Eve's Wine 101

The Italian Riviera in a Bottle: Portofino Dry Gin Announces Nationwide Launch

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NEW YORK (PRWEB) – Portofino Dry Gin is announcing a nationwide launch across the United States. Hailing from Italy’s town of Portofino, known around the world for its breathtaking view, iconic Italian scenery, beauty and charm, Portofino Dry Gin is bringing Italian authenticity and high quality, packaged in a striking, unforgettable design, to the United States.

“Portofino Dry Gin was founded as a tribute to my grandfather, Klaus Pudel,” says Ruggero Raymo, CEO and co-founder of Portofino Dry Gin. “He was admired for having saved Portofino from the destruction during World War II. Portofino is in the heart of the Italian Riviera, and the bottle design is an homage to the beautiful region. We are thrilled to bring a spirit that combines heritage and a sense of place to the US.”

Produced at an antique Italian distillery, Portofino Dry Gin (SRP $56.99) features 21 botanicals, each one carefully selected for its natural aromatic properties. Juniper, lemons, lavender, rosemary, marjoram, sage, iris and rose are organically grown in Portofino Dry Gin’s botanical sanctuary on the hills of Portofino and combined with locally handpicked ingredients to complete Portofino Dry Gin’s secret recipe. The region’s unique microclimate allows lush Mediterranean vegetation to grow year round, and each botanical is ripened by the fresh sea breeze and the warm sun of the Italian Riviera.

“We are so proud to bring Portofino Dry Gin to the US. It’s a major milestone in our company’s growth,” says Christopher Egger, CMO and co-founder of Portofino Dry Gin. “While we would love for everyone to experience the beauty and charm of our town of Portofino in Italy first-hand, we are thrilled that we can now bring that authentic Italian experience of charm and beauty to the US. You don’t have to travel to Portofino to experience Portofino!”

Imported to the United States by Artisanal Cellars, Portofino is available at select premium retailers including Eataly as well as nationally via Cask & Barrel.

About Portofino Dry Gin
Portofino Dry Gin (SRP $56.99) is produced in Italy. Each batch of Portofino Dry Gin is made using a combination of traditional and innovative methods: from an old Italian copper pot still used to distill local liqueur and grappa to a state-of-the-art technology that produces vacuum distillation, preserving the aromas from Portofino Dry Gin’s most delicate botanicals. Distilled and bottled in Italy using natural ingredients, without added sugar, artificial flavors or preservatives. Alc./Vol. 43% – 86 Proof. Portofino Dry Gin is available nationwide via Cask & Barrel.

New Deal Distillery’s Old Tom Gin wins Best of the Northwest

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PORTLAND, ORE. (PRWEB) – New Deal Distillery’s Old Tom Gin wins Platinum in Sip Magazine’s 2021 Best of Northwest Barrel Aged Gin category. Distilled with over 20 botanicals and barrel-rested in French oak, this amber colored gin bridges Portland’s craft distilling scene and Oregon’s winemaking tradition.

New Deal’s founder, head distiller, and self-proclaimed “young Tom”, Tom Burkleaux tinkered and experimented with this gin recipe for years before finally making it a part of New Deal’s permanent line of spirits this past May. Embracing their proximity to the Willamette Valley, this final rendition of Old Tom Gin is aged in Oregon wine barrels and slightly sweetened in the traditional style, creating a warm, toasty, and highly sippable spirit. Burkleaux explains that “while Old Tom is not a new style of gin, it is a style that’s continually evolving. Old Tom is a large and diverse category that has historically encompassed both barrel aged and sweetened gins, and we set out to combine the two.”

So, why is it called Old Tom Gin? In 18th century England, before London Dry Gin stole the show, Old Tom was the gin of choice. It was so popular that several prohibitive laws were enacted to curb its consumption but this only drove the gin scene underground. Since gin was nearly outlawed, pubs secretly selling this ‘mothers ruin’ would alert interested parties to its availability by putting a wooden plaque of a tomcat outside their building. After a coin was deposited through a slot in the wall, the bartender would slyly pour a shot through a pipe out to the patron. Some say it’s this reference to the old tomcat plaque that gives Old Tom Gin its name. However, like much of the history of spirits and cocktails, the exact answers are not known. There are other theories, some having to do with a tomcat falling into a vat of gin or an older distiller named Tom.

