Guides
5 Cocktail and Chip Pairings to Make for At-Home Happy Hour!
Hosting a gathering soon? Read on for some fun drink and snack duos!
Who doesn’t love a bite with their beverage? While many situations with cocktails tend to be in a more more formal context, we’re all about mixing elevated and casual with our food and drink experiences! That’s why we’re here to share a few of our favourite sip and chip pairings for you to serve at your next party!
Jump to the recipes ahead!
Classic Salted – Grapefruit Guava Spritz
Starting with the tried-and-true original, we’ll be pairing these with a refreshing and fruity spritz created by @samanthasommelier! The bright acidity and effervescence cut through the saltiness perfectly to make for a treat that feels even more sophisticated.
INGREDIENTS
- 1½-2 oz Empress 1908 Indigo Gin
- 2-3 oz Guava or Grapefruit Juice
- Soda Water and Prosecco, to top
- Grapefruit Slice, for garnish
METHOD
Build the cocktail in a wine glass filled with ice. Stir briefly to combine, garnish, and enjoy!
BBQ – Smoked Rosemary Negroni
Smoky and savoury-sweet, BBQ chips call for a more robust cocktail, which is why we’ll be choosing the bold Smoked Rosemary Negroni by @thegandmkitchen. The smoked notes in both go hand-in-hand with each other while the bitterness from the Negroni makes you go back for the chips’ sweetness. The warm herbaceousness from the torched rosemary also elevate the savouriness wonderfully!
INGREDIENTS
- 1 oz Empress 1908 Indigo Gin
- 1 oz Campari
- 1 oz Artichoke Liqueur
- Leaves from Rosemary Sprig
METHOD
In a glass filled with ice, combine Empress 1908 Indigo Gin, Campari, and artichoke liqueur. Place a smoker on top of the glass, adding fresh rosemary leaves and a mesh guard. Using a culinary torch, carefully ignite the rosemary leaves until the glass fills with smoke. Allow the smoke to infuse into the drink, then remove the smoker. Garnish with a burned rosemary sprig. Enjoy!
Nacho Cheese – Pretty in Pink
Once again, we’re going with the spritz route for this pairing, this time with help from @thewhiskeymcgee! Nacho cheese corn chips have quite a rich palate, so the tangy grapefruit and sparkling wine will lighten the overall profile. The hint of hops from the bitters gives a subtle beer quality that we find plays well with the cheesiness from the chips!
INGREDIENTS
- 1½ oz Empress 1908 Elderflower Rose Gin
- ½ oz Elderflower Liqueur
- ½ oz Fresh Grapefruit Juice
- 3 dashes Hopped Grapefruit Bitters
- Prosecco, to top
- Fresh Mint, for garnish
METHOD
Shake ingredients (except for Prosecco) on ice and strain into a wine goblet filled with pebbled ice. Top with Prosecco, and garnish with fresh mint leaves. Enjoy!
Salt & Vinegar – Dew Drop Martini
The zippy profile of this flavour is complemented nicely with a martini! We especially love how the drier finish of the Dew Drop Martini tempers the sharp acidity of the chips. Clean and crisp mixed with salt and tang, this refined combo is sure to dazzle your tastebuds.
INGREDIENTS
- 2 oz Empress 1908 Cucumber Lemon Gin
- ½ oz Dry Vermouth
- Lemon Twist & Cucumber Roll, for garnish
METHOD
Stir all ingredients with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with expressed lemon twist and cucumber roll.
Sour Cream & Onion – Cucumber Collins
For this option, we’re going to maximize the freshness in our cocktail with layers of cucumber and citrus to balance out the chips’ decadence. Sour cream & onion can be heavy, so this lively Collins by @moodycocktails helps provide the perfect contrast!
INGREDIENTS
- 2 oz Empress 1908 Cucumber Lemon Gin
- 1 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
- ½ oz Simple Syrup
- 2 Cucumber Slices
- Sparkling Water, to top
- Cucumber Ribbon, for garnish
METHOD
Add cucumber slices, Empress 1908 Cucumber Lemon Gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup to a cocktail shaker. Add ice and shake to chill. Strain over ice into your cocktail glass. Top with sparkling water. Garnish with a cucumber ribbon & enjoy!
Cocktails don’t always have to be taken too seriously, which we hope we made evident with this list! Of course, there’s often a place for more elevated appetizers for cocktail hour, but sometimes, nothing hits the spot quite like a bowl of chips. If you discover a delightful combination of your own, be sure to share it with us on Instagram at @empress1908gin. Let us know if you’d like to see more pairing ideas with our recipes!
For more cocktail inspiration, be sure to check out our Instagram, Cocktail Page, or Blog!
Sip responsibly!
