Guides
Fall Fruits You Should Be Adding to Your Cocktails
There’s more to autumn than pumpkin spice!
We have a lot to love about fall: that crisp chill in the air, the rich colours of the leaves, a bountiful harvest! Let’s explore the various seasonal produce that you’ll often find that you should use to your next Empress 1908 cocktail. Trust us – adding that autumnal magic to both Empress Indigo and Elderflower Rose Gin is easier than you might think!
Ready to get mixing? Jump to the recipe!
Pome Fruits! 🍎
You knew we had to start with these! Think of all the treats we tend to enjoy this season like apple pie, caramel apples, and poached pears. They’re incredibly versatile, but that distinct sweetness of many varietals always hits the spot and plays beautifully with other classic fall flavours like baking spices and robust herbs.
Empress Ambrosia
Let’s put pears in the spotlight with @swarnika_‘s ‘Empress Ambrosia!’
INGREDIENTS
- 2 oz Empress 1908 Indigo Gin
- 1 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
- 2 oz Pear Syrup*
- Sparkling Water, to top
METHOD
Add the lemon juice and pear syrup to a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until chilled, and strain into a cocktail glass. Add ice and top with sparkling water. Float Empress 1908 Indigo Gin on top & enjoy!
*To make the syrup, peel, deseed, and chop 1 over-ripe pear. Add the pear to a saucepan with ½ cup sugar, and ½ cup water. Simmer until the pear softens and starts to disintegrate. Mash with the back of a spoon. Simmer for another 15 minutes. Strain and let chill in the fridge before using.
Stone Fruits! 🍑
We’re especially fans of options like peaches, nectarines, plums, dates, and apricots in our fall cocktails! While they are particularly popular for summer, we find that their delicate flavours and soft texture are also perfect for the cozier vibes of autumn.
Empress Peach Pie
Looking for dessert in a glass? Make the ‘Empress Peach Pie’ by @marissamakes_!
INGREDIENTS
- 3 oz Empress 1908 Indigo Gin
- 2 cups Frozen Peaches (White or Yellow, skin removed), plus more to garnish
- 1½ oz Vanilla Bourbon Syrup*
- 1 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
METHOD
To make the cocktail, combine all drink ingredients in a blender and pulse until well blended and the consistency of a smoothie. If it is too thick, add a little more lemon juice to thin it out. Divide into two rocks glasses, garnish with a peach slice, and enjoy!
*For the syrup: To make the syrup, combine 1 cup sugar, 1 cup water and 1 tbsp vanilla bourbon extract in a sauce pan and cook over medium heat until all of the sugar has dissolved, and the mixture is bubbling at the edges. Remove from heat and cool.
Figs! ✨
It’s not fall until we’ve had a fig cocktail! There are so many applications for this beautiful fruit from delectable treats to savoury accompaniments, but its deep honey-like qualities pair spectacularly with the botanicals in both our Empress Indigo and Elderflower Rose Gins. Figs are undoubtedly one of our all-time favourites to incorporate in any cold-weather sip!
Floral Fig Sour
Try incorporating it into a syrup for this light and silky ‘Floral Fig Sour’ by @the.boozy.ginger!
INGREDIENTS
- 2 Empress 1908 Elderflower Rose Gin
- ¾ oz Fig Syrup*
- ½ oz Fresh Lemon Juice
- 1 Egg White
- Fig Slice, to garnish
METHOD
In a cocktail shaker, add the gin, fig syrup, lemon juice, and egg white. Dry shake (without ice) vigorously for 15-20 seconds. This will help emulsify the egg white and create a frothy texture. Add ice to the shaker and shake again for another 10-15 seconds to chill the cocktail. Strain the mixture into a glass. Garnish with a slice of fresh fig & enjoy!
*To make the syrup, combine 1 cup water, 1 cup sugar, and 5-6 ripe figs (chopped) in a saucepan. Heat over low-medium heat, stirring until the sugar is fully dissolved. Let the mixture simmer for 10-15 minutes, allowing the figs to infuse their flavour into the syrup. Remove from heat, strain to remove fig solids, and let it cool to room temperature before using.
Persimmon! 🧡
Curious to try something new? Persimmons should be the next one you add to your fall concoctions! When ripe, these have a delightfully soft and sweet flavour that’s often compared to honey, which plays especially well with the richer texture and heavier botanicals of our Empress Indigo Gin. It’s very much like a combination of all there is to love about fall fruits!
Falling for You
Celebrate the beauty of this season with @dawnofthedelicious‘ ‘Falling for You!’
INGREDIENTS
- 1½ oz Empress 1908 Indigo Gin
- ¾ oz Lemon Juice
- 1 oz Spiced Apple Cider
- 1 Egg White
- Persimmon Purée*
- Sparkling Apple Juice, to top
- Cinnamon, for garnish
METHOD
Shake all ingredients except the sparkling apple juice vigorously without ice for 30 seconds, then again with ice for another 30 seconds. Strain into a couple glass, then top with sparkling apple juice. Dust with ground cinnamon and garnish with a persimmon slice.
*Blend half of a Fuyu persimmon (skin-on) with 1½ oz water until a creamy consistency is reached.
Is it any wonder why we’re such fans of using seasonal fruits in our Empress 1908 sips? You’ll find that most of the options have a warming sweetness that makes us slip right into the fall mood. We’d love to see you getting creative in incorporating any of the options from our list for your cocktails! Experiment with both Empress Indigo and Elderflower Rose Gin creations and you may end up discovering new favourites.
For more cocktail inspiration, check out our Instagram, Cocktail Page, or Blog!
Sip responsibly!
