The massive renaissance of gin is no accident; it’s been driven by a new generation of spirit makers and bottle designers who have redesigned the entire experience of enjoying this venerable beverage.
At the forefront of this trend is Empress 1908 Gin, handcrafted in small-batch copper-pot stills by Victoria Distillers and inspired by the legendary Fairmont Empress Hotel in Victoria.
Empress 1908 uses traditional botanicals but adds a signature blend of black tea and butterfly pea blossom, an exotic herb gives the gin a natural indigo colour. They’ve also released Elderflower Rose Gin, using nine blended botanicals that create a delicate spirit with a stunning all-natural rose hue. The product is part of a new wave of gin spirits that look as good as they taste.
Kathleen Davies, founder of Australian craft spirit distributor Nip of Courage, says “The boom is driven by Generation Y [millennials]. They are the most curious consumers—they want to know who is making their gin and what ingredients are used. On social media, people are always asking us why such-and-such ingredient is used and what’s the best way to drink it?”