A COLOUR-changing craft gin from British Columbia is being rolled out across the UK after a successful trial in the north of England over Christmas.
Inspired by the tea and cocktail menus of the Fairmont Empress Hotel in Victoria, British Columbia, Empress 1908 is a small-batch gin distilled in copper pot stills from eight botanicals: juniper, rose, coriander seed, grapefruit peel, ginger root, cinnamon bark, butterfly pea blossoms and the Fairmont Empress Blend Tea.
In addition to contributing to the gin’s flavour, the butterfly pea blossom is also said to give Empress 1908 its distinctive indigo colour, which changes to pink when mixed with tonic.
The 42.5% ABV gin was launched by Victoria Distillers in its native Canada early last year before being introduced into the United States, where it won several awards. It is distributed in the UK by LWC.