Dress To Empress Recipe

Chill glass

Place a martini or coupe glass in the freezer or fill it with ice water to chill while you prepare the cocktail.

Dry shake (build foam)

In a cocktail shaker, combine Empress 1908 Gin (2 oz), Blonde Lillet (0.75 oz), fresh lemon juice (0.75 oz), egg white or aquafaba (0.5 oz), and simple syrup (0.5 oz). Seal the shaker and shake vigorously without ice for 15–20 seconds to emulsify and create a silky foam (the 'meringue' texture).

Wet shake (chill and dilute)

Add the cup of ice to the shaker. Seal and shake hard for 12–15 seconds until the shaker is very cold to the touch and well aerated.

Double strain

Discard the ice or water from the chilled glass. Using both the shaker strainer and a fine strainer, strain the cocktail into the chilled martini/coupe glass to ensure a smooth, foam-topped surface.

Garnish

Express a lemon twist over the drink to release oils, rub the rim lightly with the twist, then place it on the glass edge or float it on the foam. If using a drop of edible lemon oil or extract, add it to the foam now.

Create meringue crust

Lightly sprinkle approximately 1 teaspoon of superfine sugar evenly over the foam surface. Hold the shaker lid or a small flat surface to steady the glass if needed to keep the foam intact.

Torch the sugar

Using a kitchen torch, carefully caramelize the sugar to a light golden-brown to create a brûléed, meringue-like crust. Keep the torch moving to avoid burning and heat the surface just until caramelized. This produces the 'lemon meringue' finish — a slight sweetness, crisp layer and warm aroma.

Serve

Serve immediately while the caramelized sugar is slightly warm and the foam underneath remains chilled. Advise guests to sip through the crust to enjoy the contrast of textures and the Empress gin's color and aromatics.

If you prefer not to use raw egg, substitute aquafaba (chickpea liquid) in equal measure for egg white. If you don't have a torch, you can carefully use a broiler for a short time, watching constantly, but a torch provides the best controlled result. Adjust simple syrup to taste for sweetness. Empress 1908 Gin will lend a subtle violet/indigo hue that pairs beautifully with the lemon and Lillet.