What is known for sure is that aging a spirit in wooden barrels affects its overall flavor profile — the gin can take on barrel characteristics like vanilla, clove, oak and smoke. For this reason, Old Tom Gin is often popular with whiskey fans as the gin takes on some of the same notes of barrel aged whiskey and can be enjoyed similarly when served on ice or simply sipped neat. Curious to try this fascinating (and award winning) spirit? New Deal’s Old Tom Gin can now be shipped right to your door in 40+ states: https://shop.newdealdistillery.com/product/new-deal-old-tom-gin/

More about New Deal Distillery:
New Deal Distillery has been making high quality, craft-distilled spirits, inspired by the DIY culture of Portland, Oregon since 2004. All of their artisan spirits are made in small batches with Bull Run water and natural and organic ingredients, sourced locally whenever possible. For more information visit newdealdistillery.com or email info@newdealdistillery.com.

What Number Gin Is In? The 209th!

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In just reading the front of the bottle I learned that NO 209 Gin is distilled in San Francisco, “5 X D” (five times distilled) with a 46% ABC and 91 proof. From the back I read that since 1882 they made their gin in the Napa Valley and are the 209th registered distillery that had opened in the United States. It’s a grain neutral spirit made from natural botanicals. And as I’m a gin lover, and the botanicals are what makes different gins of interest to me, I went to their website for more details.

And…the recipe is a secret. But I did learn that, “The delicious complexity of No. 209’s citrus spice flavor profile is primarily a result of bergamot orange, lemon peel, cardamom pods, cassia bark, angelica root and coriander seeds….”

My Tasting Notes

After opening and pouring a sample I noticed the juniper aromas, from about three or four inches away, but it wasn’t overpowering in any way. That just got me excited! Starting with a mild creamy component the citrus notes that were mentioned in the recipe – orange and lemon – were very apparent.

Then thinking about my spice rack here at home, as well as other botanicals and minerals, there were other aromas that reminded me of wet pebbles in a brook, vanilla bean, white pepper, dried pineapple, white chocolate and maybe even a squeeze of a red berry like raspberry or strawberry.

Tasting No 209 called up memories of a creamy 50/50 orange and vanilla ice cream Creamsicle bar – if said ice cream had booze in it! Also, one of those milk chocolate orange balls, a slice, as both flavors present. Ooh, this was different. There was a super long and satisfying finish to go with it too.

Thinking this would make a fine Gin and Tonic, as well as a sipper just over ice, and of course, an excellent Martini with either a cap of Dolin’s vermouth or Lillet Blanc. Ended up making a Martini on the rocks with a splash of La Quintinye Blanc Royal vermouth. Sipped on that for over an hour…

I did check the cocktail recipe section of their website and saw nearly three hundred recipes  – who knew there were that many – under their “Ginthusiast Guide.” The White Manhattan, Coin Flip, and a few others sounded tempting, and this one I thought I’d share:

Pineapple Gin Fizz

  • 1 1/2 Oz. No. 209 Gin
  • 1 Oz. Pineapple Juice
  • 3/4 Oz. Simple Syrup
  • 3/4 Oz. Lime Juice
  • 1/2 Oz. Egg White
  • 2 Oz. Tonic

Combine all ingredients except tonic and dry shake. Shake again with ice. Pour over ice, and top with Tonic Water. Garnish with pineapple fronds.

https://www.distillery209.com/cocktails

More To Taste

I went back to the website one last time and saw that they also have a Sauvignon Blanc barrel reserve gin, a Chardonnay barrel reserve gin, Cabernet Sauvignon barrel reserve gin and a Kosher gin for Passover too. Which do you want to try?

https://www.distillery209.com/

https://www.instagram.com/distillery209/

Eve Bushman has a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET), a “certification in first globally-recognized course” as an American Wine Specialist ® from the North American Sommelier Association (NASA), Level 1 Sake Award from WSET, was the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video (over 16k views), authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and has served as a judge for the Long Beach Grand Cru and the Global Wine Awards. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits.

Vara Winery and Distillery High Desert Gin Receives High Marks East to West

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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (PRWEB) – Vara Winery & Distillery’s High Desert Gin received Double Gold at the 2021 New York International Spirits Competition, along with five other medals including “New Mexico Distillery of the Year.” The New York International Spirits Competition is an annual judging of spirits that occurs each spring in New York City. The competition is unusual in that it is one of the few competitions that relies entirely on judges drawn exclusively from the beverage trade.

“Our first Double Gold medal in the Las Vegas Proof awards in December 2020 was humbling, and now this second Double Gold medal from the New York International Spirits Competition serves to validate our inspiration and execution of Vara High Desert Gin,” said Doug Diefenthaler, co-owner at Vara Winery & Distillery. “We seem to have found agreement with our idea of a lighter and more aromatic style of Gin and our distilling team has successfully interpreted our inspirations and has masterfully given life to this intriguingly delicious spirit.”

