Autumn is in the air, and which makes the Empress Ginger Fig the perfect sipper as we transition into the cooler seasons! Made with a fresh fig simple syrup and topped with ginger beer, this cocktail is perfect for celebrating the shifting seasons. The gorgeous pink color is all thanks to the all natural butterfly pea flowers used to achieve Empress 1908 Gin’s signature indigo hue: the deep blue and purple tones shift to a warm magenta with the addition of lemon juice in this jewel toned drink.
What makes Empress 1908 Gin so special?
Empress 1908 Gin is a hand-crafted spirit from Victoria Distillers in British Columbia, Canada. It’s micro-distilled in small batch copper pot stills using eight botanicals: juniper, rose, coriander seed, grapefruit peel, ginger root, cinnamon bark, butterfly pea blossoms and the Fairmont Empress Blend Tea. The gin gets its gorgeous color naturally from butterfly pea flowers. It’s a very complex gin, that lends itself well to floral and fruity cocktails (my favorite!).
Butterfly pea flowers are naturally pH sensitive which makes working with Empress super fun: any acidic additions, such as lemon, shifts the indigo color to magenta or pink. Basic ingredients, such as tonic water, give it the most gorgeous lagoon blue. Honestly, it makes bartending like a delicious science experiment. In this recipe, the lemon juice causes the color to shift from indigo to magenta.
How to make this cocktail
Making this cocktail is super simple, and doesn’t require any special equipment or prep. Start by making the fig simple syrup Combine the syrup ingredients in a small saucepan, and bring to a simmer. Gently crush the sliced figs with a wooden spoon and remove from heat. Allow to sit for at least 30 minutes and strain before using.
Now for the fun part! To build the cocktail, fill a collins glass with ice and add 1.75 oz of Empress 1908 Gin, and 1 oz of the fig syrup. Give it a stir, and add the juice of half a lemon (be sure to watch the color change!). Top with ginger beer, and garnish with thyme and a sliced fig.
This recipe makes one cocktail, but can easily be scaled up to make more.
I hope you enjoy the Empress Ginger Fig! Be sure to tag me on instagram so I can see your creations, and leave me a comment below! Your feedback helps other home cooks and bakers who are giving this recipe a try, and I love hearing about what you made!
