The Queen's favourite gin brand might surprise you
Her Majesty loved this affordable gin...
If you're looking for a way to toast Queen Elizabeth II, the Queen herself enjoyed a tipple from time to time, with her favourite cocktail reportedly being a Dubonnet - a gin-based cocktail from the 1930s.
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The monarch memorably loved the French twist on a classic gin martini, which sees the Dry Vermouth element replaced with Dubonnet Rouge, a £10 fortified French wine created in Paris in 1846.
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The resulting Dubonnet cocktail is a sharp and slightly sweet martini, best served with a twist of fresh lemon.
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The Dubonnet was traditionally designed for aristocrats to show off the finest gin in their liquor cabinet.
But the Queen's favourite gin brand is far from fancy. In fact, you can pick up a bottle for around £22.
According to the Queen's former royal chef Darren McGrady, Her Majesty's favourite gin brand was Gordon's London Dry Gin.
Gordon's London Dry Gin, £21.99 / $22.99, Amazon
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The familiar brand was first established in 1769 by Alexander Gordon as he set out on a mission to produce a gloriously-flavoured gin worthy of carrying his family name.
Today, Gordon's gin is so well-known that the award-winning gin can be picked up from pretty much any supermarket in the UK, and of course can also be used to make a refreshing G&T.
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Taking to Instagram to share a snap on World Gin Day, chef Darren wrote: "Celebrating in my happy place with The Queen’s favourite gin Gordon’s. Cheers!"
The Dubonnet and gin royal cocktail
If you'd like to toast to Queen Elizabeth II with her signature drink, you can buy her favourite cocktail in ready-mixed form, for example, the £8 Platinum Martini Gin & Dubonnet Cocktail from Harvey Nichols, or try mixing up a Dubonnet cocktail yourself.
Dubonnet, a proud Royal Warrant holder, has been selling out online in many supermarkets of late, including Tesco and Waitrose, but can still be found in stock at some retailers, like DrinkSupermarket.com.
Ingredients:
- 2 parts Dubonnet
- 1 part London dry gin
- 1 lemon wedge
- 2 large ice cubes
Instructions:
Step 1: Mix 2 parts Dubonnet with 1 part dry gin.
Step 2: Serve over the ice cubes in a crystal tumbler and top with lemonade or bitter lemon.
The Queen's favourite drinks
Contrary to reports that the longest-reigning monarch liked to drink four glasses of alcohol a day, her Majesty's former chef previously spoke out to clarify his comments about her favourite drinks - after he said his quotes were misreported.
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"She'd be pickled if she drank that much," the former royal chef told CNN. "All I said was she likes a gin and Dubonnet. That's her favourite drink."
The monarch was known to enjoy a Dubonnet and gin cocktail
The chef also clarified: "She doesn't wake up in the morning and have a large gin and tonic," he said.
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Darren added the Queen also enjoyed a glass of her favourite German sweet wine "just in the evening". "She certainly doesn't drink four glasses a day."
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