, but with a dint of yarrow and black pepper in the blend. This is a reflection of the background of Hendricks Gin master distiller Lesley Gracie, who brewed up various teas from botanical concoctions as a wee Scottish lass, and pushed those myriad plant-and-tree mixes into Hendricks. As such, the gin can be a good foundation for a gin over ice with tonic water , or the traditional gin-and-tonic.
Hendricks Gin Orbium is a limited version of the original, but it has strong indicators of quinine, wormwood and blue lotus blossom.
The result is that the rather bitter quinine and wormwood rudely wake up your tongue, but after some time the hints of mint, pepper, citrus, cucumber, rose petals and juniper arrive and greet you warmly. It works nicely with a club soda or tonic , but the initial bitterness thrust into your mouth is an acquired taste.
Given that quinine is used as a solution for malaria , the potential for Hendricks Gin Orbium as a medicine cabinet resident may soon be a reality.
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The Easy Way To Make Dazzling Color
Need a cool party trick? Try a cocktail made with Empress 1908 Gin.
Your first experience with a cocktail is looking at it. Whether youre at home or in a cocktail bar, theres nothing like a vivid, colorful drink to catch your eye. Over the last few years, blue drinks have been all over cocktail menus thanks to tasty blue Curaçao thats a huge upgrade from earlier versions.
More recently, bartenders have fallen for the butterfly pea flower. On its own, water steeped with the flower is a rich, dark indigo. But the second you add citrus or tonic, it shifts to a light pink, giving you not only a range of colors to work with, but the opportunity to see it transform right in the glass.
Looking to replicate these stunning cocktails at home? You can go the route many bartenders do, and work with the butterfly pea flower itself. But theres no shame in taking a slightly easier route: picking up a bottle of Empress 1908 Gin, which has the butterfly pea blossom already incorporated.
Color-switching G& Ts are a no-fail party trick. Pour out a measure of gin over ice in each glass, top off with tonic, and watch the color instantly transform. And once you get other ingredients involved, youll see how varied the color can be. With green elements like muddled mint, the indigo looks almost blue add citrus and bubbles, and its more like a rosy pink.
Empress Blackberry Gin Fizz Recipe
Empress Blackberry Gin Fizz
Since quarantine, Ive been making lots of cocktails and sharing them on . My favorite spirit of choice lately is Empress 1908 Gin. I discovered Empress 1908 Gin a few months ago when my friend Katie invited me to take a charcuterie board class. That was so much fun! They provided cocktails at the event and all the cocktails were made with Empress 1908 Gin only. I was immediately blow away. It is a hand-crafted spirit from Victoria distillers in British Columbia, Canada. This is a botanical infused gin, and it has a natural purple hue. I love the color! In my opinion, it just makes your drink look a little bit more fun!
This gin is inspired by the renowned tea and cocktail programs of the iconic Fairmont Empress Hotel in Victoria. Doesnt it sound so regal?! And sometimes the color changes depending on what is being put into the drink.
This gin is unique because of its flavor. As I mentioned earlier, it is botanical infused. It includes butterfly pea blossom, fairmont empress tea, juniper, grapefruit peel, coriander seed, cinnamon bark, rose petal, and ginger root. Trust me, it is delicious! You should be able to find Empress 1908 Gin at your local liquor store. If youre in Chicago, they definitely have it at Binnys! You can also purchase it online.
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Theres A Subtle Nod To India Heres Why
There are two very uncommon ingredients in Empress Gin and thats 1) cinnamon and 2) ginger. WTF? Cinnamon and ginger in a gin!
Between the years 1876 and 1948, British queens and kings were called Empress and Emperor of India, respectively. Queen Victoria was the first Empress of India, and so Victoria Distillers wanted to include a subtle nod with popular Indian spices, ginger and cinnamon.
Shop Empress Buy Empress Online
Empress 1908 Gin delights the senses with its balanced citrus-and-spice palette, brilliant colour, light floral fragrance and soft texture. Handcrafted in small batch copper-pot stills, Empress 1908 uses eight signature botanicals, including juniper, grapefruit peel, rose petal, coriander, ginger, cinnamon, and a bespoke blend of tea.
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Give The Gift Of Cocktails This Holiday Season
Introducing Empress 1908s 2021 Gift Guide for cocktail enthusiasts, mixology experts, foodie friends & more, weve pulled together a selection of our very favourite products to make gifting easy this year!
