Aperitif “Dubonnet”, which is included in the favorite drink of the monarch, finally received a royal warrant
At the British royal court, they told which cocktail Queen Elizabeth II prefers. Moreover, in her tastes, she is somewhat conservative. And this cocktail based on the aperitif “Dubonnet” is sure to hit the top bars, as the platinum anniversary of the Queen on the throne is approaching. Writes about this Daily Mail.
The Queen is a lover of spirits. Moreover, she inherited this passion from her mother, Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, who lived to be 101 years old and never denied herself a portion of intoxicating.
One day, detailing the preparations for the royal picnic, she gave her beloved page, Billy Tallon, a small handwritten note that read: “I think I’ll take two small bottles of Dubonnet and gin with me this morning, in case I need it.” “.
The court also tells the story of how the Queen Mother and Princess Margaret finished off a bottle of gin and an aperitif before Christmas dinner, after which they were unable to even sit at the table.
The signature royal cocktail has been prepared at court for many decades. And its recipe does not change. For a taste, mix one part Gordon’s gin, two parts Dubonnet (a red wine aperitif flavored with herbs, mainly cinchona bark), ice, and garnish with a slice of lemon. Moreover, for the queen, all the seeds from the lemon are carefully removed. Tony Blair once mixed a cocktail in a shaker while visiting the Queen in Balmoral, for which he received a stern rebuke.
Now doctors have recommended to the Queen to limit herself in drinking alcohol, but earlier she drank two glasses of cocktail with “Dubonnet” every day before dinner, and pampered herself with a glass of champagne to sleep.
And finally, it happened, the producers of “Dubonnet” received a special Royal Warrant, which allows you to decorate the bottle with a label that says By Appointment to HM The Queen, which means “Supplier of the Royal Court”. For comparison, Gordon’s gin received such a warrant back in 1925.
Experts say Dubonnet’s popularity is due to its “light fruity flavor with hints of spice, blackberry and chocolate.” Some people especially appreciate its bitter aftertaste. Except at court, Dubonnet is very popular in Colombia.
The history of the drink is fascinating. It was created in 1830 as a medicine. Quinine, which is part of it, was supposed to protect French legionnaires in North Africa from malaria. The soldiers refused to use quinine in its pure form, so the Parisian chemist Joseph Dubonnet got down to business. He also created the famous tincture named after him. The military liked the combination of fortified wine and herbs, and soon the aperitif was already served in cafes and bars. Posters depicting a red-haired girl with a cat became the trademark of the drink. This is a tribute to the wife of a chemist who adored cats.
