Apricot, apple and gin: the Empire is a deliciously warming cocktail full of fruity flavours!

Welcome to our A-Z of Classic Cocktails content series! We’re taking you through the alphabet one classic cocktail at a time: so far, we’ve enjoyed the creamy, dreamy Alexander, the citrussy-sweet Bee’s Knees, the foam-topped, raspberry-flavoured Clover Club and the fabulously fruity Gin Daisy. Now, the time to create the Empire has arrived.

The Empire is a strong, sophisticated cocktail - but deceptively simple to make. A warming mix of fruity flavours and combining apricot brandy, gin and Calvados (a brandy from Normandy typically made with apples), it’s the perfect tipple for sipping by the fire on a chilly autumn evening!

We have the legendary bartender Harry Craddock to thank for this classic gin cocktail recipe. Born in 1876, Craddock was the most influential British bartender of the 1920s and 30s. This recipe was first recorded in The Savoy Cocktail Book by Craddock, which was published in 1930 while Harry was the head bartender at the American Bar at London’s Savoy Hotel. The book includes 750 cocktail recipes – about a third were invented by Craddock, and the rest were collected during his travels in the UK and pre-prohibition America.

While Craddock is possibly most famous for inventing the White Lady and for popularising the Martini, his lesser-known cocktails are just as delicious, including this one!

And with only three ingredients needed, mixing one up this weekend really couldn’t be easier. So give one a try and let us know what you think! Chin chin!

Fancy another calvados and gin cocktail? Snap up a ticket to our Countdown to Christmas Cocktail Masterclass this November!