Vara stayed true to its mission of producing an international family of Spanish and American wines and spirits. Vara co-founders Doug Diefenthaler and Xavier Zamarripa were inspired to create a gin after noticing Spaniards’ affection for gin during their frequent trips there. The Spanish began to make their own gin using botanicals and blossoms found in the Mediterranean. Diefenthaler and Zamarripa wanted to emulate that style of gin. Albuquerque does not have the same botanicals found in the Mediterranean but what it does have is high-desert mountainous aromatics. Vara’s small-batch gin features 13 botanicals and is distilled from New Mexico grapes.

“The only other major unique thing about this is it’s not from a neutral grain spirit; it’s from a neutral grape spirit,” Diefenthaler said. “We start with a fruit-based distillation to make this, as opposed to a grain-based distillation. The aromatics that are in this from our region like to attach to that grape spirit. This is just unrivaled. It’s got nice weight, a nice texture and finish.”

Vara Winery & Distillery’s High Desert Gin won Double Gold at the 2020 PR%F Awards, and recently took Double Gold at the 2021 The New York International Spirits Competition.

The gin and other award-winning Vara spirits are available at the Winery and Distillery, 315 Alameda NE, and soon to be available for shipping nationally online at varaspirits.com

The Secret Garden Distillery Announces Appointment of ImpEx Beverages as its Exclusive US Importer

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The Secret Garden Distillery is proud to announce they have joined forces with ImpEx Beverages, a California based spirit importer, to bring their award-winning gins from Edinburgh to the USA.

The first shipment will soon find its way into specialty retailers across the USA.  The expressions for this launch include Damask Rose & Juniper, Lemon Verbena & Juniper, and Pink Elderflower, Jasmine, & Juniper.   Each of these bring with them a unique experience for the American consumer, as the nurture and love for each botanical shines through with every sip.

Damask Rose & Juniper

A lovely golden gin with aromas of rose and hints of juniper. It tastes like Turkish Delight with some light citrus and candied cherry. It’s a gorgeous, delicate gin that is as refreshing as it is beautiful.

Perfect serve: Pour over ice and mix with a premium light tonic water and watch it naturally transform from a shimmering gold to a lovely pink in honor of this noble rose’s petals.

Lemon Verbena & Juniper

Crystal clear gin with aromas of citrus, lemon sherbet, and hints of herbs. Its zesty flavors are intermingled with juniper.

Perfect serve: Pour over ice and mix with a premium light tonic water. Garnish with a slice of lemon or a sprig of fresh mint.

Pink Elderflower, Jasmine, & Juniper

A delightful salmon pink gin with aromas of orange and pink grapefruit. On the palate it’s quite exotic with citrus and sweet orange flavors. All the sweetness is coming from the natural residual sugar of the plants.

Perfect serve: Pour over ice and mix with a premium light tonic water and watch it change from salmon pink to a brighter vibrant pink. Serve with a slice of pink grapefruit.

Hamish Martin, Founder of the Secret Garden Distillery, said: “I am so delighted to be working in partnership with ImpEx Beverages as our exclusive distributor in the US. They have embraced our beliefs and truly understand our ethos and our one true value; to be rooted in nature. I started the business with a dream, to create a Garden that works hand in hand with nature, using no chemicals whatsoever and actively encouraging our wild indigenous plants. These magical plants and herbs offer an array of natural flavors that work so well together in our gins. There are no added sugars, artificial colorings, flavorings, or preservatives, just nature distilled. We hope you enjoy them as much as we enjoy making them.”

Andre de Almeida, Managing Director of Secret Garden Distillery said “This is an exciting time for The Secret Garden Distillery, as we embark on the next stage of our journey. Hamish has built a unique business proposition underpinned by his passion for nature which is at the heart of everything. Working in partnership with ImpEx Beverages is an important step in sharing our story with Herb Garden premium gin consumers across the world. We are very excited for the future and our partnership with ImpEx Beverages.”

When speaking to Sam Filmus, President of ImpEx Beverages, he said, “We could not be more pleased to embark on this adventure with The Secret Garden Distillery.  These amazingly unique gins and the team behind them are sure to bring delight to US Consumers looking for something more than just your average gin.  Add to this the way the natural botanicals react to tonic water and change the color of the spirit, you have a real crowd pleaser.  We look forward to seeing the US fall in love with Herb Garden Gin, just as we have.”

About The Secret Garden Distillery

The Secret Garden Distillery lovingly crafts every bottle from seed to sip, and create unique tasting gins full of natural flavors and aromas with no added sugars, artificial colorings, flavorings or additives. Always with a commitment to better their sustainability credentials and impact on Mother Earth.

The Secret Garden Distillery was founded by entrepreneur and herbologist Hamish Martin, on a 7.5-acre site based on the outskirts of Edinburgh with its very own gin botanical garden.

