The Empress Blueberry Mojito is a tantalizing twist on the classic rum cocktail that highlights the sweet tartness of fresh blueberries and the complex botanical flavors of Empress 1908 Gin. This royal purple concoction stands out for its alluring color, sweet-yet-herbal aromas, and balanced bittersweet taste. Empress 1908 Gin adds an extra dimension with its unique blend of teas, herbs, citrus, and spices. The gin’s proprietary recipe includes grapefruit peel, ginger root, cinnamon, rose petal, lemon peel, and other botanicals. These ingredients give Empress Gin a more complex, intriguing flavor than standard gin.
The Empress Blueberry Mojito Story
The mojito has a long history as a Cuban classic. Tracing its origins to the 16th century, the cocktail combines rum, sugar, lime, soda water, and mint. The mixture of sweet, sour, and refreshing mint flavors made the mojito a popular thirst-quencher in the Caribbean heat.
The Empress Blueberry Mojito builds upon this legacy by incorporating the royal purple gin. Food blogger Thirsty for Tea created the cocktail recipe in 2018. She wanted to showcase Empress 1908 Gin’s flavor complexity and vivid color in a fun twist on the mojito.
What makes this mojito unique is the addition of fresh blueberries and Empress Gin’s distinctive botanical blend. The blueberries’ sweet tartness balances the gin’s spices and citrus notes. While a classic mojito relies solely on mint and lime for herbaceous flavors, the Empress Blueberry Mojito has complex layers of taste from the gin. The purple hue also provides stunning visual appeal.
Ingredients For Blueberry Mojito
To make this eye-catching cocktail, you will need:
- 2 ounces Empress 1908 Gin
- 1 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- 1⁄2 ounce sugar syrup
- 5-6 fresh mint leaves
- 5-6 blueberries
- 2 ounces ginger ale
- Lime wedge and mint sprig for garnish
Proper muddling is key to releasing the mint and blueberry flavors. In a cocktail shaker, gently muddle the mint and blueberries just to lightly crush them. Too much muddling can result in bitter flavors.
Instructions For Blueberry Mojito
- In a cocktail shaker, gently muddle mint leaves and blueberries.
- Add Empress Gin, lime juice, and sugar syrup.
- Fill shaker with ice and shake vigorously for 10-15 seconds.
- Double strain into a highball glass filled with fresh ice.
- Top with ginger ale and gently stir to combine.
- Garnish with lime wedge and mint sprig.
When muddling the mint and blueberries, be very gentle to avoid bitterness. Shaking with ice thoroughly chills and dilutes the cocktail for optimal refreshment. Double straining ensures no blueberry seeds or mint bits slip into the finished drink. Finally, go light on the ginger ale to achieve the perfect balance of sweet, sour, spicy, and floral flavors.
Tips Making Blueberry Mojito At Home
- Use fresh, brightly colored mint leaves for maximum flavor.
- The blueberries provide both color and sweet fruity flavor that pairs perfectly with the blue curaçao.
- Adjust the proportions of rum and curaçao to taste. A lighter or stronger blueberry flavor is easily achievable.
- Splash in a little grapefruit or lemon juice to enhance the citrus notes.
- Play around with different kinds of rum like coconut or spiced rum for a flavor twist.
- Add the soda water gently to prevent too much fizz and dilution.
- Serve in a chilled glass for optimal refreshment.
Serving Suggestions Blueberry Mojito
For an extra pop of color, garnish the Empress Blueberry Mojito with a purple orchid or lavender sprig. Edible flowers like borage, pansies, and violets also make lovely garnishes.
The drink’s fruit and herb flavors pair nicely with many foods. Some suggestions:
- Fresh seafood like oysters, shrimp, or ceviche
- Goat cheese and fruit platters
- Salad with mixed berries and citrus vinaigrette
- Spicy dishes like jerk chicken or ceviche
- Herb-crusted tuna or grilled swordfish
- Summer berry tarts or panna cotta
To make the cocktail more visually appealing, serve in a footed highball glass or double old-fashioned glass to show off the vibrant color. Garnish with extra blueberries and lime slices artfully arranged on a cocktail pick. Use an orchid or pretty glass straw for added flair.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I substitute Empress Gin with another type of gin?
While you can use a different gin, the flavor profile will change significantly. Empress Gin’s unique botanical blend is key to the cocktail’s complex herbal, floral, spicy taste. The gin’s natural purple color also gives the drink its beautiful hue.
What makes Empress 1908 Gin unique?
