Sip #17 2024

The Gin

Hello Reader, Happy World Gin Day ! 🍸🎉
Summer is here & we wanted to celebrate it with the theme of Colors & Gin!

Gins of the Week: Top Color Changing Gin 🎨

The Trend of Color-Changing Gins: A Fun Twist on Tradition 🌈🍸 Color-changing gins are all the rage, captivating drinkers with their magical transformation when mixed with tonic or other acidic mixers.

Let’s take a look at some popular color-changing gins and see what makes them unique.

Empress 1908 Gin: Deep indigo to soft pink Best enjoyed neat to appreciate its floral and botanical notes before mixing
Deux Frères Blue: Bright blue to a delicate pink. Try it neat first to savor its rich juniper and herbal flavors Crafted in Zurich and now distilled in Austria with 25 botanicals, including juniper berries, lemon peel, rose petals, and lavender blossom.
Secret Garden Lavender & Echinacea: Purple to pink. A sip neat reveals its calming lavender and herbal complexity Details: Infused with lavender and echinacea, this gin provides a soothing aroma and a slightly sweet, floral taste. Perfect for unwinding at the end of a hard day.
Ink Gin: Deep blue to light pink. The world’s first all-natural color-changing gin, pot distilled with 13 organic, native Australian, and exotic botanicals. Perfect with Fever Tree Indian Tonic and a seasonal garnish like citrus, herbs, or fresh strawberries.
Pink Marmalade: Pale blue to vibrant pink. This gin balances organic botanicals with color-changing magic. Distilled in small batches with 13 botanicals, including pink peppercorns, chamomile, and salted grapefruit marmalade. Best served with a garnish of grapefruit and rosemary.

Color-Changing Magic ✨ These gins transform their color thanks to the butterfly pea flower, a natural ingredient that changes color when the pH level changes. When you add a mixer like tonic or lemon juice, the acidity causes this transformation, making your gin cocktail not only delicious but visually stunning!

Guide: Try Regular Gin First 🍸 To fully appreciate the unique flavors of these color-changing gins, we recommend tasting them neat first. This way, you can enjoy the pure essence of the botanicals before the magic of color change takes over. Once you’ve experienced their true taste, mix in your favorite tonic or citrus to watch the color change unfold.

Read about The Enchanting Story of Empress Gin 🌸🍸 below👇

Purple Gin 101: everything you need to know 🙋‍♀️

Story: The Enchanting Story of Empress Gin 🌸🍸

Once upon a time in the picturesque city of Victoria, British Columbia 🇨🇦, nestled by the serene waters of the Inner Harbor, stood the majestic Fairmont Empress Hotel. 🏨 Since 1908, this grand hotel has been a beacon of elegance and sophistication, attracting travelers from all corners of the globe. 🌍 Its timeless charm, scenic vistas, and unparalleled afternoon tea service have made it a beloved destination for over a century. 🍵✨

As the Empress Hotel gracefully transitioned into a new era, it retained its traditional elegance while embracing modern sophistication. Inspired by the hotel's rich history and renowned afternoon tea, the skilled artisans at Victoria Distillers embarked on a quest to create a gin that would embody the essence of this iconic landmark. Thus, Empress 1908 Gin was born, crafted in small batches using old-world pot stills. ⚗️

Victoria Distillers meticulously blended traditional botanicals with unique ingredients, creating a gin that was both traditional and modern. Among these botanicals were black tea, served at the Fairmont Empress, and the exotic butterfly pea blossom. 🌺 The butterfly pea blossom, an herb known for its vibrant indigo hue, added a spicy herbal note and complemented the gin's citrus flavors, creating a symphony of taste and color. 🌈

The journey of Empress 1908 Gin is a tale of exquisite taste, soft texture, and striking presentation. Its captivating indigo color, derived naturally from the butterfly pea blossom, makes it the perfect base for the finest cocktails and drinks. 🍸 Each sip transports you to the grandeur of the Fairmont Empress, evoking the elegance and tradition of its famed afternoon tea. 🏰

The meticulous crafting of Empress 1908 Gin involves the selective blending of handpicked tea leaves and carefully sourced botanicals. This delicate process ensures that each bottle of Empress Gin is a harmonious blend of tradition and modernity, offering a gin that is both delicate and opulent. 🌿🍋

