When I want a cocktail that stands out, I make the Empress Gin Graveyard Spritz. Its bold color and unique flavor make it perfect for gatherings or a special night at home.
This recipe shows you how to create a striking drink with Empress Gin that tastes as good as it looks.
I like how simple the ingredients are. The steps are easy for anyone to follow.
My friends always ask for this recipe after they try it. If you’re looking to impress with a colorful and refreshing cocktail, you’ll probably enjoy making this one as much as I do.
Empress Gin Graveyard Spritz Cocktail Recipe
I use Empress 1908 Gin for its eye-catching color and fresh flavor. When mixed with lemon, simple syrup, and sparkling water, it makes a bright and refreshing drink.
This recipe brings out the best in gin cocktails, offering a twist on a spritz.
Equipment
- Highball glass or large wine glass
- Jigger or measuring cup
- Bar spoon or regular spoon
- Citrus juicer (for fresh lemon juice)
- Strainer (if using fresh fruit or homemade syrup)
- Ice cubes
I like using a clear glass because Empress 1908’s unique indigo color really stands out. A jigger helps me measure liquids more accurately, keeping the flavor balanced.
Ingredients
- 2 oz Empress 1908 Gin
- 1 oz fresh lemon juice
- 0.75 oz simple syrup (or lavender syrup for a floral twist)
- 2 oz soda water (can swap with tonic water for extra bitterness)
- 2 oz sparkling wine (champagne or prosecco)
- Ice
- Optional: Lemon wheel, blueberries, or edible flower for garnish
Sometimes, I’ll add a splash of elderflower tonic or grapefruit juice for more flavor. Honey lavender simple syrup works well if I want a sweeter, floral touch like in a honey lavender gin lemonade.
Instructions
- Fill a highball or wine glass with ice.
- Add Empress 1908 Gin, fresh lemon juice, and simple syrup over the ice.
- Stir gently with a bar spoon to chill and mix the ingredients.
- Top with soda water and sparkling wine.
- Give it one last gentle stir to combine everything.
- Garnish with a lemon wheel, a few blueberries, or an edible flower.
Garnish with a lemon wheel, a few blueberries, or an edible flower.
If I want to experiment, I’ll add a dash of Campari for color and bitterness, or sub in vermouth or maraschino liqueur. For a sweeter version, cranberry juice or lychee juice can also work.
Notes
Empress Gin’s color changes with acidity, so lemon juice turns the drink pink-purple. This is one reason I always use fresh lemon juice.
I sometimes switch up the garnish, using fresh passion fruit, lavender, or even a twist of grapefruit peel. For a more complex cocktail, I might add a splash of luxardo bitter bianco or elderflower rose gin.
The spritz is less strong than martinis or negronis, making it easy to sip and enjoy. Using chilled sparkling wine keeps things light and adds bubbles, similar to a French 75 or classic gin fizz.
If you want a non-alcoholic version, skip the gin and sparkling wine, and add more tonic or soda water instead.
Equipment
- Cutting board and knife
Ingredients
- 2 oz Empress 1908 Gin
- 1/2 fresh green apple diced
- 3 –4 fresh mint leaves
- 3/4 oz simple syrup or honey lavender syrup
- 3/4 oz fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 oz elderflower tonic water or soda water
- Ice enough to fill the glass
- Optional garnish: apple slice mint sprig, or lemon wheel
Instructions
- Add diced apple and mint leaves to a shaker and muddle well.
- Strain into a rocks glass filled with fresh ice.
- Top with elderflower tonic or soda water.
- Garnish with an apple slice, mint sprig, or lemon wheel if desired.
- Serve immediately and enjoy!
Tasting Notes
When I take my first sip of the Empress Gin Graveyard Spritz, I notice the vibrant color right away. The deep purple from the butterfly pea flower looks stunning in my glass.
The aroma surprises me with gentle floral notes, especially hints of lavender and other botanicals. It smells fresh and almost like a garden after a rain.
Once it hits my tongue, the flavors mix in a bright and herbaceous way. There’s an earthy base from the botanicals in the gin, balanced by a light sweetness.
I often taste a bit of mint if I add mint leaves. They add a cool note that makes the drink feel extra refreshing.
The drink has layers of taste. Each sip gives me a new hint of flavor, especially as the ice melts and the botanicals unfold.
Substitute
Sometimes I just don’t have all the ingredients for the Empress Gin Graveyard Spritz. I end up trying new things and swapping stuff in.
Here are a few quick options I reach for when I’m missing something:
Equipment
- Wine glass or tumbler
- Measuring jigger
- Bar spoon
- Ice
Ingredients
- Empress Gin substitute: Any classic gin, like Bombay or Tanqueray
- Elderflower liqueur substitute: Triple sec or Cointreau
- Sparkling wine substitute: Club soda or tonic water
- Lemon juice substitute: Lime juice
- Activated charcoal substitute: Black food coloring (just a drop for color)
Instructions
I fill my glass with ice. Then I pour in the gin (or whatever classic substitute I have) and elderflower liqueur—or triple sec if that’s what I’ve got.
Next up, I add the lemon juice, or lime juice if that’s all that’s left in the fridge. For the deep color, I use black food coloring instead of activated charcoal.
I top it off with sparkling wine. If I want it less sweet, I’ll just use club soda.
A gentle stir and that’s it.
Honestly, I keep experimenting with whatever’s on hand. Classic cocktails like the Tom Collins or French 75 sometimes give me ideas for new substitutes or flavor twists.
It’s fun—every drink turns out a little different, and that’s kind of the point, right?
