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Peach Violet Empress Gin Sour

Spring is here and this Peach Violet Gin Sour is the first of many bright, seasonal Empress gin cocktail recipes to come! The striking color of Empress combined with its fairly traditional flavor profile make it the perfect gin for colorful spring cocktails.

purple cocktail with a pink orchid in a coupe glass.

Why Empress 1908 Gin

This gin sour uses Empress 1908 Gin because although it has a brilliant blue-violet hue, it’s actually quite classic in flavor.

It’s botanical lineup includes some interesting things like ginger and rose, but what comes through most prominently to me is crisp juniper and citrus.

Butterfly pea flowers give the gin it’s characteristic color, which transforms from indigo to purple or pink when acids like citrus are mixed with it.

This cocktail is a deep purple thanks to the combination of Empress gin, a splash of violet liqueur (creme de violette) and fresh lemon juice.

straining a purple cocktail into a coupe glass

Spring flavors: peach, violet, lemon, & mint

Peach and violet are an incredible spring/early summer flavor combination. The sweet, tangy flavor of peach offsets the intensely floral flavor of violets. Here I’ve used lemon and mint to balance the sweetness and temper the heady, floral flavor of the violet liqueur.

About crème de violette

Crème de violette, or violet liqueur, is a very sweet and very floral liqueur. It adds a flowery punch of springtime to any drink you add it to. But use caution – too much and your cocktail can end up tasting very soapy.

Crème de violette’s flavor is strong and can quickly become overpowering. I haven’t found an application where more than a half ounce of the stuff is needed.

Here I’ve used just a quarter of an ounce of violet liqueur. This is just enough to enjoy its intense floral flavor and to add some of its inky blue-purple color to the drink.

If you just picked up a bottle of crème de violette to make a classic Aviation and you’re looking for more violet cocktail recipes, here are some additional ideas:

  • Violet Gin & Tonic: add 1/4 ounce (or even as little as a bar spoon) to 2 ounces of floral gin and 4-6 ounces of a premium tonic water such as Fever-Tree. I also like to add a squeeze of fresh lemon or lime juice.
  • Violet Gin Sour: Combine 2 ounces floral or citrusy gin (such as Uncle Val’s Botanical, Nolet’s, or Malfy Con Limone), 3/4 ounce simple syrup, 1/4 ounce violet liqueur, 3/4 ounce lemon juice, and one egg white in a cocktail shaker. Shake hard without ice to build the foam. Add add and shake again to chill the drink. Strain into a coupe glass and garnish with an edible flower.
  • Violet Daiquiri: Combine 2 ounces white rum, 3/4 ounce simple syrup, 1/4 ounce violet liqueur, and 3/4 ounce lime juice. Shake with ice until chilled, then strain into a coupe glass. Garnish with lime or an edible flower.

You might also like my Pineapple Violet Daiquiri over on Instagram!

purple cocktail in a coupe glass next to Empress Gin bottle.

Peach syrup or liqueur

If you have a peach liqueur on hand, use that. If you have some fresh, beautiful peaches, make my peach oleo saccharum-style syrup instead!

This easy peach syrup requires no cooking and just a little patience. Toss some chopped peaches with sugar and let them sit until they become syrupy. Add a little water and voila. Get the Easy Fresh Peach Syrup recipe.

Depending on which peach ingredient you use, you may need to adjust the amount of simple syrup needed.

Note: If using a peach liqueur, I recommend increasing the simple syrup from ¼ ounce to ½ ounce. If using peach oleo-style syrup, ¼ ounce of simple syrup should be enough to keep things balanced.

Fine strain the cocktail

I recommend fine straining this drink. Mint leaves are added to the shaker and the ice can break them up surprisingly fast. Straining the cocktail through a fine mesh strainer will prevent any mint bits from ending up in your glass.

Edible flowers for cocktails

I am passionate about edible flowers and this is the season to make the most of them! Orchids and violas are great options for cocktails like this one. Learn all about different edible flowers in your cocktails in my Cocktailian’s Guide to Edible Flowers.

You may also enjoy these other gin cocktails:

purple violet and peach cocktail in a coupe glass.

Shop this recipe:

Load image into Gallery viewer, Empress 1908 GinGiffard Creme Peche de Vigne 750ml
Shop Empress Gin on ReserveBarShop peach liqueur on Total Wine
Rothman & Winter Creme de Violette 750ml
Shop violet liqueur on Total WineShop fine mesh strainers on Amazon
Shop coupe glasses on AmazonShop cocktail shakers on Amazon
purple cocktail with a pink orchid in a coupe glass.

Peach Violet Empress Gin Sour

Amy Traynor
This sweet and sour spring gin cocktail features Empress 1908 Gin, peach syrup, violet liqueur, lemon and mint.
4.85 from 33 votes
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Course Drinks
Cuisine American
Servings 1 cocktail

Ingredients
  

Instructions
 

  • Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker and fill it 3/4 with ice.
  • Shake until chilled, then fine strain the cocktail into a coupe glass.
  • Garnish with an edible flower, if desired.

Notes

Easy Fresh Peach Syrup Recipe

Note: If using a peach liqueur, I recommend increasing the simple syrup from ¼ ounce to ½ ounce. If using the peach oleo saccharum-style syrup above, ¼ ounce of simple syrup should be enough to keep things balanced.
Keyword empress gin, gin, liqueurs, peach, spring cocktails, violet
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