With its botanical infusion and signature butterfly pea blossom tint, Empress Indigo Gin transforms cocktails when mixed with citrus, shifting its color from deep blue to pink.. For a lighter, crisp option, Cucumber Lemon Gin pairs beautifully with tonic and fresh herbs, creating a refreshing signature drink. Meanwhile, Elderflower Rose Gin adds an air of sophistication, blending seamlessly with sparkling wines or floral garnishes to create elegant holiday sips.
Let Empress 1908 Gin transform your holiday cocktail game, adding a dash of color, creativity, and seasonal cheer to every gathering. Whether you’re hosting an intimate soirée or a grand celebration, these vibrant cocktails ensure your bar shines as brightly as your festive spirit and add a kaleidoscope of colors and flavors to your cocktail repertoire.
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Jack Frost Freeze
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Dessert meets cocktail in this rich, creamy creation from @healthylittlepeach. For an extra-festive presentation, rim your glass with buttercream and sprinkles in true Jack Frost fashion!
Shake ingredients except for prosecco and soda water on ice and fine-strain into a wine goblet filled with ice. Top with prosecco and a splash of soda water and garnish with more mint leaves and edible flowers.
Description: Ingredients: Method: Notes
Strawberries ‘n Cream
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Sip into the season of love with @tarynstastingtable’s Strawberries ‘n Cream! Crafted with the sweetness of a homemade strawberry simple syrup and the luscious touch of coconut cream.
Shake ingredients except for prosecco and soda water on ice and fine-strain into a wine goblet filled with ice. Top with prosecco and a splash of soda water and garnish with more mint leaves and edible flowers.
*To make strawberry syrup, combine 1 cup each of sugar and water along with 8 oz chopped strawberries to a pot over medium heat and bring to a boil. Lower heat and let simmer for 20-30 minutes. Strain. Let cool and then keep refrigerated for up to two weeks.
No engagement or wedding celebration can be on the same level of style and is capable of reaching an ethereal romantic atmosphere without artistically crafted cocktails from Empress 1908 Gin. These elegant and seductive drinks infused with floral and botanical flavors, can enlighten and elevate a profound sense of happiness as newlyweds praise their love and unity, alongside the excitement of stepping into a new chapter of life.
From blush-colored spritzers like Strawberries ‘n Cream or Coming Up Roses to signature Bridal Cocktails like "Forever Yours / Jasmine Sour," these creations balance sophistication with a touch of whimsy. Paired with fresh garnishes like jasmine or rose petals, cucumber ribbons, or citrus zest, they make every toast a memorable, chic moment for the bride and her bridesmaids.
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Forever Yours / Jasmine Sour
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Silky and graceful with subtle complexity, our Jasmine Sour makes for an exquisite sip reminiscent of afternoon tea.
Shake ingredients except for prosecco and soda water on ice and fine-strain into a wine goblet filled with ice. Top with prosecco and a splash of soda water and garnish with more mint leaves and edible flowers.
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Lychee Rose Gin Spritz
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Sweet lychee, rose jam, and Empress 1908 Indigo Gin — the Lychee Rose Gin Spritz by @foodie_renee is the perfect treat for sharing with that special someone!
Muddle lychee in a shaker. Add ice and lemon juice; mix well. In a glass, add rose jam and fill it with ice cubes. Pour the lychee mixture into the glass and add soda. Float Empress 1908 Indigo Gin on top. Garnish with lemon juice. Enjoy!
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Coming Up Roses
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Delicate, juicy, and bright, Coming Up Roses offers a playful, yet classy flavor experience that celebrates the best of florals and fruit!
Shake ingredients except for prosecco and soda water on ice and fine-strain into a wine goblet filled with ice. Top with prosecco and a splash of soda water and garnish with more mint leaves and edible flowers.
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Hugo Twist
Image courtesy of © 2023 Empress 1908 Gin
Delicate, juicy, and bright, Coming Up Roses offers a playful, yet classy flavor experience that celebrates the best of florals and fruit!
Shake ingredients except for prosecco and soda water on ice and fine-strain into a wine goblet filled with ice. Top with prosecco and a splash of soda water and garnish with more mint leaves and edible flowers.
The story of the Empress 1908 Gin started in 2016 when Victoria Distillers set out to create their own unique kind of gin. The inspiration came from the iconic Fairmont Empress Hotel, an architectural marvel of Victoria, BC, and its renowned afternoon tea program that made its way as the perfect place to spark creativity and imagination.
Since 1908, travellers from around the world have fallen in love with the Fairmont Empress Hotel for its majestic grandeur, picturesque vistas, and incomparable afternoon tea service. Overlooking the Inner Harbour in Victoria, British Columbia, this iconic destination has hosted royalty, dignitaries, and discerning explorers for over a century. Today, as the Empress moves into a new era, it exemplifies a perfect blend of traditional elegance and modern sophistication. Experience our inspiration at home and find a bottle near you.
After trials and experimentation, their Master Distiller explored how each one of their teas played with our carefully selected botanicals, leading us on a multi-sensory journey. Finally, they settled on the extraordinary combination of Empress Signature Blend Tea and butterfly pea blossom, which was discovered in a blend called Blue Suede Shoes. In 2017, Empress 1908 Indigo Gin was born. Empress 1908 Indigo Gin’s distinct flavor profile resulted from the fine balance of 8 natural botanicals. In addition to traditional elements, it contains a signature blend of black tea served at the Empress Hotel and butterfly pea blossom, an exotic herb that balances the traditional citrus notes of gin with a warm herbal earthiness and gives the gin its natural indigo color.
