Of All The Gin Joints

And now for something completely different. 

By Maryanna Gabriel

"Of all the gin joints in all the world, she walks into mine."
- Humphrey Bogart to Lauren Bacall, Play It Again Sam

Recenty, in need of a little zippety-doo-dah, and considering my bucket list, I decided a gin and tonic at the famous Empress Hotel in Victoria's inner harbour might be an exciting addition.

 It was.

Mostly because the gin was purple. Man, was it smooth. It is given the name, Empress 1908, because it is made with two types of Empress tea. I filed the satisfying experience into the back pocket of the reptilian section of my brain, along with the truffle-salted popcorn that came with it, and shuffled off, until one day I connected more dots. Always gratifying.

Handcrafted in copper - original vat.

Sidney is a seaside town I visit often. Recently, I walked the seawall. Intrigued by an elegant building with large gleaming copper vats, I understood I had accidentally stumbled onto the famous distillery and home of this famous gin. Piqued by the chic presentation, and wondering what had taken me so long, I walked in.

Was I in for a treat. You've heard of scotch tastings? A real live gin tasting! My first ever. I was curious as to how the Empress 1908 tasted without tonic. Then I was to learn they had two other gins, Elderflower Rose, and Lemon Cucumber. Dear heaven. And I learned that what gives the Empress 1908 it's characteristic royal purple hue are the flowers of a pea that originated in China. So of course, I was thrilled by the experience and of course, I bought a bottle. One has to be polite, after all. And goodness know, I pride myself on politesse. 

 

Gin tasting.

Upping my game in elegance, if it is good enough for the queen, it is good enough for me. This, dear reader, was Queen Elizabeth's favourite apertif.

1 finger gin
2 fingers cinzano
1 finger tonic
served with peel of lemon.... and that, said she, is that. Happy New Year!

Show room.