Ginger Thyme Italian 75
***This post is made in collaboration with Empress 1908 Gin. All content, ideas and words are my own.***
Ginger Thyme Italian 75 is the type of cocktail that is perfect for any special occasion! It comes together with a beautiful ginger thyme simple syrup, lemon juice and a delicate, aromatic gin. And it is then topped off with a crisp prosecco. This cocktail is light, delicious and visually stunning. It is dressed to Empress! 😉
The Backstory on This Ginger Thyme Italian 75:
While in Italy, we had the pleasure of trying a delicious Italian 75 and it was absolutely magical. It was light in lemon flavor with an added touch of sparkling wine and gin. That cocktail was like nothing I have ever had before. So, as I left the restaurant that night, I knew that I would set out to create a version of my own once I went home. And I thought to myself, “What better way to recreate this memory than with my absolute favorite gin!”
Empress Gin is micro-distilled using eight botanicals, and because I know this gin so well, I knew it would pair beautifully with my idea of a ginger thyme simple syrup. And let me tell you, it is the PERFECT drink, and I love the way it turned out. My husband said, “This cocktail is a nice, smooth sipper!” So take it from him 😏 and give this Ginger Thyme Italian 75 a try. It is great for a holiday party, cocktail party, New Year’s Eve, or a fun date night.
Below is the recipe for my easy simple syrup and some tips to follow.
Ginger Thyme Simple Syrup:
- Water – 1/2 cup filtered
- Honey – 1/2 cup of your favorite brand
- Ginger & Thyme – For the syrup, all you need is a small handful of fresh thyme and a two-inch knob of fresh ginger.
- 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. (FYI: After two hours, the syrup is lightly flavored with the ginger and thyme, but after four hours it is a bit more intense. I personally like the way it tastes after four hours, but my husband likes the way it tastes after two).
Ginger Thyme Italian 75 Cocktail:
- When it comes to the gin and simple syrup, add to taste. The recipe below is moreso of a guide.
- Personally, I like to be able to taste a bit more of the ginger thyme flavor so I stick to 1.5 oz. of gin. Overall, it is faint, but I do like the hint of it. Meanwhile, my husband loves the taste of the syrup, but wants it a bit more gin forward and likes a full 2 oz. of gin.
- 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.
- Pro Tip: If you really want to impress your guests be sure to garnish each drink with a dried lemon slice and a fresh sprig of thyme.
- The process to dry/dehydrate fruit is very simple. Here is the recipe that I use.
To read more on the history of Empress Gin and how it came to be, please check out my Empress Pear-Rosemary Gin Cocktail post. It is shown below.
And, for more Empress Gin drink ideas, please give these a try:
- Empress Pear-Rosemary Gin Cocktail
- Honey Lavender Gin Lemonade (with Empress)
- French 75 Cocktail with Empress Gin
- Strawberry Lavender Gin & Tonic
- 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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Ginger Thyme Italian 75
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Steep Time: 4 hours
- Total Time: 4 hours 10 minutes
- Yield: 1 serving 1x
Description
This Ginger Thyme Italian 75 is perfect for any special occasion! It comes together with a beautiful ginger thyme simple syrup, lemon juice and a delicate, aromatic gin. And it is then topped off with a crisp prosecco. This cocktail is light, delicious and visually stunning.
Ingredients
- GINGER THYME SIMPLE SYRUP:
- 1/2 cup Water, filtered
- 1/2 cup Honey
- 5 sprigs Fresh Thyme
- 1 (two-inch knob) Organic Fresh Ginger, peeled and sliced into medallions
- GINGER THYME ITALIAN 75:
- 1 1/2 – 2 oz Empress 1908 Gin
- 1 oz Ginger Thyme Simple Syrup
- 1 oz Lemon Juice, freshly squeezed (equivalent to one large lemon)
- 1 1/2 oz Prosecco, chilled
- Dried Lemon Slices, for garnish
- Fresh Thyme, for garnish
Instructions
- Prep the ginger: Cut the ends off and discard. Use a metal spoon to scrape, or a sharp knife to cut and remove the thin brown skin. Slice the ginger into multiple small medallions. Set aside.
- Ginger Thyme Simple Syrup: In a small pot, warm the water to almost boiling. Remove from heat and stir in the honey with a wooden spoon until fully dissolved. Add the ginger pieces and thyme and give it a stir, making sure to smash up the ginger as you go. (This will release more of that ginger flavor). Cover and let steep until it is completely cool. (*I like to let it steep for at least 2-4 hours). Discard the ginger and thyme.
- Ginger Thyme Italian 75: To a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine the Empress Gin, simple syrup and lemon juice. Shake vigorously and strain into a champagne glass.
- Garnish: Top with prosecco, stir gently, and garnish with a dried lemon slice and sprig of thyme. Enjoy!
Notes
- 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. (FYI: After two hours, the syrup is lightly flavored with the ginger and thyme, but after four hours it is a bit more intense. I personally like the way it tastes after four hours, but my husband likes the way it tastes after two).
- Gin: I like to be able to taste a bit more of the ginger thyme flavor so I stick to 1.5 oz. of gin. Overall, it is faint, but I do like the hint of it. Meanwhile, my husband loves the taste of the syrup, but wants it a bit more gin forward and likes a full 2 oz. of gin.
- Layering the cocktail: Personally, I feel like the color of just the shaken gin and simple syrup is a bit unappealing for this drink, and that is why I mention to add everything to a shaker. However, to actually see the color of the gin change, first shake and strain the gin and simple syrup into a glass. Add the lemon juice and let it settle into the gin mixture. Once the colors turn, stir to combine and then complete step #4.
- Simple Syrup: The syrup will serve a total of 8 drinks.
- Dried Lemon Slices: The prep time to make the dried fruit is not included in this drink recipe.
- Category: Beverage, Drink, Cocktail
- Cuisine: Italian
Keywords: Cocktail Party, Drink Recipes, Drinks, Easy Drink Recipes, Fruit, Gin Recipes, Gluten-Free Recipes, Honey Recipes, Lemon, Low Sodium, Mixed Drink Recipes, Recipes for a Crowd, Recipes for Parties
NOTE:
- These White Marble Ceramic Coasters, White Marble-Style Coasters and the Cruet are all from Amazon.
Wow! This is a good one. So reminiscent of our trip to Italy, and one you can just keep on sipping. Great job on recreating and amping this one up, babe!
★★★★★
Thank you so much, honey! It definitely is a special drink.
This drink is so smooth and refreshing! Perfect for any occasion or cocktail hour. I love this Gin and it’s beautiful color.
★★★★★
Awe, thank you, Jamie! I’m pleased to hear that you enjoy it so much. And yes, Empress Gin is pretty phenomenal.