Empress 1908 – BC’s Drink of the Summer

Photos courtesy Victoria Distillers

Gin lovers across Canada are in for a special treat this year, courtesy of an award-winning distillery located on beautiful Vancouver Island

Gin lovers across Canada are in for a special treat this year, courtesy of an award-winning distillery located on beautiful Vancouver Island. Victoria Distillers, located in Victoria, have launched their eagerly awaited Empress 1908 gin in the province of Ontario, ensuring Ontarians can now purchase this award-winning BC beverage at 100 LCBO locations.

The move comes in response to the brand’s fast growing reputation for quality and taste, a combination that has already won over the taste buds of gin fans across British Columbia, the US, and the UK. To date, this much-in-demand beverage has laid claim to the following accolades:

• Best Alcohol Drink, World Beverage Innovation Awards
• Gold Medal, New York World Wine & Spirits Competition
• Judges’ Selection, Alberta Beverage Awards

Inspired by the world-famous teas and cocktails on offer at acclaimed Fairmont Empress Hotel in Victoria, Empress 1908 is handcrafted in small batches, ensuring its uniqueness and quality.

Empress 1908 – Handcrafted in Small Batches

At the heart of the drink’s flavour is the fact it’s micro-distilled in copper-pots with a number of botanicals added – including coriander seed, rose, grapefruit peel, juniper, ginger root, cinnamon bark, and butterfly pea blossoms – and, of course, the Fairmont Empress Blend Tea.

“We have been responding to inquiries about Empress 1908’s availability in Ontario for months and are excited to have it in market in another province in our home country,” says Grant Rogers, co-owner of Victoria Distillers. “We are proud of how loved it has been across Canada, the US, and the UK, and look forward to Ontarians mixing their Empress and Tonics just in time for summer.”

According to Rogers, the success of the company’s gin is due to the subtle earthy notes provided by the butterfly pea blossom. This, along with the beverage’s all-natural indigo hue which, when tonic or citrus is added changes the colour to a delicate soft pink.

“The final result is a traditional, wonderfully refined gin with a contemporary twist and boldness of spirit,” says Rogers.

To learn more about this exciting alcoholic beverage from BC, visit www.empressgin.com.

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Kim Kerr is a freelance writer with a keen interest in luxury… and cocktails.