Empress 1908 Gin - Small Batch Distilled - All Natural - 70cl

Product Information

Once mixed, gin sours should be consumed. You can keep pre-squeezed lemon juice and the simple syrup in the refrigerator, but the gin itself should be kept in the original bottle in a dry, dark, cool place. Towards the finish, earthy coriander, green tea, and bulky, dry cinnamon (with no red hot character) stew on the edges of the palate. Radiant heat from the base spirit gives these notes some length— but warmth is the primary character that remains after sipping.

While we often group Empress 1908 with other color-shifting or purple gins, Lecours sees it differently. In an interview with Phil Lecours, Master Distiller at Victoria Distillers, we got an inside look at all things Empress 1908. How the Gin Is Made We don’t try to punch you in the mouth with heavy juniper,” he continued. “This is a complex, inviting gin.” This is a gin-forward drink tempered by lemon and balanced by simple syrup. It is refreshing and flavorful, and relatively potent, so always drink responsibly. What Is Simple Syrup?First things first: That vibrant blue liquid is gin — not violet liqueur, not sloe gin, not something from the planet Zebulon. It’s a straight gin colored to be blue, thanks to the addition of butterfly pea blossoms to the distillate. Empress 1908 is produced by Canadian distillery Victoria Distillers in small-batch copper pot stills. There, it is made using a menagerie of flavorful ingredients, including grapefruit peel, ginger root, cinnamon, coriander and rose petal. Butterfly pea flower, one of the gin’s most iconic botanicals, is a flower native to Southeast Asia that lends Empress 1908 its color-shifting feature and eye-catching color. Additionally, the gin sources inspiration from tea time at the legendary Fairmont Empress Hotel in Victoria, British Columbia. Thus, it includes Fairmont Empress Tea, the signature tea blend used at the hotel, created exclusively by the Metropolitan Tea Company. Empress Gin is a beautiful indigo color, somewhere between purple and blue, that gets its all-natural color from being distilled with the blossoms of butterfly pea plants. While you might expect this gin to taste different or have floral notes, it still has the same citrus, juniper, and coriander notes that make gin such distinctive alcohol. A forward earthiness from butterfly pea blossoms and Fairmont Empress House Tea blend, followed by robust citrus notes from grapefruit peel, delicate floral hints from rose petal and warm spice from ginger and cinnamon. Accolades

The doors of the Fairmont Empress Hotel opened in 1908. It is situated in Victoria, British Columbia Canada and looks over the city’s renowned harbor. Empress 1908 Gin is named for and inspired by the hotel’s century plus of history. Shake without ice to foam the egg white. Add ice and shake to chill. Strain into a pretty glass and enjoy. What Is Empress 1908 Gin?

With now over 13 years of spirit industry expertise developed through his work with Victoria Distillers, Lecours has made a great impact on the distillery and its incredible staff.

One of the talented minds behind Empress 1908 Indigo Gin says this modern juniper spirit is “not your grandparent’s gin.” (Photo: Empress 1908) Yes, I said color-changing gin. While it’s in the bottle the gin is dark purple, but once it is mixed with the lemon juice, the acid turns this gin a pretty pink color. It definitely adds an extra fun element you won’t find with your everyday gin. What You Need I further like Empress 1908 Gin paired with fresh citrus. A Tom Collins is a nice drink here. Skip the Gimlet unless you’re using some fresh lime or homemade cordial. Overall, Empress 1908 Gin Empress 1908 Gin is rather by the numbers as far as palate goes. The citrus is big and dominant, and for that reason I think it leans contemporary.Commenting on the gin’s key botanicals, Lecours said, “Besides the obvious juniper, I think there is more in the balance of all the botanicals in our recipes, as opposed to just one single flavor that stands out.”