Falling in love with the winter season is easy when you have the perfect warm drinks to accompany it. One such drink that stands out from the rest is a cocktail made with Empress Gin, which not only tastes exquisite but also adds a stunning purple hue to any mixture.
Empress Gin is crafted from a unique blend of eight botanicals, including juniper, grapefruit peel, rose petal, cinnamon bark, butterfly pea blossom, ginger root, coriander seed, and Fairmont Empress Blend Tea.
Wintery Spiced Pear Fizz
Enjoying a must-try cocktail during the winter season is essential to creating lasting memories with friends and family. The Wintery Spiced Pear Fizz, made with Empress Gin Winter Cocktail, is an exemplary choice for anyone looking to indulge in a cozy and festive drink. A key component of this cocktail is the pear-infused spiced simple syrup, which harmoniously blends warm spices, brown sugar, and fresh pear, generating a perfect wintery flavor profile.
The union of ginger ale and Empress 1908 Gin further elevates the taste experience, resulting in a warm and comforting drink that is sure to be a hit at any holiday gathering.
Empress Gin Fizz
Garnishing your holiday meals with a festive cocktail is a great way to start the celebrations. The Empress Gin Fizz, made with Empress 1908 Gin, fresh cranberries, and ginger beer, has an all-natural indigo hue that’s sure to impress your guests. This combination of clean, crisp gin flavors, sweet cranberry reduction, and spicy kick from the ginger beer creates a perfect blend for the holiday season.
The recipe is versatile, allowing you to experiment with different ingredients by substituting ginger beer with alternatives to suit your taste preferences.
The Empress Q1908
Dramatic in its presentation and unique in its ingredients, the Empress Q1908 is a gin sour cocktail that embodies the essence of Canadian culture and hospitality. Made with Empress 1908 Gin, which undergoes an extraordinary transformation from vibrant indigo to soft lavender when lemon juice is added, this cocktail is truly one-of-a-kind.
The gin itself is a collaboration between the renowned Fairmont Empress Hotel in Victoria and a team of expert distillers, combining Canadian water, 7 organic botanicals, and the hotel’s signature tea blend to create a truly distinct flavor profile. This innovative spirit pays homage to the revered tradition of afternoon tea in Victoria and the timeless art of tea service at the hotel.
The newly renovated Q Bar at the Fairmont Empress provides an ideal setting for sipping this enchanting cocktail.
Antique Rose
Bringing to life the essence of spring, Antique Rose is a captivating sparkling cocktail crafted with Empress Gin, which boasts a distinctive purplish-blue hue courtesy of the Butterfly Pea flower. The drink is elevated by the addition of Fever Tree Sparkling Grapefruit and sparkling Rosé, carefully chilled with delicate thin ice cubes to enhance its refreshing qualities.
The Italian Moscato Rosé adds a luscious and fruity dimension to the cocktail’s finish, while real rose petals serve as an elegant garnish, infusing the drink with a floral and romantic flair. Perfect for those seeking a fun and uncomplicated Empress Gin cocktail with a vibrant and whimsical twist.
Empress Gin Martini
Highlighting its uniqueness, the Empress Gin Martini has gained popularity among those seeking a distinctive take on the classic French martini. The combination of Empress 1908 butterfly pea flower gin with blackberry liqueur, pineapple juice, and lemon juice creates a truly delightful experience for the palate. This innovative blend is also visually striking due to the color-changing properties of the gin when exposed to acidity.
Empress Gin French 75
Sophisticated mixologists know that a well-crafted cocktail can elevate even the most mundane gatherings into unforgettable events, and the Empress Gin French 75 is a prime example of this. Made with Empress 1908 gin, which boasts a stunning indigo color that changes to pinkish-purple when citrus or tonic is added, this classic cocktail combines the smoothness of gin with the effervescence of sparkling wine, creating a truly unique and visually appealing drink.
The addition of lemon juice and simple syrup adds a touch of sweetness without overpowering the other flavors, making for a harmonious balance that will delight even the most discerning palates. Whether you’re hosting a New Year’s party or simply need to spice up a Tuesday evening, the Empress Gin French 75 is an excellent choice for anyone seeking a sophisticated and delicious winter cocktail experience.
Empress Elderflower Spanish Gin & Tonic
Packed with an array of ingredients, the Empress Elderflower Spanish Gin & Tonic is a magical and delicious cocktail that perfectly captures the essence of winter. The Empress Gin 1908, a distinctive spirit, brings its own unique character to the drink, thanks to the infusion of classic elements like juniper, coriander, and ginger, as well as less conventional ingredients such as cinnamon, tea, and the butterfly pea flower, which gives it its signature vibrant hue.
This cocktail is an expertly crafted twist on the traditional Spanish Gin & Tonic, with the addition of elderflower and citrus notes, creating a refreshing and complex drink that’s ideal for sipping on a chilly winter evening. Whether you’re searching for a unique and flavorful Empress Gin cocktail to try this winter or simply looking to mix things up, the Empress Elderflower Spanish Gin & Tonic is definitely worth giving it a go.
Laura Hauser is a food writer and editor passionate about authentic, approachable home cooking.