In addition to a classic juniper base, Empress 1908 Gin features an intriguing blend of botanicals like grapefruit, ginger root, rose petal, and cinnamon. These provide layers of flavor not found in traditional gin. The proprietary recipe took years to perfect. Empress Gin also derives its royal purple color from natural ingredients like hibiscus flower and butterfly pea flower.
What other cocktails feature blueberries?
Popular blueberry cocktail recipes include:
- Blueberry mojito
- Blueberry bramble (with blackberry liqueur)
- Blueberry vodka or gin smash
- Blueberry bourbon lemonade
- Blueberry gin fizz
- Blueberry margarita
How does the Empress Blueberry Mojito differ from a classic mojito?
A traditional mojito contains white rum, mint, lime juice, sugar, and soda water. The Empress Blueberry Mojito substitutes Empress Gin for the rum and adds fresh blueberries. The gin contributes complex botanical flavors while the blueberries provide sweet-tart fruitiness not found in a classic mojito. The Empress version also has a beautiful royal purple hue.
Conclusion: Tantalizing Empress Blueberry Mojito
The Empress Blueberry Mojito is a cocktail fit for royalty. Its eye-catching color, fruit and floral flavors, and refreshing effervescence reinvent the classic mojito into something exotic and delicious. The addition of Empress 1908 Gin lends unique complexity. Fresh blueberries balance the gin’s spice with sweet-tart juice. For a taste of imperial elegance, be sure to try this modern twist on a Cuban classic. Locate a bottle of Empress 1908 Gin today to mix up this beautiful purple potion.
Tantalizing Empress Blueberry Mojito
Notes
· Sweetness: If you prefer a sweeter drink, adjust the amount of blueberry syrup to your taste.
· Mint Intensity: For a stronger mint flavor, add more mint leaves during muddling.
· Alcohol Level: The recipe uses 2 ounces of gin per serving. You can adjust this amount based on your preference.
· Non-alcoholic Version: For a non-alcoholic version, omit the gin and add more club soda. You can also substitute sparkling water for club soda.
· Empress Gin: This recipe uses Empress 1908 Gin, which has a beautiful purple hue. You can substitute another gin, but the color of the drink will be different.
· Blueberry Substitutes: If you don't have fresh blueberries, you can use frozen blueberries (thawed first) or store-bought blueberry syrup.
Ingredients
- For the Blueberry Syrup:
- • 1 cup blueberries
- • ½ cup sugar
- • ½ cup water
- For the Mojito:
- • 24-28 mint leaves
- • 8 tablespoons lime juice
- • 8 ounces Empress Gin
- • 8 tablespoons blueberry syrup (from above)
- • Club soda, to top
- • Ice cubes
- For Garnish (optional):
- • Fresh blueberries
- • Lime wedges
- • Mint sprigs
Instructions
- In a saucepan, combine blueberries, sugar, and water.
- Heat over medium heat, simmering for 10 minutes.
- Mash the blueberries slightly with a spoon as they simmer.
- Strain the syrup into a bowl, discarding the blueberry solids.
- Let the syrup cool completely.
- In four tall glasses, muddle (smash gently) 6-7 mint leaves each.
- Add 2 tablespoons lime juice and 2 tablespoons blueberry syrup to each glass.
- Fill the glasses with ice.
- Pour 2 ounces of Empress Gin into each glass.
- Top with club soda to desired level of fizz.
- Garnish each mojito with a sprig of mint, a few fresh blueberries, and a lime wedge.
Nutrition Facts
Tantalizing Empress Blueberry Mojito
Serves: 4 persons
| Amount Per Serving: | ||
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 200 | |
| % Daily Value* | ||
| Total Fat 1 | 1.5% | |
| Saturated Fat 0 | 0 | |
| Trans Fat 0 | ||
| Cholesterol 0 | 0 | |
| Sodium 50mg | 2.1% | |
| Total Carbohydrate 30 | 10% | |
| Dietary Fiber 2 | 8% | |
| Sugars 20 | ||
| Protein 1 | ||
| Vitamin A 0 | Vitamin C 0 | |
| Calcium 0 | Iron 0 | |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
Cheen Huaye
Executive Chef Marco Velasquez brings his unique, elevated Mexican cuisine to Cheen Huaye. A native of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, Marco honed his skills in some of South Florida’s finest restaurants before opening his own restaurant.
At Cheen Huaye, you’ll experience authentic Yucatecan dishes made from fresh ingredients, to order. Our food has been praised by publications like the Miami New Times and continues to receive rave reviews from diners all over. So if you’re looking for a different take on Mexican food – one that’s still familiar yet exciting – come visit us at Cheen Huaye!