This is it, guys! The final day of 2020 is here. I don’t know about you, but I’m more than ready to say bid this year adieu, even if things don’t change immediately. We learned a lot from 2020, and we grew immeasurably as a family, but I’m ready for an exciting new year ahead with more adventures, more fun, and more life worth living. Today though, I figured we’d celebrate in style (before 9 PM because we’re old and never make it to midnight), and I’ll share a fun and festive NYE Blackberry Mint Snow Globe with Empress Gin.
If you’re like us here in WA, most dine-in venues and bars are closed for in-person fare, so we’ve become more creative this year, trying new things at home. This cocktail was one of those. I worked with Empress Gin to create a fun holiday cocktail to showcase how you can enjoy a drink – even while safely alone. Bonus points go to the fact that this is literally the easiest recipe ever. Ready?
NYE Blackberry Mint Snow Globe with Empress Gin
Empress Gin is known for its distinctive indigo color, which totally captivated me, too. Handcrafted in Victoria, British Columbia, Empress is micro-distilled in small batch copper stills using eight select botanicals. If you’ve heard of the legendary Fairmont Empress Hotel in Victoria, you’ll love that this gin is the brainchild of a collaboration between them and Victoria Distillers. The unique color, which most people ask about, come from the butterfly pea blossom, and when you add mixers to your cocktails, Empress Gin’s distinct hue changes from lavender to pink, or even fuschia, depending on what you add.
But enough of the details…onto the cocktail. Here’s what you’ll need:
1.5-2 shots Empress Gin 1908
1/3 cup Fresh blackberries
2 tbsp Fresh mint + more for garnish
Juice of half a lime
Sparkling water – either flavored or not
Yes, it’s really that simple. My goal was to create a cocktail that was light with just a hint of sweetness and plenty of the distinct flavor from the gin. Like any good cocktail (in my humble opinion), the recipe is as easy as its ingredients, and it only takes a few moments to make. Here’s what to do:
- Finely dice your mint.
- Add a small handful of blackberries to the bottom of your cocktail glass, top with diced mint, and muddle the two together.
- Squeeze in your half a lime and muddle together once more.
- Add ice to your glass atop the muddled fruit, lime juice, and mint.
- Pour in sparkling water, leaving room for your gin on top.
- Add with 1.5-2 shots Empress Gin (depending on your desired strength – I always go light bc #lightweight).
- Top with a sprig of fresh mint.
- Step back and admire the color! No, but seriously…then give it a quick stir before enjoying.
Right now through midnight, you can take $5 off your next bottle of Empress 1908 Gin with code: EmpressWA5. You must be 21 or older to enjoy 🙂
In all seriousness, this is one of the simplest drinks I’ve ever made, and it was fun to create something simple and enjoyable for ending out this year. Friends, as we head into 2021, I wish you all happiness, peace, prosperity and, most of all, hope.
Cheers to better and brighter days ahead!
