Empress 1908 Holiday Gift Guide 2024

Premium Mixers

Whether you’re crafting simple sips or anything more elaborate, make sure you’re mixing with the best! When it comes to our cocktails, we always love mixing with Fentimans, Fever-Tree, and Q Mixers.

Image credits to Fentimans, Fever-Tree, and Q Mixers; respectively.

Play Around with Bitters!

A must-have in any bar, bitters make for a fun way to change up classics and invent something new! Whether you choose the essentials or are looking for something a little more unique, Scrappy’s Bitters has you covered with their sampler gift sets!

Image credit to Scrappy’s Bitters

Elegant Glassware!

Every good cocktail is made better with the right glassware! Our friends at Viski Craft have an incredible selection from the classics to even more unique pieces. We love using their Raye Hot Toddy Glasses for our warm cocktails like the Winter Chai Hot Toddy by @foodie_renee and Afternoon Tea! Be sure to check out what else they have to offer on their website like bar tools and other drink accessories.

Image credit to Viski Craft

Bartending Aprons

Any mixologist will look great with a high quality apron by Search and Rescue Denim, handcrafted with premium materials and meticulous attention to detail! Take it up a notch with their custom apron builder and add details like embroidery, hardware, and pockets for all the necessary bar tools. It’s an ideal gift for the cocktailing pros!

Cookbooks

Is there a better combo than cocktails and food? We’ve been loving Eating Out Loud by Eden Grinshpan for a playful take on Middle Eastern cuisine! Pair any of these recipes with her Batched Empress Negroni for holiday hosting that’s sure to impress. Keep an eye out for her upcoming release, Tahini Baby, now available for pre-order!

Image credit to Aubrie Pick

A Spot of Tea

If you’ve read our story, you know we have a special connection to afternoon tea here at Empress 1908 Gin. Whether sipped warm by the fire or added to your next festive cocktail, premium tea blends from our friends at Tea Forté make for an exceptional gift this time of year! Explore the Warming Joy Collection to create the perfect setting for a wonder-filled holiday.

Image credit to Tea Forté

Dried Citrus & Flower Garnishes

You know how much we enjoy garnishing our cocktails! For an alternative to fresh produce, we particularly like dried equivalents for an option that can always be on hand, which you can readily find online on sites like Amazon and Etsy (just be sure to look for food-grade varieties).

You can also make dried citrus wheels easily at home for fun DIY project! Start by preheating your oven to 200˚F since the key is low and slow. Take your citrus of choice and cut into thin slices (about ¼” thick) either with a mandolin or sharp knife. Lay onto a baking sheet in one layer, ensuring no contact between slices. For limes and lemons, bake for about 3-4 hours; oranges for 5-6; and grapefruits for 7+. Flip every 30 minutes to dry out evenly. Once no moisture remains and they’re slightly brittle, remove from oven and let cool. Store in an airtight container for up to four months.

Batched Cocktails

Give your loved ones the gift of elevated cocktails to enjoy at home! This is an option where you can really spread your wings and get creative. In terms of which drink you pick, head on over to our blog article containing tips for pre-batching cocktails. We especially recommend the Freezer Door Empress Martini by @highproofpreacher! You can also have fun by including a recipe card with instructions on how to serve the cocktail such as how much of the batch to measure out, ideal glassware, and proper garnishing.

Bottles from Crew Supply Co

Did you catch that bottle from the last clip? If you’re gifting someone a batched cocktail, serve it in the Crew Bottle by Crew Supply Co! Featuring a removable base for the easy addition of ingredients, it makes cocktail prep that much more efficient. If something smaller should suffice, their Chubby Bottle makes for a great alternative!

Image credit to Crew Supply Co.

TOSSWARE

Take elevated cocktails to the great outdoors with drinkware made by our friends at TOSSWARE! We’re big fans of their RESERVE collection, crafted with Tritan™ Copolyester, an ultra durable BPA-free material, for drinking vessels that are just as beautiful as they are practical.

*Featured: Empress 1908 Limited Edition 14oz Highball Tritan Glass and 12oz Old Fashioned Tritan Glass by TOSSWARE

Cocktail Recipe Books

Give the gift of a cocktail book that looks just as good as the recipes inside taste! Discover a few of our favourites written by our creator friends including TWIST by Jordan Hughes, Beautiful Booze by Natalie Migliarini and James Stevenson, and The Flower-Infused Cocktail by Alyson Brown.

Ice Gear

One of the details that makes a cocktail look that much better is when it’s poured over a glistening cube of clear ice. While you can make it with an insulated cooler and some elbow grease, it’s even easier with the True Cubes Tray to produce four 2″x”2″x2″ crystal clear cubes! Pair this with a brass ice cube design tray by Ash Harbor and your mixologist friend will have themselves some extra fancy ice!

Image credit to True Cubes

Infuse with Smoke!

Is there anything as elegant and mysterious as a smoked cocktail? For those who like to make showstopping sips, consider the SmokeTop by Middleton Mixology made for creating a full sensory experience to cocktails that won’t go unnoticed or be forgotten. Use this to make the Smoked Martini by @jfdesfosses or the Smoked Rosemary Negroni by @thegandmkitchen!

Image credit to Middleton Mixology