Recipes
Slip into Spring with Empress 1908!
Welcome the incoming blooms with these vibrant sips!
Spring’s just right around the corner, and you know what that means? Colourful blooms, bright fruits, and aromatic herbs are about to bless us with their beauty! With that glimmer of sunshine, we couldn’t be more excited! If you’re like us and also counting down the days to the turn of the season, scroll down for some delicious cocktails that will put a pep in your step.
Jump to the recipes ahead!
Pollination
How can we not kick things off with a cocktail that captures the very essence of springtime? A floral take on the classic Bee’s Knees, our Empress Elderflower Rose Gin’s botanicals pair wonderfully with the rich sweetness from honey for a sip that will have you anticipating the blooms to come.
INGREDIENTS
- 2 oz Empress 1908 Elderflower Rose Gin
- ¾ oz Fresh Lemon Juice
- ½ oz Honey Syrup
- Lemon Twist, for garnish
METHOD
Shake ingredients on ice, strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a lemon twist.
Elderflower Collins
If this doesn’t look like spring in a glass, we don’t know what else could! We all love mixing elderflower with our Empress Indigo Gin, and @afullliving certainly maximizes its deliciousness with this collins. Light, crisp, and a bit sweet; it has everything we enjoy in a refreshing cocktail!
INGREDIENTS
- 1½ oz Empress 1908 Indigo Gin
- 1 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
- ½ oz Elderflower Liqueur
- ½ oz Simple Syrup
- 2 oz Soda Water
- Lemon Wheel
METHOD
Add simple syrup, lemon juice, and elderflower liqueur in a glass highball or Collins glass filled with ice. Top with Empress Indigo Gin, then garnish with lemon wheels & edible flowers (optional) for presentation.
Blueberry Negroni
It’s getting close to blueberry-picking season! @evakosmasflores came up with the perfect way to use up your harvest through this fruity twist on the beloved Negroni. The added tang from the blueberry concentrate is absolutely divine alongside the herbal and bittersweet flavour profile, making this a delectable treat!
INGREDIENTS
- 2 oz Empress 1908 Indigo Gin
- 2 oz Luxardo Bitter Bianco
- 1½ oz Sweet Vermouth
- 1 oz Blueberry Concentrate*
- Blueberries, for garnish
METHOD
Stir together all ingredients in a mixing glass with a few cubes of ice. Strain, and pour over ice into 2 chilled rocks glasses. Garnish with fresh blueberries, and serve immediately.
*To make the blueberry concentrate, bring 1 cup blueberries (fresh or frozen), 1 tbsp finely grated orange zest, 2 tbsp sugar, and ½ cup water to a boil over med-high heat. Reduce heat to low and simmer until blueberries release their juices, approx. 10 minutes. Place a sieve over a small bowl and strain, using a spoon to press the blueberries to get as much liquid as possible. Reserve the liquid and discard the blueberry pulp. Let cool before using, and store in the fridge in an airtight container.
Elderflower Rose G&T
The G&T all dressed-up for the blossoms to come! @takestwoeggs has us dreaming of flourishing gardens with extra touches of elderflower and lavender for a fragrant masterpiece. Add a thyme sprig for a splash of greenery!
INGREDIENTS
- 2 oz Empress 1908 Elderflower Rose Gin
- 3 oz Elderflower Tonic
- 2 dashes Lavender Bitters
- Thyme Sprig, for garnish
METHOD
Fill a glass with pebble ice. Pour in the Empress 1908 Elderflower Rose Gin, tonic water, and bitters. Stir to combine. Garnish with a thyme sprig, and enjoy!
Empress Milk Punch
If you’re up for a challenge, look no further! This exotic mix of flavours created by @jfdesfosses covers all your seasonal bases between rich sweetness, lovely tang, and invigorating aromatics. The milk clarification especially adds a luxurious texture for exquisite complexity.
INGREDIENTS
- 225 ml Empress 1908 Indigo Gin
- 225 ml Pandan & Jasmine Cordial*
- 75 ml Bénédictine
- 45 ml Mezcal
- 150 ml Coconut Milk
- 50 ml Evaporated Milk
METHOD
Mix together gin, cordial, Benedictine, and mezcal and pour into coconut and evaporated milk. Let rest for one hour to curdle. Filter through cheesecloth-lined sieve. The first few drops will be cloudy – wait until drops become clear, transfer filter setup over another bowl, and pour cloudy liquid back over the filter. Bottle the cocktail and keep stored in the fridge.
To serve, pour 3 oz of the milk punch into a mixing glass and stir over ice to chill and dilute. Pour over a large ice cube in a rocks glass, garnish with pandan leaf, and enjoy!
*To make cordial; infuse 10 g Jasmine tea, 9 g citric acid, and 4½ g malic acid with 360 ml of hot water for 5 minutes. Strain. Meanwhile, roughly chop 40 g pandan leaves and add in a blender along with 100 g sugar and the infusion. Blend at high speed 30 seconds, then strain through coffee filter. Keep stored in sealed container in the refrigerator for up to three months.
TIP: For more information on milk clarification, check out our article on advanced cocktail techniques!
Whether if the sun’s starting to come out wherever you are or you find that it’s taking its sweet time making your way, we have no doubt that any one of these cocktails will lift your spirits. We can’t wait to show you even more yummy drinkspo this upcoming season!
For more cocktail inspiration, be sure to check out our Instagram, Cocktail Page, or Blog!
Sip responsibly!