Hamish and his wife Liberty originally purchased the site in 2012 with the dream to create The Secret Herb Garden, filled with plants, using no chemicals whatsoever, working hand in hand with nature and encouraging wild indigenous plants to flourish. Hamish, who had previously worked in the wine and spirits trade, started to experiment with herbs and spirits to demonstrate how remarkable nature is in naturally delivering flavour and color. By October 2017, the Secret Garden Distillery was established.

The Secret Herb Garden has over 600 naturally and sustainably grown varieties of herbs and plants, including a wide range of junipers, angelica and a dedicated apothecary rose garden. All plants are lovingly cultivated and hand harvested to ensure the highest quality. The botanicals are dried naturally at 37 degrees, distilled and then bottled at 43% ABV (for the US Market only) as they believe this is best for the floral flavors to harmonise with the gin. The garden is maintained with no chemicals – they only use plants to heal plants. They also ensure nature gets its fair share, and currently leave a percentage of plants unharvested to create wildlife habitats to feed and encourage wildlife and allow their 11 colonies of bees to have their fill too.

About ImpEx Beverages

In 2008, a new chapter began for Sam Filmus, after years in the business captaining JVS Imports. With ImpEx Beverages, his vision was to import premium and rare Spirits from around the world, with a special emphasis on the best of what Scotland has to offer.

In 2018, Chris Uhde joined Sam as his business partner in ImpEx Beverages and together they have expanded the portfolio and vision for ImpEx.

Now, ImpEx boasts an impressive portfolio, including some of the most notorious small to medium sized distilleries and independent bottlers.

ImpEx Beverages imports Whisky, Gin, Rum, and Mezcal from Scotland, Belgium, Wales, Japan, Israel, and Mexico with future anticipated additions from unexpected destinations. We also feature a fine line of Liqueurs and Cordials produced in the US.

Regardless of your preference, you are sure to find something that pleases from the ImpEx Beverages Portfolio.

For more information on where to find these amazing craft gins, please email office@ImpExBev.com.

Red Root and Co Wins the Elixir Category at the 2021 Good Food Awards

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HARRISONBURG, VA. (PRWEB) – Red Root & Co, a modern herbalism food brand, has achieved national accolades with their recent win in the 2021 Good Food Awards. Their Hops & Citrus Bitters was selected as a winner among 25 other products in the Elixirs category.

Photo credit: Friendly City Food Co-op

“We are beyond excited to be honored with a Good Food Award amongst such an impressive group of food crafters! Being selected as a winner validates our craft of herbalism and ethos in a truly meaningful way,” says Corey MacDonald, owner and founder of Red Root & Co, a small-batch producer of plant-based oxymels, shrubs, tonics, syrups, and bitters.

The Good Food Awards are just one part of the mission of the Good Food Foundation, which is “to celebrate, connect, empower and leverage the passionate and engaged, yet often overlooked, players in the food system who are driving towards tasty, authentic, and responsible food in order to humanize and reform our American food culture.” Over 2,000 entries from all 50 states are submitted each year. 2021 marks the 11th year the Good Food Awards have taken place.

By winning the Elixir category, Red Root & Co has proven they can make a great-tasting product while maintaining their position as a responsible food brand. The Good Food Foundation has stringent standards for entry, and winning a category puts the winner among a very select group of ethical food brands, along with national recognition. The Good Food Awards are unique, in that they are not just focused on responsible sourcing and business ethics, they are also looking for an unrivaled taste in each category. Winning first place in a category in the Good Food Awards can give a brand the boost it needs to become a household name.

Generally used in fine cocktails, craft beverages–or just mixed with soda–bitters also have a delicious place as aperitifs and digestifs. Red Root & Co inspires their customers to consume creatively with their bright and citrusy Hops & Citrus bitters, made with care using high-quality and organic ingredients. The Hops & Citrus Bitters are made with infusions of natural botanicals, including the tart notes of hops & citrus balanced by softer edges of berries and tulsi.

Red Root & Co uses the power of plants to elevate bitters and other herbal preparations as an integral part of a modern, health-conscious lifestyle. . When creating her products, herbalist Corey MacDonald takes all characteristics of each plant into careful consideration.

“Bitters are a great place to start introducing the vitalizing power of plants to a modern diet. Taken just as a supplement, bitters are a helpful aid before and after eating a meal, or just to calm a rumbling stomach,” says Corey MacDonald. “But we also love the role they play for the home bartender. Herbalists are people, too! And our bitters are part of some delightful cocktails and mocktails, and using our blends is a way to bring more of the plant world into your favorite indulgence.”

