In Memory of Queen Elizabeth II, Make Her Favorite Cocktail, A Gin and Dubonnet

Queen Elizabeth II attends an Armed Forces Act of Loyalty Parade at the Palace of Holyroodhouse on June 28, 2022 in Edinburgh. (Photo: Jane Barlow – WPA Pool/Getty Images)

In honor of Queen Elizabeth II, let’s make one of her favorite cocktails. Per the Queen’s former royal chef, Darren McGrady, she loved a gin and Dubonnet.

A gin and Dubbonet is made with a London dry gin of choice — the Queen liked Gordon’s — and Dubonnet Rouge, a French aperitif made of red wine, herbs and spices. The Queen reportedly loved Dubonnet so much, she awarded a royal warrant on the brand back in 2021.

We’ve whipped up a gin and Dubonnet variation to sip while keeping Queen Elizabeth II’s memory alive.

The Ingredients

• 2 oz London dry gin
• 1 1/2 oz Dubonnet Rouge
• Ice cubes
• Lemon or orange twist

Instructions

Fill a large glass with ice and pour in the gin and Dubonnet Rouge. Give the ingredients a 30-second stir.

Strain the liquid into a chilled cocktail glass. Express the citrus twist over the cocktail, drop it in and enjoy.

The Queen loved her gin and Dubonnet with more Dubonnet Rouge than gin, a lemon wedge and two ice cubes floated in the glass. Feel free to explore ingredient proportions and different citrus twists to best suit your tastebuds.

Furthermore, it would be a delight to use one of the Queen’s gins — if you can find them. Sandringham Gin and Buckingham Palace Gin are two spirits released by the Queen’s estates and include ingredients sourced from each garden. While currently difficult to buy, these two gins are certainly worthy of a queen’s cocktail.

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