Empress 1908 Gin

Handcrafted in small batch copper-pot stills, Empress 1908 Gin is a collaboration between Victoria Distillers and the legendary Fairmont Empress Hotel in Victoria, British Columbia. Since 1908, travellers from around the world have fallen in love with the Fairmont Empress Hotel for its majestic grandeur, picturesque vistas, and incomparable afternoon tea service. Overlooking the Inner Harbour in Victoria, British Columbia, this iconic destination has hosted royalty, dignitaries, and discerning explorers for over a century. Today, as the Empress moves into a new era, it exemplifies a perfect blend of traditional elegance and modern sophistication. Victoria Distillers is one of the oldest artisan distilleries in Canada. ​Established in 2008, Victoria Distillers collaborates with talented mixologists to create both classic and innovative cocktail spirits, using the world’s best-tasting water and the finest ingredients from around the world.

In addition to the classic gin botanicals of juniper, coriander seed, and rose petal, we also added unique twists to the Empress 1908 recipe. Instead of traditional lemon, we use grapefruit peel for its aromatic and lively bright note. Ginger root imparts a unique peppery/citrus note, and cinnamon bark offers an unusually warm, spicy note. Our eighth and final botanical is perhaps the most unusual of all: exotic butterfly pea blossom. This blossom balances the traditional citrus notes of gin with a warm herbal earthiness and imparts a deep indigo colour that changes to bright lavender, soft pink, or fuchsia depending on the mixer. Mixologists have found the extraordinary flavour, remarkable mixability, and dramatic visual properties of Empress 1908 offers bold new ways to create exquisite cocktails.