In years past, the Good Food Awards were a part of a weekend-long bash celebrating excellence in American food crafters with the public. This year, the festivities were held online, kicking off with a live stream of the Awards Ceremony and culminating in a virtual pop-up shop where you can shop all the winning products, starting on 1/25 and running through. Learn more about Red Root & Co’s Hops & Citrus bitters and shop online to try them for yourself here.

About Red Root & Co:

Founded by a certified herbalist, Red Root & Co was established on the premise that plants change lives. Each Red Root & Co recipe is crafted in the herbalist tradition using quality ingredients responsibly sourced – farmer-direct, organic or fair trade. The company’s herbal creations support healthy lifestyles with products for health & wellness, beverage, and culinary use.

About the Good Food Awards
The Good Food Awards celebrate the kind of food we all want to eat: tasty, authentic, and responsible. Now in its eighth year, awards will be given to winners in 17 categories: beer, charcuterie, cheese, chocolate, cider, coffee, confections, elixirs, fish, grains, honey, oils, pantry, pickles, preserves, snacks, and spirits. The Good Food Awards Seal, found on winning products, assures consumers they have found something exceptionally delicious that also supports sustainability and social good.

About the Good Food Foundation
The Good Food Awards is organized by the Good Food Foundation 501 (c) 3, formerly known as Seedling Projects, in collaboration with a broad community of food crafters, grocers, chefs, food writers, activists, and passionate food-lovers. The Good Food Foundation is also the organizing force behind the Good Food Guild, Good Food Mercantile, and Good Food Merchants Collaborative.

Tolago Hard Seltzer Enters California

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Los Angeles, CA:  It is not news that the hard seltzer category is on fire, nor that many major beverage brands are adding their logo to a version of the same liquid that made the category explode two years ago. Conversely, Tolago – which has broad and deep roots in The Golden State – is “building from within our communities’ culture,” explains Tolago Hard Seltzer CEO, Nicholas Greeninger. “We took a page out of the hard kombucha playbook when creating the product by using the highest quality, real ingredients,” he says. “To us, every 50-year-old corporate beverage logo on a hard seltzer can is lazy and a bit opportunistic. Until now, not one hard seltzer brand had listened to consumers to push the category in the right direction.”

Tolago is based on all-natural ingredients, including ethically sourced fresh fruit juices, purées, and natural botanicals from Southern California, as well as fair-trade certified 100% organic agave nectar from Mexico. Clean of chemical taste, gluten-free, and 5% ABV, the flavors include Ginger Pear, Guava Mango, Cherry Rose, and Agave Lime. Available only in fully-recyclable printed standard cans from Ball, the seltzers are premium priced and come in 6- and 12-can cartons, with SRPs of $12.99 and $24.99, respectively.

The entire founding group grew up in California and the business is headquartered in Los Angeles. All founders surf regularly and have a strong commitment to sustainability, thus the fully recyclable, 100% plastic-free packaging and alignment with 1% For the Planet.

LA-based co-founder and fine artist Matt McCormick, who developed the packaging, draws inspiration from the gritty reality of downtown LA, as well as the homestead towns, gold rush bonanzas, and 1920s Hollywood glamour that captivate popular imagination. Tolago Board members include Circe Wallace, EVP at Wasserman, and Henny Yegezu, co-CEO and founder of EQT (Equative Thinking), an LA-based music label and management company. The collective of 32 owner advocates behind the brand include LA-based photographer Sandy Kim; Ventura-based pro-skateboarder Curren Caples; and two-time Olympian and X Games Gold Medalist, Encinitas-based snowboarder Elena Hight.

Greeninger, the former branding and marketing power behind Saint Archer Brewing Company, which was acquired by MillerCoors, is the bridge from lifestyle to beverage. Other beverage sales and distribution experts include Doug Gudmundson (36 years in beer, most recently with Karl Strauss Brewing Company); Jason Schwenck (13 years with Red Bull America, and 12 years building numerous successful startup beverage companies); and Matthew Mitchell (25 years in wine & spirits, most recently with Jackson Family Wine Company).

In California, Tolago Hard Seltzer will be distributed by Young’s Market and reach retail shelves late September. Initial retail response has been positive – with particular enthusiasm for the better-for-you brand proposition, industry veterans, and high-profile advocates – and pre-orders from chain and independent accounts are underway. Tolago will also be sold via Amazon.com, Drizly, Postmates, Uber Eats, and Cloud retail.

The brand’s robust marketing campaign includes in-store retail programming, point of sale materials, digital and out-of-home advertising, as well as an annual commitment to 1% for the Planet. Bryan Boeck, Senior Vice President of Young’s Market, enthuses: “We can’t wait to launch Tolago. The hard seltzer category is on fire, and we want only the best for our book of business. We don’t see many wine and spirits distributors going into the category, which excites us.” The Tolago executive team is in talks with other select distributors nationwide.