Empress 1908 Indigo Gin
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Following in the footsteps of the success of the Empress 1908 Indigo Gin, Empress 1908 Elderflower Rose Gin became the second chapter in Empress 1908 Gin’s history. Inspired by Victoria, British Columbia—the "City of Gardens"— Elderflower Rose Gin celebrates the region’s year-round floral beauty. This handcrafted gin combines nine botanicals, including elderflower, juniper, rose, and lavender, to deliver a delicate floral profile with hints of citrus, spice, and a touch of sweetness. Its vibrant ruby hue, derived naturally from red rose petals and black carrot, enhances cocktails with striking visual appeal. Free from artificial colors or stabilizers, the gin’s color fades over time, especially with sunlight exposure, so it’s best enjoyed within a year and stored in a cool, dark place. Whether showcasing its floral bouquet in a signature cocktail or appreciating its artistry, Empress Elderflower Rose Gin offers a taste of Victoria's beauty in every sip. Raise a glass to its elegant craftsmanship and endless cocktail possibilities.
Elderflower Rose Gin
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Empress 1908 Cucumber Lemon Gin is the newer addition to the Empress 1908 Gin family, introduced by Victoria Distillers on May 7, 2024. Crafted in small batches using traditional copper pot stills, this premium gin blends eight botanicals, including juniper berries, fresh lemon zest, cucumber, jasmine, and star anise. The result is a lively, citrus-forward expression inspired by the tradition of afternoon tea, delivering extraordinary flavor and a crisp, refreshing finish. The unique combination of vibrant lemon zest and garden-fresh cucumber creates a bright and delicate profile. These notes are beautifully balanced by juniper’s boldness, cardamom’s warmth, and jasmine’s subtle floral aroma. Perfect for summer sipping or elevating classic cocktails, Empress Cucumber Lemon Gin invites gin enthusiasts to explore its refined taste. Best enjoyed in the signature Cucumber & Tonic, pair this gin with premium tonic water, garnished with cucumber slices and a lemon wheel to highlight its fresh, botanical character.
Cucumber Lemon Gin
Image courtesy of © 2023 Empress 1908 Gin / Photo by Kyla Zanardi"We always strive to create balanced, high-quality blends that inspire creativity and offer inviting flavors. Following the overwhelmingly positive reception of our Elderflower Rose Gin last year, we leveraged our Master Distillers' extensive botanical expertise to introduce our next innovative flavor: Cucumber Lemon," said Eric Dopkins, CEO and Chairman of Milestone Brands. "We are excited to see Empress Cucumber Lemon Gin support Empress Gin's mission of creating the most distinctive cocktails."
Empress 1908 handcrafted gin is produced in small batches and distilled in copper-pot stills by Victoria Distillers, one of Canada's oldest and most respected artisan distilleries, which is a part of the family of Milestone Brands LLC. With the addition of Cucumber Lemon Gin, the Empress collection is on track to exceed 250,000 9L cases in North America this year.
The distillery takes pride in its commitment to minimizing environmental impact. Recognizing distillation’s energy and water demands, the brand employs a closed-loop system that recaptures heat from the water used in production.
This recovered energy is transferred to the neighboring Sidney Pier Hotel via its geothermal system, saving approximately 7,000 liters (1,500 gallons) of water and delivering 850,000 BTUs of energy per distillation. This process helps warm hotel rooms, reduces the hotel’s carbon footprint, and prevents water waste, exemplifying a sustainable approach to crafting premium gin.
Handcrafted in small-batch copper-pot stills, the portfolio of award-winning Empress 1908 Gins are made by Victoria Distillers, one of Canada's oldest small-batch spirits companies located in Victoria, British Columbia. Founded in 2017, the distillery has been recognized for its excellence by New York World Wine & Spirits Competition 2017, World Gin Awards 2018, Canadian Artisan Spirits Awards 2019 and Beverage Dynamics' Spirits Growth Brand Awards in both 2021 and 2022. The Empress 1908 Gin spirits portfolio is crafted by Master Distiller Phil Lecours and comprises Empress 1908 Indigo Gin, Empress 1908 Elderflower Rose Gin and Empress 1908 Cucumber Lemon Gin. Empress 1908 Gin is the perfect combination of exquisite taste, delicate aroma, soft texture, and remarkable presentation that provides the perfect base for a new aesthetic of cocktail creation and enjoyment. Empress 1908 Gin is a part of the family of Milestone Brands LLC, a premium spirits company based in Austin, Texas that was founded in 2016 by two local entrepreneurs and veterans of the beverage and spirits industry, Eric Dopkins, former CEO of Deep Eddy Vodka and Chad Auler, creator of Savvy Vodka and co-founder of Deep Eddy Vodka. As a national spirits supplier, acquirer, innovator and marketer of alcohol beverage brands, Milestone's portfolio also includes Dulce Vida Spirits, Campo Bravo Tequila, Naranja Orange Liqueur and American Born Whiskey.
Please visit www.empressgin.com for more information.
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