Empress 1908 Gin

Vancouver Island, Canada

Victoria Distillers' Empress 1908 Gin, named for the iconic Fairmont Empress Hotel in Victoria, BC, which opened in 1908. The gin's signature feature is its vivid indigo-blue colour, derived from butterfly pea flower (Clitoria ternatea) — a natural colourant that turns pink-purple on contact with tonic or citrus. Beyond the visual drama, Empress is a classically-structured London Dry-style gin with prominent juniper, coriander, grapefruit peel, and rose petal — botanicals that complement the hotel's famous afternoon tea. One of the best-selling premium craft gins in Canada.

Pairing intelligence

• aperitif: The gin's botanical character (lemon, grapefruit, tea) directly complements the green, grassy, citrus profile of the pea shoot and lemon verbena. The butterfly pea flower's mild floral note echoes the burrata's clean creaminess. This is a gin cocktail pairing for a spring aperitif — the colour interaction (the blue gin shifts purple-pink with citrus) also provides a visual element that a thoughtful sommelier can use as a tableside moment.
• cheese: Empress's Victoria Gunpowder tea botanical creates a direct bridge with Manchego's nutty, hay-and-lanolin character — both share a dried-herb quality. The gin's citrus brightens the membrillo; its juniper's mild pine note echoes the smoked paprika's mild heat. Serving as a gin-and-tonic with this cheese board turns the cheese course into a cocktail pairing event.
• any: Empress's floral and citrus botanical profile bridges harissa's chilli-spice with the sweet roasted vegetable character. The colour-changing pea flower creates visual excitement to match the bold flavour profile.
• aperitif: The dill's herbal anise note bridges the gin's botanical aromatics. Smoked salmon's fat richness is cut by the gin's alcohol and citrus botanical character. The colour-changing gin creates table theatre at the canapé service moment.
• amuse: The Empress 1908's distinctive indigo colour — from butterfly pea flower — and its floral, tea-infused botanical profile finds a direct mirror in the lavender blini and pea flower cream.