“Tolago is the only drink I keep at my house AND the studio. It’s a secret weapon for a pool day or late night recording. I never get caught without a case!” says co-owner and music producer Kenny Beats. Greeninger concludes: “When others settled, we simply would not. Taking real ingredients to create a better-tasting, better-for-you hard seltzer captures the spirit of this business and all those involved.”

#OasisBound

Enjoy Responsibly

Gear up for the Holidays with stunning at-home cocktail creations from Empress 1908 Gin

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This Holiday season, discover a new multi-sensory cocktail experience with Empress 1908’s delicious, all-natural gin. Handcrafted in small batch copper-pot stills, Empress 1908 is a collaboration between Victoria Distillers and the legendary Fairmont Empress Hotel in Victoria, British Columbia. Their gin pays homage to the Empress’ regal afternoon tea service, coupling the hotel’s signature black tea blend with carefully sourced botanicals in its recipe. The result is a spirit with a modern flavour profile that is at once lively, delicate, and opulent. Whether you’re looking for last minute gifts or a bold new way to enjoy Holiday-inspired cocktails, Empress 1908’s premium gin will elevate any Holiday celebration.

On top of traditional gin botanicals and Empress Blend tea, Empress 1908 adds grapefruit peel, ginger root, and cinnamon bark to their gin, lending it unique bright and peppery notes. Perhaps the most unusual botanical of all, butterfly pea blossom is also added to balance the gin’s citrus notes with a warm herbal earthiness and soft texture, and provide it with a lush natural indigo colour that transforms depending on the mixer. A twist on tradition, Empress 1908’s creative combination of botanicals, exquisite taste, and remarkable presentation provide the perfect base for a new aesthetic of Holiday cocktail creation.

Since it’s establishment in 2017, Empress 1908 has made a big splash in the world of spirits. It comes as no surprise that their award-winning gin has received praise on the local, national, and international stage, including but not limited to: The Canadian Artisan Spirit Competition, The Fairplex Los Angeles International Spirits Competition, The San Francisco World Spirits Competition, The World Gin Awards, The New York World Wine & Spirits Competition, and The World Beverage innovation Awards.

This Holiday season, we invite you to join the Empress 1908 story by creating— or simply enjoying— a new aesthetic of irresistible Holiday cocktails. Spice up the generic French 75 (or any other gin cocktail!) with Empress 1908’s exquisite taste, delicate aroma, soft texture, and remarkable presentation. The moment of creation is at hand.

Empress 1908’s Holiday favourites:

Cranberry 75
The perfect signature drink for your Holiday celebration! Sweet and tart, the Cranberry 75 is a festive spin on a classic.

1.5oz Empress 1908 Gin

0.5oz Lemon Juice

0.5oz Cranberry Juice

0.5oz Simple Syrup

Sparkling Wine (to top)

Garnish: Cranberries

Method: Shake on ice, fine strain into a chilled flute, top with sparkling wine. Garnish with cranberries

 

Cinnamon 75
Sugar, spice and everything nice! The Cinnamon 75 will be an instant Holiday hit.

1.5oz Empress 1908 Gin

0.75oz Lemon Juice

0.5oz Cinnamon Syrup

0.25oz Maple Syrup

Sparkling Wine (to top)

Garnish: Cinnamon

Method: Shake on ice, fine strain into a chilled flute, top with sparkling wine. Garnish with a cinnamon stick.
For the syrup: Combine equal parts sugar and water in a small saucepan over medium heat. Simmer with cinnamon sticks (approximately 2-3 per 1 cup of water) for about 15 minutes, or until the desired flavour is reached. Strain, and cool. Store in the fridge in a sealed container for up to 1-2 weeks.

 

Rosemary 75
Light and cheery, the Rosemary 75 is your new go-to Holiday cocktail.

1.5oz Empress 1908 Gin

0.75oz Lemon Juice

0.5oz Rosemary Syrup

Sparkling Wine (to top)

Garnish: Rosemary Syrup & Pomegranate Seeds

Method: Shake on ice, fine strain into a chilled flute, top with sparkling wine. Garnish with a rosemary sprig and pomegranate seeds.

For the syrup: Combine equal parts sugar and water in a small saucepan over medium heat. Simmer with rosemary sprigs (approximately 3-4 per 1 cup of water) for about 15 minutes, or until the desired flavour is reached. Strain, and cool. Store in the fridge in a sealed container for up to 1-2 weeks.

