Gin is always a great choice for cocktail hour, but a colorful gin made with eight botanicals opens up the possibilities for some seriously eye-catching sips.
Empress 1908 Gin
Empress 1908 Gin, made by Victoria Distillers, is made with butterfly pea blossom, a natural herb that gives the gin a stunning indigo color. You can make a variety of cocktails with this exquisite-tasting small batch gin and watch its hue change from dark purple-blue to lavender or even pink. If you’re really adventurous, use it to make colorful boozy frozen popsicles for a fun end-of-summer treat.
Blueberry Yogurt Gin Popsicles made with Empress 1908 Gin.
Blueberry Yogurt Gin Popsicles created by Emily Miller @resplendentkitchen combines Empress 1908 Indigo Gin, lavender, blueberries, coconut and more for a sophisticated summer treat.
Ingredients:
- 4 oz Empress 1908 Indigo Gin
- 2 cups blueberries
- 2 tbsp maple syrup
- 7 oz unsweetened vanilla Greek yogurt
- ¾ cup full-fat coconut milk
- 6 tbsp lavender simple syrup
- 1 tsp fresh lemon juice
Directions: Place the blueberries and maple syrup in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Simmer for approximately 10 minutes, stirring occasionally until the blueberries release their juices. Gently mash the blueberries, set aside to cool and mix in 2 oz Empress 1908 Gin. Combine yogurt, coconut milk, lavender simple syrup, an additional 2 oz Empress 1908 Gin and lemon juice in a bowl. Spoon the yogurt mixture into the popsicle molds, then the blueberries and finish with the yogurt mixture as the top layer. Freeze for 2 hours, then put the popsicle sticks in. Freeze for another 4 hours or overnight. Enjoy!
You can’t go wrong with an Empress and Tonic.
The Empress Gin and Tonic is the company’s signature drink and for good reason! This elevated take on a classic shows off the incredible hue of the gin and it tastes great too.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz Empress 1908 Gin
- 3 oz premium tonic water
- 1 grapefruit slice
Method: Build on ice in a rocks glass. Garnish with a grapefruit slice.
Try a Grapefruit Granita.
The combination of grapefruit and thyme makes the @thegandmkitchen’s Grapefruit & Thyme Granita a refreshing and citrusy treat.
Ingredients:
- ½ cup Empress 1908 Indigo Gin
- 1½ cup fresh grapefruit juice
- Juice from ½ lime
- Thyme simple syrup
- Garnishes: Fresh thyme & Grapefruit Wheel
Directions: Combine Empress 1908, grapefruit juice, lime juice and thyme simple syrup in a shallow freezer-proof pan. Freeze for 2-4 hours. Remove from the freezer and use a fork to scrape the partially frozen mixture and return to the freezer. Freeze until fully frozen, scrape once more and scoop into glasses. Garnish with fresh thyme and a grapefruit wheel. Serves two.
*To make the syrup, combine ½ cup sugar, ½ cup water, zest of ½ grapefruit and 3-5 thyme sprigs in a pan over medium heat until the sugar has dissolved. Let the thyme steep until the mixture has cooled. Strain before using.
A Windsor Garden is perfect for summer sipping.
The Windsor Garden cocktail is like spring in a glass, but you can definitely drink this one year-round. With an impressive array of fresh herbs and a delicate hint of lemon, serve this one to your guests on the patio or in the garden.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz Empress 1908 Gin
- 1⁄2 oz Fresh lemon juice
- 1⁄2 oz simple syrup
- Basil, thyme, rosemary & mint leaves
Method: Lightly muddle herbs and shake ingredients over ice. Strain into a stemless wine glass with ice. Garnish with a sprig of rosemary.
