Once in a while, I like to treat myself to a tasty specialty cocktail, whether I am out with friends or in the comfort of my own home. Here are some of the best gin cocktails I have tried recently, at home!
It can be nice to step away from beer and try something new (though I still love beer the most, and I talk a little bit about that here).
I was gifted this Empress 1908 Gin to experiment and get a taste for some good cocktail recipes that look like they are on a 5-star happy hour menu, but are very easy to make at home. Here’s a little bit of information about the gin:
Empress 1908 Gin gets it’s show stopping, deep indigo color from butterfly pea blossoms. The color changes as you add tonic or citrus (changing the acidity of the beverage) from indigo, to purple, to light pink.
From Empress 1908: Hand-crafted in British Columbia, Canada, this is micro-distilled in small batch copper-pot stills using eight different botanicals: juniper, rose, coriander seed, grapefruit peel, ginger root, cinnamon bark, butterfly pea blossoms and the Fairmont Empress Blend Tea.
Below are some of my favorite cocktails I have tried out so far.
Blackberry Bramble
Ingredients:
- 2 oz Empress 1908 Gin
- 2 oz Club Soda
- 1 oz Lemon Juice
- 1/2 oz Simple Syrup
- 5 Blackberries
- A couple sprigs of Rosemary
How to Make it:
Muddle blackberries and a few small pieces of rosemary at the bottom of a lowball glass with simple syrup and lemon juice. Add the gin and ice, then stir. Finish up with club soda and garnish with a sprig of rosemary.
Retired in Florida
Ingredients:
- 2 ( oz Empress 1908 Gin
- 2 oz Orange juice
- 1 oz Lemon Juice
- 1/2 oz Simple Syrup
How to Make it:
Shake the orange juice, lemon juice, and simple syrup on ice in a shaker. Strain into a cocktail glass with crushed ice. Layer the Empress 1908 Gin on top by carefully pouring it over a spoon that is resting on the inside of the glass. Garnish with a lemon slice.
Stir the drink together before enjoying!
Gin and Tonic
Ingredients:
- 2 (or 3) oz Empress 1908 Gin
- 2 oz Tonic Water
- Grapefruit (for garnish)
How to Make it:
Pour the gin and tonic into the glass over ice and stir. Garnish with a slice of grapefruit in the glass.
If you try these drinks out, please tag me on social media and let me know what you think! Comment below if you have any other great resources or drink recipes that you think would be perfect for Empress 1908 Gin.
Cheers!