About: 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. On top of traditional botanicals, Empress 1908 adds a signature blend of black tea served at the Empress Hotel, as well as butterfly pea blossom, an exotic herb that lends the gin a warm herbal earthiness and natural indigo colour. Empress 1908’s exquisite taste, delicate aroma, soft texture, and remarkable presentation set it apart from traditional spirits, and provide the perfect base for a new multi-sensory cocktail experience.

Empress 1908 Gin is a remarkable spirit that could have only been created in the city of Victoria, on beautiful Vancouver Island, where rugged mountains meet the beautiful Pacific Coast. It is a place where tradition is honoured, nature is revered, and artistic expression drives innovation. Perched on the edge of the continent, Empress 1908 is inspired and guided by the natural world. They embrace the wild, and respect both the saltwater that surrounds them and the pristine fresh water used in their gin. Empress 1908’s commitment to nature extends beyond the product to include sustainable production practices, including a geothermal cooling system used in their distillery. Empress 1908 is proud to be paving the way in sustainable spirits.

Empress 1908 Gin is now available for purchase in select liquor stores across Canada and the USA, and can be purchased online and shipped across North America.

Empress 1908 Gin Tasting With Founder Peter Hunt!

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Enjoyed a virtual tasting and happy hour via Zoom recently with the founder of Empress 1908 Gin, Peter Hunt, complete with a bottle of their gin, fancy bar tools, unique recipe cards and a list of ingredients I would need to make “seasonal focused cocktails leading into Fall and Holidays.” Before the cocktail making part of the meeting we learned a bit from Hunt about Empress 1908.

Founding Empress 1908 Gin

Hunt is not only the founder, but he is also the master distiller in the Victoria, British Columbia based distillery. They launched in 2008, as a small family owned company, and then launched Empress 1908 in 2017.

In 2016 they had reached out to the Empress Hotel and drew ideas for their 1908 gin from the teas the hotel serves during their popular, and often sold out, afternoon tea. The 1908 number refers to the year the hotel first opened. (We visited the hotel last year where I had to try the gin myself. Here is the link to my social media post and photos.)

Hunt commented, “…We started with just a small wood-burning copper pot still. (Their stills are all made in Victoria.) My previous decade of bartending, and bar managing, a master’s degree in molecular biology, and work at the BC Cancer Agency’s Genome Sciences Centre, have brought art and science together to provide an ideal foundation for making fine spirits.”

Besides the same black tea used at the Empress Hotel, and the butterfly pea blossom mentioned below in the About section, Empress 1908 also incorporates other dried botanicals such as juniper, grapefruit peel, coriander seed, cinnamon bark, rose petal and ginger root. These botanicals account for a remarkable nose and flavor to the gin.

Cocktail Time

NYC based brand ambassador, Tracey Eden, led the cocktail making part of the tasting. I, of course, made the drinks in advance as I couldn’t even imagine trying to do it while also wanting to take notes. (I made them in one-half the suggested measurement, and though I did taste “on air” I reserved the remainder of drinks to have before dinner. So no, I don’t actually “drink in the daytime” during all of these Zoom presentations. We taste.)

The cocktails I made can be seen here in a less than a minute video. They included The Queen Bee with Empress 1908 Gin, lemon juice, honey syrup, apricot jam and grated cinnamon. Then I made the Cranberry 75, also with Empress 1908 Gin, lemon juice, cranberry juice, simple syrup and Prosecco on top. Both were very tasty and easy to make.

Hunt said there were at least 25 downloadable cocktail recipe cards on the website. Also interesting: the color of the gin changes from Indigo blue to purple/pink when tonic is added to it in a classic gin and tonic – their signature cocktail – and Hunt prefers Fevertree Elderflower for that drink. Looks like I’ll be spending a wee bit more time trying my hand at more Empress gin based cocktails!

About: Empress 1908 Gin is a remarkable spirit that could have only been created in the city of Victoria, on beautiful Vancouver Island, where rugged mountains meet the beautiful Pacific Coast. It is a place where tradition is honored, nature is revered, and artistic expression drives innovation. Perched on the edge of the continent, Empress 1908 is inspired and guided by the natural world. They embrace the wild, and respect both the saltwater that surrounds them and the pristine fresh water used in their gin. Empress 1908’s commitment to nature extends beyond the product to include sustainable production practices, including a geothermal cooling system used in their distillery. Empress 1908 is proud to be paving the way in sustainable spirits.

Empress 1908 Gin is now available for purchase in select liquor stores across Canada and (about 40 states in) the USA, and can be purchased online and shipped across North America.  

Eve Bushman has a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET), a “certification in first globally-recognized course” as an American Wine Specialist ® from the North American Sommelier Association (NASA), Level 1 Sake Award from WSET, was the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video (over 16k views), authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and has served as a judge for the Long Beach Grand Cru and the Global Wine Awards. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits.

