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!
Where To Buy Empress 1908 Gin
The key to this cocktail is Empress 1908 gin, its non-negotiable and cant be made with other gin brands. Empress 1908 Gin is a collaboration between Victoria Distillers the Fairmont Empress Hotel. Its famous because of the purple color, which comes from butterfly pea blossoms.
The hardest part about recreating this cocktail was finding edible flowers apparently, there is a shortage here in San Francisco??? Normally you can find them at places like Whole Foods
Because edible flowers can be hard to find depending on where you live, its ok if you skip them while making your cocktail if needed. They do add a fun pop of color and a delightful floral kick but the cocktail is still great without them!
Heres how to make a Q1908.
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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Empress 1908 Gin Sour
Shes sweet, shes sour, and shes totally a star! Meet the Empress 1908 Gin Sour.
This pretty drink looks fabulous and tastes amazing. Its light, floral, citrusy, and a little bit of egg white foam creates the most irresistible mouthfeel.
Raw eggs are perfectly safe if you know their freshness and quality. However, if youre uncomfortable using raw egg whites, feel free to use pasteurized.
You can also make this vegan with aquafaba.
My favorite cocktails are bubbly. So, the French 75 is definitely high on my list and it should be pretty high on yours too.
The Soixante Quinze, as its called in French, is light and effervescent.
Typically, its made with gin, Champagne, lemon juice, and sugar, its a bubbly adult lemonade. And boy, is it strong!
But I think this recipe is even better than the original, thanks to the Empress gin and honey simple syrup.
The sweet floral notes of the honey pair incredibly well with the gin. That said, everything about this drink is delicate and delicious.
The classic gin and tonic is easy to make and very light and refreshing.
Meanwhile, this Pacific Empress G& T is like the enchanted gin and tonic of your dreams.
First, the lack of piney flavor may surprise you. Thats because Empress 1908 doesnt taste quite as juniper-y as regular gin.
And second, this cocktail has some added yumminess honey-muddled blackberries and pineapple juice, to be exact.
Sweet, fruity, earthy, and slightly bitter, its truly a taste sensation.
Q1908 Recipe: Recreating The Fairmont Empress 1908 Gin Cocktail From Our Trip To Canada
I normally dont find myself falling so head-over-heels for hotel signature cocktails but the Q1908 recipe is different, in all the good ways. Thanks to the Empress 1908 gin and egg whites, this cocktail is smooth. The lemon adds a little kick of citrus and the edible flowers finish it off with the perfect floral notes.
Oh, and its purple!!
Its one of those cocktails that makes you feel super fancy when you drink it but its easy enough to make that you can whip up a few rounds over your at-home happy hour and dinner.
And its good for all seasons. Some cocktails in my mind are strictly summer ones but the Q1908 hits the spot on a hot summer day just as much as it felt like the perfect cocktail to sip while listening to Christmas carols under holiday lights in Victoria at the Fairmont.
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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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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.
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Empress Pear Rosemary Gin Cocktail
If you could bottle the sunset, it would look like this cocktail.
With layered hues of blues, purples, pinks, and gold, its about as stunning as a cocktail can be.
Plus, its absolutely scrumptious.
Each sip brings notes of pear, rosemary, honey, lemon, and ginger to your tongue.
Its made with Empress gin, ginger beer, lemon juice, and honey-based pear and rosemary syrup.
Add fresh pear slices and a sprig of rosemary to finish it off. Enjoy!
One sip, and youll give this blood orange Gin Fizz the peel of approval.
Especially if orange is your favorite flavor because this is absolutely bursting with orangey goodness.
Blood orange syrup, blood orange juice, orange bitters, andAperol ring in the citrus notes. Meanwhile, Empress gin plus club soda round out the drink.
Empress 1908 Gin And Tonic Wins The Award For Best Looking G& T
Empress Gin will make the most beautiful G& T you will ever have. Especially if you pair it with grapefruit to compliment the grapefruit peel botanicals in the gin itself, and a great quality tonic. President and Master Distiller, Peter Hunt, recommends Fever Tree Elderflower or Fever Tree Premium Indian.
