Empress 1908 gin
Earl Grey and lavender
simple syrup
Lemon juice
Garnish: lavender sprigs
or lemon twist
Ingredients
Fun facts!
- Bridgerton is set in the Regency period (1811-20).
- Earl Grey post-dates this, but other ingredients in this Empress cocktail were all available.
– Gin, in particular, has a fascinating history in the 1700s Gin Craze.
Fun with science!
- Butterfly pea flowers give Empress gin its color.
- The compound, an anthocyanin, changes depending on pH.
- Add an acid, it turns pink!
- Add a base, it turns blue!
- Anthocyanins are found in other foods too, like the red cabbage that was used to dye these pickled eggs.
Back to the cocktail!
Simple syrup is easy to make.
Heat sugar and water until the sugar has dissolved. Then add the lavender and tea, let steep, and strain.