Vintage Eve Circa 12/2017, “Gin Martini: A Round Up of Recipes”

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Not exactly sure when my taste for a vodka Martini – with Domaine De Canton Ginger liqueur instead of vermouth – switched to a gin Martini…but it did. Only problem was that every bar always made them better than the ones I made at home. My first gin martinis were made with Hendrick’s gin and a bit of vermouth and bitters. Wasn’t working.

Ginny Fowl gins from South Africa

So what did I do? I turned to Facebook and asked my boozy online friends for their go to recipes.

Robin: Stop with the vermouth.

Scott: Take the cap off of the vermouth. Pour 1/2 capful of dry vermouth into the bottle cap. Hold the bottle cap about three inches away from your martini glass filled with Gin. Whisper the word, “vermouth” softly across the cap-full… letting your breath carry the fumes into the glass. That is more than enough vermouth.

Chris: The Hendrick’s martinis may taste odd with a twist because the rose/cucumber of the Hendricks fights with the lemon oil. Garnish botanical gins (like Hendrick’s Gin or Uncle Val’s Handcrafted Gin) with a cucumber or sprig of something green. Citrus-forward gins (like Tanqueray) and dry gins (like Nolet’s or Beefeater) pair very well with a twist.

And Dolin is an exceptional vermouth. Colin Blanc is my favorite dry vermouth substitute, but their dry is wonderful as well.

When it comes to shaking: usually the rule is “if juice or egg is present, shake. If not, stir.” However many people prefer their martinis to be much more diluted than the traditional way and shake it (which ads more water).

Carlos: Less vermouth and everything must be ice cold: glass, vermouth and gin. Teaspoon of vermouth, swirl around cold glass and throw out excess.

Laura: I’m thinking that you need to throw a $20 bill down and then it will taste better.

Steve: 2 parts Nolet’s, 2 parts Hendrick’s, 1 spray from Vermouth sprayer. Shake over ice, strain into Martini glass, add straw and use straw!

Jeannie: We just go Sapphire, olive & onion. No vermouth. Perfecto.

Margaret: I love Hendrick’s, no vermouth with either a rose petal or a cucumber slice.

Matt: Call a friend on another continent and ask them to whisper “vermouth” out the window and you’ll be all set as far as the vermouth is concerned.

Paul: In a drink class I attended on a Disney cruise ship given by the head of their bartending department he said, “shaken, not stirred” is okay with a vodka martini, but not with drinks with herbal bases like gin, ouzo, absinthe, etc. Shaking degrades the flavor. He said a drink made with primarily gin should be stirred gently (not even vigorously).

Robin: Wave the opened bottle of vermouth over the martini, garnish with a twist of lemon!

Semaj: Why are you shaking it? Stir. There’s no fruit juice. Hendrick’s is fine. Dolin dry vermouth. 6:1 ratio. And olives!

William: Bare minimum of dry vermouth and shake the heck out of it. If you prefer several martinis use Gilby’s or Gordon’s (as they are) low octane. One large green olive is just fine.

Doug: Too much vermouth, drop about 3/4 oz. into an empty shaker, swirl it around to coat the inside then pour out whatever doesn’t stick. Then add the ice and gin.

Jonathan: Hey Eve! Several techniques to add the vermouth. The glass rinse, we (Olive Terrace Bar and Grill) use a spray bottle for consistency at work, or another one I like is coating the rocks: pour an ounce into the shaker over the rocks, swirl around and then strain out excess. However the problem you might be having is with the vermouth itself. Vermouth is a fortified wine and should be kept in the fridge, and if it’s been open for a long time it might be time for a new bottle. Other than that I would definitely stir over shaking the gin. Hope that helps!

From a booze book writer that private messaged me: Our go-to recipe is: 2 1/2 oz. Beefeater gin, 1/2 oz. Dolin blanc, 2 dashes Angostura orange bitters (it has a bit of sweetness without losing the bitter notes). Place the gin, vermouth, and bitters in a mixing glass filled with ice. Stir vigorously until you can smell the gin aroma – about 30 seconds. Strain into a coupe. Express a lemon peel over the drink – then toss peel; do not put in drink. (If Beefeater is too strong for you, go with Plymouth) Cheers!

And this last recipe, dear reader, has been my go-to gin martini recipe ever since! Although when I go out I’ll often order Nolet’s or Hendrick’s Martini and, as you guessed it, those bartenders know what they are doing as it always tastes perfect!

Eve Bushman has a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET), a “certification in first globally-recognized course” as an American Wine Specialist ® from the North American Sommelier Association (NASA), Level 1 Sake Award from WSET, was the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video, authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and has served as a judge for the Long Beach Grand Cru. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits.