Step up your summertime soiree with this Empress Watermelon Crush! It’s the perfect watermelon cocktail to enjoy with friends. So, grab your ingredients, craft one up, and let’s celebrate this season in style! 

I partnered with Empress 1908 Gin to mix up the Empress Watermelon Crush recipe! Recipe and ideas are my own.

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The Empress Watermelon Crush

With the summer temperatures continuing to heat up, I’m all about combating these hot temps with refreshing recipes like this Empress Watermelon Crush. Stirred with delicious ingredients like watermelon, citrus, sparkling water, and simple syrup! Plus, I included a special ingredient, Empress 1908 Gin to create that beautiful layered look!. Find out how I elevated this Empress Watermelon Crush to perfection.

How To Elevate Your Gin Cocktails

Looking to make your gin cocktails really stand out? Try adding Empress 1908 Gin to your drink! It’s an all-natural and gluten-free gin created in small batch copper-pot stills and includes botanicals like juniper, coriander seed, grapefruit peel, cinnamon bark, butterfly pea blossoms, the Fairmont Empress Blend Tea, and a few others. Empress 1908 Gin is a premium choice because of its pretty purple hue and botanical-forward taste. P.S when adding citrus to this gin, the colors change from purple to pink. Purchase Empress 1908 Gin here or buy it online here!

Ingredients for the Empress Watermelon Crush

• Empress 1908 Gin: enhance this cocktail by using the best gin. Empress 1908 Gin is made with 8 botanicals and has a pretty indigo hue, plus it’s gluten-free and all-natural! 
• Watermelon Juice: with the addition of fresh watermelon juice this cocktail is slightly sweet and perfect for summer. I make homemade watermelon juice with a blender and a fine mesh strainer. Or you can always purchase premade watermelon juice at a juice bar or market.
• Simple Syrup: add in some simple syrup to give a slight sweetness. I used Stirrings Simple Syrup, but you can also opt to make your own simple syrup with sugar and water or substitute it with a sweetener of your choice, like agave or honey syrup.
• Lemon: add a hint of fresh lemon juice for zesty, citrus notes. Fresh is always best but bottled lemon juice works as well if you’re in a pinch.
• Sparkling water: Add some fizz to this cocktail with sparkling water. I used La Croix but feel free to use your preferred brand of sparkling water. 
• Watermelon slice, mint sprig, and edible flower: Garnish this pretty cocktail with a watermelon slice, mint sprig, and edible flower for a fully finished look.

How to Make the Empress Watermelon Crush

This cocktail could not be any easier. So, let’s create this Empress Watermelon Crush! If you’re making fresh watermelon juice, cut your watermelon into cubes and remove any seeds. Add to your blender and blend until smooth. Place a mesh strainer over a pitcher and slowly strain the watermelon mixture.

Now let’s make the cocktail! First, fill a tall cocktail glass with crushed ice. Then, add watermelon juice, simple syrup, lemon juice, and sparkling water to the glass, and stir to combine. Next, slowly pour Empress 1908 Gin into the glass so it creates a second layer. If desired, garnish with a watermelon slice, mint sprig, and edible flower. Stir before enjoying. Cheers!

More Gin-Based Cocktail Recipes

• Cardamom Grapefruit Gin and Tonic
• Grapefruit Eastside Cocktail
• Garden Gin Sour

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