Empress
Empress is best known for Empress 1908 Gin, a striking indigo-colored gin produced in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. The gin's signature deep violet-blue hue comes from the natural addition of butterfly pea blossom, an ingredient that also gives the spirit its color-changing party trick: add tonic, citrus, or anything acidic and the liquid shifts from indigo toward soft pink and lavender.
Created as a collaboration between Victoria Distillers and the historic Fairmont Empress Hotel, Empress 1908 pairs classic gin botanicals with distinctive flavor and visual appeal. It has become a favorite for cocktail enthusiasts and bartenders who want a versatile, photogenic gin. Shop the Empress range at LiquorStoreNearMe.com with nationwide shipping.
Empress is best known for Empress 1908 Gin, a striking indigo-colored gin produced in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
Read more about Empress
Empress is best known for Empress 1908 Gin, a striking indigo-colored gin produced in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. The gin's signature deep violet-blue hue comes from the natural addition of butterfly pea blossom, an ingredient that also gives the spirit its color-changing party trick: add tonic, citrus, or anything acidic and the liquid shifts from indigo toward soft pink and lavender.
Created as a collaboration between Victoria Distillers and the historic Fairmont Empress Hotel, Empress 1908 pairs classic gin botanicals with distinctive flavor and visual appeal. It has become a favorite for cocktail enthusiasts and bartenders who want a versatile, photogenic gin. Shop the Empress range at LiquorStoreNearMe.com with nationwide shipping.
Background and House Style
Empress 1908 Gin is made by Victoria Distillers, one of the pioneering craft distilleries in British Columbia. The gin takes its name and inspiration from the Fairmont Empress Hotel in Victoria, a landmark opened in 1908, and it incorporates a nod to the hotel's celebrated tea service through the use of a signature tea blend among its botanicals.
The gin's botanical bill blends traditional elements such as juniper, coriander, and citrus peel with rose petal, cinnamon, and grapefruit peel, alongside the butterfly pea flower and tea blend. The result is a balanced, approachable London-style-inspired gin with floral and subtly herbal character rather than an aggressively juniper-forward profile.
The most distinctive feature remains the color. Butterfly pea blossom is a natural pH-sensitive dye, so Empress pours a vivid indigo neat and transforms when mixed with acidic ingredients — a genuine visual effect, not artificial coloring.
The Range and What to Expect
The flagship expression is Empress 1908 Original Indigo Gin, bottled at 42.5% ABV (85 proof). It is the product most shoppers are seeking and the one that delivers the trademark color-changing behavior in cocktails.
Over time the brand has explored additional expressions and limited or seasonal releases that play on color and flavor themes. Availability of these varies by market and release cycle, so the Original Indigo remains the consistent core offering to expect.
When browsing, look for the tall, embossed bottle with its deep blue liquid clearly visible through the glass — the visual is a large part of the brand's identity and makes it an easy gift or centerpiece bottle.
Serving and Buying Tips
To show off the color shift, build a simple Empress gin and tonic: pour the indigo gin over ice, then add tonic and a squeeze of lemon or lime and watch the drink lighten toward pink. It also shines in a French 75, gin sour, or any citrus-forward cocktail where the acidity triggers the transformation.
For neat or martini serves where you want to preserve the striking indigo color, use minimal citrus and stir with just a touch of dry vermouth or serve very cold to appreciate the floral botanicals.
Empress 1908 is widely distributed and makes a reliable pick for both cocktail hobbyists and gift-givers. Order from LiquorStoreNearMe.com for convenient nationwide shipping, and store the bottle upright away from direct sunlight to keep the color and flavor at their best.