***This post is made in collaboration with Empress 1908 Gin. All content, ideas and words are my own.***
Since the holidays are among us, creating a drink that is fall inspired was obvious. And what better way than to use fresh pear, rosemary and a delicate, aromatic gin. This Empress Pear-Rosemary Gin Cocktail is sure to become a holiday favorite.
The History on Empress 1908 Gin:
Empress 1908 Gin is handcrafted by Victoria Distillers and the legendary Fairmont Empress Hotel in Victoria, British Columbia. And the hotel’s afternoon tea is what actually inspired the creation of Empress 1908.
Handcrafted in small batch copper-pot stills, the distinct flavor profile is a result of eight natural botanicals: butterfly pea blossom, Fairmont Empress Blend Tea, juniper, grapefruit peel, coriander seed, cinnamon bark and rose petal. Also, it is all-natural and gluten-free as well.
So, what makes this gin stand out, and how is it different from all the rest?
The mystery is in the butterfly pea blossom. Not only does it add a subtle earthy note to the gin, but it balances out the citrus notes which yields in a rich pigmentation.
And here’s the best part. The deep indigo hue changes to bright lavender, soft pink or fuchsia when you add citrus or tonic. It is stunning! And, it is absolutely magical to watch as you make it!
Below is my recipe for my easy simple syrup and some tips to follow.
Pear-Rosemary Simple Syrup:
- Water – 1 cup filtered
- Honey – 1 cup of your favorite brand
- Pear & Rosemary – All you need is one pear and one fresh rosemary sprig for the syrup.
- Tip – The longer you let the syrup steep the more potent the flavor will be. Don’t worry though, it is light in flavor and not overpowering in any way.
Empress Pear-Rosemary Gin Cocktail:
- When it comes to the gin and simple syrup, add to taste. The recipe below is more so of a guide.
- A note about the lemon. To balance out the flavors, you will need a fair amount of lemon juice. It may seem like a lot but, believe me, it works perfectly for this drink.
- Make sure to find a ginger beer that you like. It should be more “gingery” and not one that is too sweet.
- Once you have the syrup made, this drink comes together quite easily. To an individual glass, add ice and top with gin, ginger beer, simple syrup and lemon juice.
- Don’t forget to garnish the cocktails with fresh pear and rosemary. I love drink garnishes! Plus, it perfumes the drink which enhances those flavors even more.
By far, this is the prettiest drink I have ever had in my life. So please be sure to give Empress 1908 Gin and my holiday recipe a try. You won’t regret it! Enjoy friends.
And, for more Empress Gin drink recipes, please give these a try:
- Honey Lavender Gin Lemonade (with Empress)
- French 75 Cocktail with Empress Gin
- Strawberry Lavender Gin & Tonic
- Mixed-Berry Ice Cream Shake
- Cherry-Berry Gin Kombucha Cocktail
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If you make this recipe, please be sure to leave a comment and a star rating below so I know how you liked it. Thanks! Enjoy!
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Empress Pear-Rosemary Gin Cocktail
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Inactive Time: 1 hour
- Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 serving
Description
Since the holidays are among us, creating a drink that is fall inspired was obvious. And what better way than to use fresh pear, rosemary and a delicate, aromatic gin. This Empress Pear-Rosemary Gin Cocktail is sure to become a holiday favorite.
Ingredients
- PEAR-ROSEMARY SIMPLE SYRUP:
- 1 cup Water, filtered
- 1 cup Honey
- 1 Bosc Pear, chopped
- 1 Rosemary Sprig
- EMPRESS PEAR-ROSEMARY GIN COCKTAIL:
- 2 – 2 1/2 oz Empress 1908 Gin
- 2 oz Ginger Beer
- 1 oz Pear-Rosemary Simple Syrup
- 1 oz Fresh Lemon Juice (equivalent to one large lemon)
- Ice
- 1 Bosc Pear, slices for garnish
- Rosemary Sprigs, for garnish
Instructions
- Pear-Rosemary Simple Syrup: In a small pot, warm the water to almost boiling. Remove from heat and stir in the honey until fully dissolved. Add the pear and rosemary and give it a gentle stir. Cover and let steep until it is completely cool. (I like to let it steep for at least an hour). Discard the pear and rosemary.
- Empress Pear-Rosemary Gin Cocktail: Once ready to serve, add the ice, simple syrup, lemon juice and Empress Gin to a glass. Stir to combine. (To see the colors change, let the gin settle into the lemon juice before stirring).
- Garnish: Top with ginger beer, stir gently, and garnish with a pear slice and rosemary sprig. Drink and enjoy!
Notes
- Layering the cocktail: To see the beautiful colors of the cocktail change, I like to layer the drink in the order stated within the directions. (Just be sure to add the lemon juice right before or right after the gin, because that is what changes the color). *NOTE: If you use different measurements, for the ingredients, the colors may turn out a bit differently than what you see in the images.
- Category: Drinks
- Cuisine: American
NOTE:
- This Artisanal Kitchen Supply Marble Trivet in White is from Bed Bath and Beyond.
- These White Marble Ceramic Coasters, White Marble-Style Coasters and the Cruet are all from Amazon.
- And lastly, my Stemless Wine Glasses are from World Market.
This cocktail creation is so good! Who would have thought that pear and rosemary in a cocktail could work so well together, but they do. I can see why this drink is so popular. It’s a definite must try.
Yes, yes, yes! This is one of my favorite Empress Gin creations. Love it so much! Thanks
This recipe is delicious! But for some reason my cocktail did not have the same ombré affect as the photo. The simple syrup was very dark from the honey so the empress did not turn fuchsia after mixing in the ginger beer. I still got a pretty presentation but was really looking forward to the fuchsia color! Still super tasty and was a big hit!
Meghan, it’s great to hear that you love this cocktail! It could be that it didn’t turn out quite like the image, because of how dark your honey was or the measurements you used. Maybe next time, add the lemon juice right before or right after you add the gin. Once the lemon juice mixes with the gin it will start to turn colors. After you let it settle, stir the drink, add the ginger beer and then stir again. Please let me know if this works better for you the second time around.