The nose opens with a distinctive floral character, butterfly pea blossom and rose layered over classic London Dry notes of juniper, grapefruit, and spice. The palate is bright and citrus-forward with a dry, herbal finish. The defining feature is the color: deep indigo in the bottle, shifting to pink when citrus or tonic is added due to the pH-sensitive butterfly pea blossom.

Empress 1908 is produced by Victoria Distillers in British Columbia, inspired by the Fairmont Empress Hotel's 1908 opening and its tradition of afternoon tea. Eight botanicals are used, including butterfly pea blossom steeped post-distillation and Fairmont Empress tea blend as a core ingredient. The color-shifting pH reaction is a genuine botanical property, not an added dye.