Start by picking up a bottle of Empress 1908 Gin, the perfect present for your loved ones, or to treat yourself. Discover retail locations near you using our store finder, or click here to shop online, and read on for more ideas that pair perfectly with Empress 1908!
For the home bartender
qualitytools
Did your loved one take up home bartending this year? The first step to delicious drinks is making sure youve got the right tools in hand. Shop our premium copper barware here and learn more about the purpose of each piece in our barware blog post!
creativeinspiration
Give the gift of a cocktail book that looks just as good as the recipes inside taste. From the spectacular layered Setting Sail for Victoria to the elegant & understated Fly Away with Me, Natalie Migliarini and James Stevensons book, Beautiful Booze has a cocktail for every palate. To get a sneak peek of what youre in for, visit their stunning recipe blog, or check out Natalies !
elevatedglassware
The easiest way to dress up a drink? Elevated glassware! Discover our glassware essentials here, or shop unique & classic styles from our friends at Viski Craft. Were big fans of their Amaro Spritz glasses, perfect for Empress & Tonics and our Winterberry Soda.
premiummixers
What Makes Pink Gin Turn Pink
Modern Pink Gin
The pink color in this spirit derives from infusion of red and pink produce, spices, or bitters or even added coloring and sweeteners. Popular ingredients like strawberries, raspberries, rhubarb, grape skins, rose petals, and red currents, can add color as well as fragrance and flavor to a pink gin.
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The Fairmont Empress Q Bar
The Fairmont was so pleased with the signature gin that they created a signature gin sour called the Q 1908 Cocktail.
This is not to be confused with the regular 1908 cocktail that commemorated the centennial anniversary of the hotel.
Alas that cocktail uses a different, non-indigo, gin.
Normally a general word of food and drink advice for Victoria is that only tourist spots are on Government St.
I had more than a few people tell me not to bother going anywhere there.
But as always there are a few exceptions like Garricks Head Pub to drink craft beer in Victoria and the Empress Hotel.
Aside from the gin, the hotel bar is worth a visit.
The bartenders have been working there for decades and have a familiar charm about them.
MAKE IT AT HOME:
For that reason I saw locals stopping in for a drink, including one lovely 80-year old regular who insisted on giving me a kiss on the cheek before I left.
As Paulo Coelho says,
Frequent bars. Unlike museums, this is where the life of the city can be found. Bars are not discotheques, but places where the people gather to have a drink, pass the time, and are always willing to chat.
This was definitely true here.
Need An Assist With Digestion
Gin has you covered, once again. The bitters used to create gin boost stomach acid and digestive enzymes in your digestive system. This helps break down that gigantic combo meal you told yourself you wouldnt have anymore. Plus, gins aids against painful heartburn, which is a huge plus after a large meal.
Attention gin lovers: Although gin has its health benefits, its imperative that you seek professional medical advice from your physician before consuming any alcohol-based beverages.
If you enjoyed this article, why not view the most common botanicals used in gin which give gin its unique health benefits .
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Gin Sour The Empress Q1908
The squeezed lemon juice in this gin sour changes the drink from a vibrant indigo to a lovely soft lavender colour.
DONT BE AFRAID OF RECIPES WITH SIMPLE SYRUP: Making a syrup just for cocktails sounds complicated but its really simple. Over medium-low heat put equal parts of water and white sugar into a saucepan and stir. Once the sugar has dissolved into the water remove from the heat and let cool. Voila!
Who Owns Empress Gin
Empress 1908 is made by Victoria Distillers, one of the oldest artisan distilleries in Canada. Established in 2008, Victoria Distillers collaborates with talented mixologists to create both classic and innovative cocktail spirits, using the worlds best-tasting water and the finest ingredients from around the world.
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The Colour Can Change To Blue Or Pink Heres How
Butterfly pea blossoms have these little molecules called anthocyanins pigments that change colour depending on their PH levels. Theyre red when theyre acidic, purple when theyre neutral, and blue when theyre basic.
So if you add acid, say lemon juice, to Empress Gin, it will become a beautiful red-pink colour. And if you add something basic to it, like cucumber, it will turn blue.
President and Master Distiller, Peter Hunt, recounts bringing the new gin to market at Victorias 2017 Art of the Cocktail. His team was experimenting mixing up new drinks, and when they lined up all their creations, they realized that some were purple, some were pink, and some were blue.
Thats when we had this aha moment that the gin actually changed colour as the PH changed. And we were like okay, thats pretty cool. It was one more layer in the creation of this product, says Peter.