Empress 1908 Gin
by Brian Donnelly
June 10, 2023
Overview
Empress 1908 Gin is made by Victoria Distillers, located in Sidney, on the east coast of Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. Established in 2008, the waterfront distillery houses the copper pot stills used to make Empress Gin and is one of Canada’s oldest small-batch spirits companies. The gin was inspired by the famous afternoon tea service at the historic Fairmont Empress Hotel in Victoria, British Columbia, just 30 minutes south of the distillery. Built in 1908, the Fairmont Empress Hotel overlooks the Inner Harbor in Victoria and is known for its stately Victorian architecture, picturesque setting, and regal afternoon tea service. This iconic and legendary destination has hosted travelers, dignitaries, and royalty for over a century.
The producers of Empress Gin explored 20 different teas from the hotel’s collection before finally selecting their signature teas – Empress Blend and Blue Suede Shoes. The hotel’s signature blend is a selection of seasonal, quality teas from Assam, Kenya, South India, Ceylon, and China, created exclusively by the Metropolitan Tea Company. Both floral and fruity, the tea has become one of the eight botanicals used in the Empress 1908 Gin.
The production process for Empress Gin looks like this. Six botanicals, Juniper, Grapefruit Peel, Coriander Seed, Cinnamon Bark, Rose Petal, and Ginger Root, are macerated overnight before being distilled in small batches in a copper pot stills. The last two botanicals, Empress Blend Tea and the Butterfly Pea Blossom are infused post-distillation to maintain their delicate flavors and signature indigo color, then bottled at 85 proof (42.5 % ABV).
The main reason Empress stands out in the gin category is its unmistakable color from the Butterfly Pea Blossom, which causes the gin to change from deep indigo to bright lavender or soft pink, depending on the mixer. In addition to color, this botanic provides warm, herbal earthiness, a soft texture, and delicate softness. It plays a similar role to Angelica, widely used in other gins. No artificial colors or stabilizers are used, so the indigo color will gradually fade over time, but the flavors will not. It is essential to store your bottle of Empress Gin away from sunlight, just like a bottle of wine, to prevent the acceleration of color loss.
Sustainability
A distillery requires significant energy and water, so the brand actively works to reduce its environmental impact wherever possible. Victoria Distillers uses an energy-saving, closed-loop system that recaptures the heat from our water and delivers it to the neighboring Sidney Pier Hotel. Using their geothermal system, they save approximately 7,000L or 1,500 gallons of water and transfer 850,000 BTUs of energy to the hotel with every distillation. This energy keeps the hotel rooms warm, reduces their carbon footprint, and prevents wasting precious water.
Final Thought
Empress 1908 Gin allows professional and amateur bartenders to create simple, beautiful, and delicious cocktails. Like the famous hotel that inspired it, the Empress 1908 Gin aims to exemplify a perfect blend of traditional elegance and modern sophistication.
Empress 1908 Indigo Gin
Empress 1908 is an eight-botanical modern-style gin that pairs subtle Juniper flavor with Butterfly Pea Blossom, which gives this product its distinct indigo color and changes shade depending on the mixing. Victoria Distillers make Empress Gin in Sidney on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. The inspiration for this product comes from the afternoon tea service at the historic Fairmont Empress Hotel, located 30 minutes south of the distillery in Victoria. The Fairmont Empress signature tea is one of the eight botanicals used in this gin, and the blend is a selection of seasonal teas created exclusively by the Metropolitan Tea Company. The production process starts with macerating six botanicals overnight before the distillation. The Empress Blend Tea and Butterfly Pea Blossom are infused post-distillation to maintain delicate flavors and signature indigo color. Finally, no artificial colors or stabilizers are used, and this product is bottled at 85 proof (42.5 % ABV).
Empress 1908 Elderflower Rose Gin
The Empress 1908 Elderflower Rose is a nine-botanical gin with all-natural color. It is Victoria Distillers first line extension from the original Indigo Gin. This product was inspired by and pays homage to Victoria, British Columbia, called "The City of Gardens" because the flowers bloom nearly year-round. Eight botanicals, including cinnamon bark, coriander, elderflower, juniper, lavender, orange peel, orris root, and red rose petals are macerated overnight before the distillation. The rose petals and black carrots are infused post-distillation to maintain their delicate flavors and striking ruby color, and then the final product is bottled at 85 proof (42.5 % ABV).
In addition to color, the black carrot adds a layer of sweetness with an earthy complexity. No artificial colors or stabilizers are used, so while the flavor will last forever, the unique ruby color will fade over time. Fading accelerates by exposure to sunlight, so the brand recommends that you consume each bottle within a year of purchase and store it in a cool, dark place.
Empress 1908 Gin Cocktails
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