With its rich history, unique array of botanicals, and vibrant hue, Empress 1908 Gin stands out as a testament to the artistry and dedication of Victoria Distillers. Whether enjoyed in a classic gin and tonic or a creatively crafted cocktail, Empress Gin elevates the art of drink-making, allowing you to experience a piece of the Fairmont Empress Hotel's enchanting legacy with every sip. Cheers to the timeless elegance and modern sophistication of Empress 1908 Gin! 🌟🍹

Check out the Masterclass on Gin Purity and Distillation 🥇🍸 below 👇

The Empress 1908 Gin Story 💜

Masterclass: Gin Purity and Distillation 🥇🍸

Welcome to our masterclass on Gin Purity! 🌟 This session is dedicated to our discoveries from the distillery tour of Spirit of York Distillery Co. where we learned about the most distilled and purest gins, aiming to help you enjoy your gin cocktails with minimal risk of a hangover. 🍹 Let's explore the essentials of gin distillation and what makes certain gins stand out in terms of purity.

Understanding Gin Purity and Distillation
Gin, traditionally, was designed to mask the imperfections of poor-quality alcohol. However, modern distillation techniques have transformed gin into a refined spirit. 🌿 Purity in gin is largely influenced by the distillation process. The more times a spirit is distilled, the purer it becomes, as each distillation removes impurities.

Key Distillation Insights:

Single, Double, Triple Distillation: Many gins undergo double or triple distillation. Some claim even higher numbers, but these can be marketing exaggerations. 🔄
Chill-Filtration: Most gins are chill-filtered to remove impurities, except those specifically marketed as unfiltered for enhanced flavor. ❄️
London Dry Gin: Known for its purity, all flavors are added before distillation, ensuring a clean and crisp spirit. 🍋

The Bottom Line: The quest for the purest gin leads us to those that are distilled multiple times, chill-filtered, and free from post-distillation additives. 🌿 London Dry Gins are a great example, but exploring small-batch, meticulously crafted gins can also provide an exceptionally pure experience. 🌟

Whether you’re mixing a classic G&T or crafting an innovative cocktail, choosing a well-distilled, pure gin can enhance your enjoyment and minimize the risk of a hangover. Cheers to finding your perfect gin! 🥂🍸

Checkout our Cocktail for the week: Color Changing Raspberry Gin Martini 🍸 below👇

Cocktail for the week: Color Changing Raspberry Gin Martini 🍸

Magical Color Changing Cocktails (Galaxy Cocktails) - Color changing Raspberry Gin Martini - Four incredible Magical Cocktails to make and be inspired to make your own! Wow your friends and family with these fun and unique cocktails made with color changing alcohol.

Ingredients:

6 frozen raspberries
Crushed ice
25 milliliters of lemon juice
20 milliliters of sugar syrup
20 milliliters vermouth
40 milliliters butterfly pea-infused gin
Crushed magic ice (butterfly pea flower ice cubes)

Instructions:

Prepare the Glass: Chill a martini glass by filling it with crushed ice and letting it sit while you prepare the cocktail.
Mix the Ingredients: In a cocktail shaker, add the frozen raspberries and muddle them gently to release their juice. Add the lemon juice, sugar syrup, vermouth, and butterfly pea infused gin to the shaker.
Shake it Up: Add a handful of crushed ice to the shaker. Shake well for about 15-20 seconds until the mixture is well-chilled.
Prepare the Magic Ice: For the magic ice, make butterfly pea flower tea and freeze it in ice cube trays. This will give you vibrant blue ice cubes that change color when mixed with acidic ingredients like lemon juice.
Strain and Serve: Empty the ice from the chilled martini glass. Strain the cocktail mixture into the glass.
Add the Magic Touch: Add a few crushed magic ice cubes to the glass. As the ice melts, it will react with the lemon juice and change the color of your martini from blue to a vibrant pink or purple.
Garnish and Enjoy Garnish with a few more frozen raspberries (or a lemon slice) on a cocktail pick. Serve immediately and enjoy the mesmerizing color change!