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Our 8 Signature Botanicals
Bespoke Tea BlendThe signature tea at the Empress Hotel, this blend is a selection of seasonal, quality teas from Assam, Kenya, South India, Ceylon, and China, created exclusively by the Metropolitan Tea Company. At once floral, fruity and oaky, it is one of the finest blends in the world. |
Butterfly Tea BlossomWe chose this flower for its warm, herbal earthiness, and the softness it contributes to the texture. It plays a flavour role similar to that of angelica in other gins. This botanical is also responsible for the ginâs unique colour. |
Grapefruit PeelWhile lemon and orange are fairly traditional gin botanicals, we prefer grapefruit for its unique citrus flavour thatâs both slightly bitter and suggestively sweet. It provides an aromatic, lively bright note that pairs very well with tonic. |
The classic taste found in most gins, it provides a complex flavour with notes of pine and citrus. And while London Dry Gins like a big juniper burst, our Pacific Northwest style gin uses a subtle varietal that isnât too pushy, and balances nicely with the other less traditional botanicals. |
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Rum: Pyrat Xo Reserve W/Steamer TrunkBottled at 40% ABV Pyrat XO Reserve received 94 Points from Wine Enthusiast.Size: 750mLProof: 80 Origin: United StatesDistillery: Demerara DistillersDetailed DescriptionA very special amber Caribbean blended rum from Anguilla Rums Ltd in the West Indies. A real connoisseurs rum, with a subli
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How To Make A Lavender Empress Gin And Tonic
In a cocktail shaker or measuring glass, combine the Empress 1908 gin and the lavender simple syrup. Add a handful of ice and stir to both combine and chill. Strain into a lowball glass filled with ice. Top off the rest of the glass with tonic water & watch the color change before your eyes. Add a small splash or squeeze of grapefruit juice. Stir again before enjoying.
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Cucumber Empress Gin And Tonic
If sweet drinks arent your thing, try this refreshing tipple instead.
It has a gloriously crisp, clean, and herbaceous taste and is guaranteed to satisfy all your non-sweet cravings.
This G& T features tonic water, Empress gin, and a salad! Im kidding, but it does contain fresh cucumber, mint, and basil.
It might not be sweet, but it is definitely delicious.
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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
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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.
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Whiskey: Basil Haydens Kentucky Straight BourbonBasil Haydens bourbon whiskey is an artfully aged, light and easy to sip spirit that features a delicious and clean finish. It is a craft bourbon unlike any other.Size: 750mLProof: 80 Origin: United StatesDistillery: Kentucky Springs Distilling Co.Detailed DescriptionBasil Hayden
Offer valid on any online order over $150 . Valid for shipping anywhere within Washington only. Not valid when shipping to any other state. Order arrives within 3-5 business days. Excludes Gift Cards.
Offer valid on any online order over $150 . Valid for shipping anywhere within Arizona only. Not valid when shipping to any other state. Order arrives within 3-5 business days. Excludes Gift Cards.
Offer valid on any online order over $150 . Valid for shipping anywhere within California only. Not valid when shipping to any other state. Order arrives within 3-5 business days. Excludes Gift Cards.
What Is Empress 1908 Gin
One of the most impressive of these new gin distillers comes from Victoria, BC, Canada. Empress 1908 Gin is a distinctive deep indigo blue in the bottle a natural colorant derived from butterfly pea flower. It started out as a a collaboration between Victoria Distillers and the Fairmont Empress Hotel in Victoria, British Columbia, quickly taking the cocktail scene by storm.
Combined with traditional botanicals like juniper and citrus, as well as some unusual additions like ginger, grapefruit peel and tea, Empress is lovely and smooth on its own. But the magic really happens when you blend it with some acid like tonic, or a squeeze of fresh citrus: the indigo color shifts from blue to pinks, creating a gorgeous palette perfect for spring cocktails.
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Old Elk Blended Straight Bourbon Whiskey
$55.99
Whiskey: Old Elk Blended Straight BourbonAn exceptionally distinctive bourbon with remarkable depth, complexity and length.Size: 750mLProof: 88 Origin: United StatesDistillery: Old Elk DistilleryDetailed DescriptionSlow cut proofing enhances the bourbons flavors through a patient process where full barrel proof bourbon is cut,
The Master Distillers Favourite Empress 1908 Gin Cocktails Are Dead Simple
Windsor Garden
2 oz of Empress Gin, 0.5 oz simple, 0.75 oz lemon juice, muddled thyme, mint, basil, rosemary
Glass: Collins
Method: Build all ingredients in the Collins class, muddle herbs, and add ice
Garnish: Sprig of rosemary
2 oz Empress 1908 Gin, 0.75 oz Giffard Pamplemousse, 0.5 oz dry vermouth
Glass: small cocktail coupe
Method: stir ingredients, and strain neat in the coupe
Garnish: Grapefruit twist
Let us know what you think!
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Empress Maid Of Honor
This fun and fizzy drink will fit right in at a bridal shower.
Its sweet, fruity, and floral, with a bit of attitude. Its the rom-com best friend of cocktails.
And I know youll love it!
The Empress Maid of Honor features ginger ale, lemon juice, and ginger bitters. Of course, I cant forget the Empress gin!
But the real star of this drink is the simple syrup. Its made with pink peppercorns, so its sweet with a bit of heat.
But its not spicy its just a bit peppery!
Everything together yields a pretty purple drink that is complex and surprisingly delicious.
Free Delivery On Mainland Uk Orders Over 100
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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.
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