Recipes
Cocktails to Showcase Empress 1908 Cucumber Lemon Gin’s Botanical Recipe
Experience the best of our gin with these tasty tipples!
We’ve gone over sips that put our Indigo and Elderflower Rose expressions in the spotlight – now it’s time for Empress Cucumber Lemon Gin! Made unique by its remarkably bright flavour, any drink you create with this gin as the base is bound to dazzle the senses. With that in mind, let’s reintroduce you to a selection of botanicals along with an accompanying cocktail that make the most of this beautiful spirit!
Jump to the botanicals ahead!
1. Cucumber – Elevated Basil Smash
Is there anything more crisp than garden cucumber? Perhaps the most distinctive ingredient in this gin, we adore the vibrancy it offers the the overall palate! To maximize the cucumber’s freshness, this spin on the basil smash by @jfdesfosses combines aromatic herbs and lemongrass in a cocktail that evokes lush greenery.
INGREDIENTS
- 2 oz Empress 1908 Cucumber Lemon Gin
- ¾ oz Lemongrass Syrup*
- 1 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
- 10 to 15 Basil Leaves
- Cucumber Air & Basil Sprig, to garnish**
METHOD
Shake all ingredients with ice. Strain over fresh ice in a rocks glass. Garnish with cucumber air and a basil sprig, enjoy!
*To make the syrup, blend together 200g sugar, 15g chopped lemongrass, and 200ml hot water.
**To make the cucumber air, add 200g chopped cucumber, 1 oz lemon juice, 1 oz simple syrup, and 200 ml water to a blender. Blend until smooth, then strain to remove solids. Weigh the filtered liquid and calculate 1.5% of that weight to determine how much lecithin powder to add. Blend the powder into the liquid until fully incorporated. Submerge the air stone of an aquarium pump in the liquid, turn on the pump and allow foam to form. Spoon the light cucumber foam over your cocktail and enjoy!
2. Lemon – Cucumber Lemon Corpse Reviver
Gin often has a citrus component, so in keeping with the brighter profile, we incorporate this mainly through lemon peel for its zesty qualities. We especially love how it bolsters the cucumber while offering versatility when mixed in cocktails!
This corpse reviver twist by @evakosmasflores highlights the lemon splendidly with the complementary honey sweetness along with the notes in Lillet Blanc that lean towards the fragrance of citrus. If you’re looking for a cocktail that encapsulates the vibrant side of life, look no further than this beauty! Recipe serves 2.
INGREDIENTS
- 4 oz Empress 1908 Cucumber Lemon Gin
- 3 oz Honey Simple Syrup
- 3 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
- 3 oz Lillet Blanc
- Half Lemon Slice, for garnish
METHOD
Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker with crushed ice. Shake until combined, then strain into a coupe glass. Garnish with half a lemon slice & enjoy!
3. Juniper Berries – Dew Drop Martini
The quintessential gin ingredient – juniper berries act as the base on which our other botanicals rest. Boasting a sharp profile, these play off the freshness of our leading ingredients while contributing their own resinous characteristic that evokes the terroir of our hometown.
The dry finish of this Martini lets our Empress Cucumber Lemon Gin speak for itself where the complexity from the juniper gets to shine. Understated and refined, it’s no wonder that Martinis are a staple for gin lovers!
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.
4. Jasmine – Lavender Cucumber Collins
To balance out the crispness of our main botanicals, we add jasmine for its soft floral essence. While subtle, the way it contributes to this gin’s more delicate finish that follows after bursts of cucumber and citrus is simply divine!
This elevated Collins by @bevsbybeverly captures that same evolving experience created by florals. The first sip will invigorate your taste buds with bubbly effervescence mixed with lemon and light vegetal notes followed by the soothing sensation of lavender that very much mimics the jasmine in our Cucumber Lemon expression.
INGREDIENTS
- 2 oz Empress 1908 Cucumber Lemon Gin
- ¾ oz Fresh Lemon Juice
- 1 oz Lavender Syrup
- 2 oz Soda Water, to top
- Cucumber Slice & Lavender Sprig, to garnish
METHOD
Build in a collins glass over ice and top with soda. Stir, garnish and enjoy!
5. Star Anise – Empress Absinthe Frappé
Last but not least, one of the spices we use is star anise, which offers bold licorice notes. Anise in general pairs wonderfully with cucumber and citrus, and the warmer tones here provide structure and depth to the fresher ingredients.
@highproofpreacher’s riff on the Absinthe Frappé puts the anise front and center in this cocktail that makes for a zippy and truly unique sip! While absinthe leans more herbal than spiced in the anise spectrum, the addition of orgeat reintroduces rich sweetness while also lending nuttiness that accentuates the slight warmth from star anise.
INGREDIENTS
- 1½ oz Empress 1908 Cucumber Lemon Gin
- ½ oz Absinthe
- ½ oz Supasawa (or fresh lime juice)
- ½ oz Orgeat
- 2 oz Prosecco
- Fresh Dill, to garnish
METHOD
Combine gin, absinthe, Supasawa and Orgeat in a shaker and shake with ice. Strain into a glass and top with Prosecco. Fill with crushed or pebble ice and garnish with fresh dill. Serve with a straw.
Ultimately, the way you enjoy your Empress Cucumber Lemon Gin cocktails is up to you! However, whether you need inspiration for your first time trying this gin or are looking to come up with your own creations, playing off our botanical recipe is always a good move. Let us know if you discover a favourite way to enjoy this expression in our Empress 1908 family!
For more cocktail inspiration, be sure to check out our Instagram, Cocktail Page, or Blog!
Sip responsibly!
