Happy Friday once again everyone!
Despite being across the pond, I’ve been watching as much coverage of the ceremonies surrounding the Queen’s funeral as I can. As has been mentioned here before, I am a huge history nerd and witnessing the first funeral for a sovereign in 70 years is certainly noteworthy. Not to mention the over the top pomp and circumstance that goes into the many ceremonies going on. Regardless of thoughts on the monarchy as a whole, they do know how to put on a good show.
If you haven’t guessed yet (also spoiler alert from last week’s comments), this week I’m making the Queen’s favorite cocktail: Dubonnet & Gin.
I can’t recall having a cocktail made with Dubonnet before, so I’m very curious to see what the appeal is and how it works with the gin. I imagine it will work rather well since one of the main ingredients is Cinchona bark, used to make quinine, which also happens to be a main ingredient in tonic water. So I’m already thinking this is going to turn out well.
I’ve seen a couple variations of proportions for this particular drink. Food & Wine and Tasting Table say to use a 2-1 ratio of Dubonnet to gin. Meanwhile the actual website for Dubonnet says equal parts (1.5 oz. to be precise).
Given that Food & Wine cites the Yeoman of the cellars at Buckingham Palace (whose job it is to order and keep on hand the alcohol served there) I’ll make their version:
1 ounce gin (the Queen prefers Gordon’s London dry gin)
2 ounces Dubonnet
Half of a lemon wheel
Ice cubes
Pour one part gin and two parts of Dubonnet into a small wine glass, or chalice. Add the half lemon wheel to the mixture, then top with two perfectly proportionate ice cubes, sinking the lemon into the cocktail. (Note: Add more ice at your own discretion.)
The nose is very fruity. Specifically red wine. Shocker, I know. However there is a lot more wine aroma detectable in this than there is in Lillet, or other French aperitifs I’ve had before.
The sip is heavy on the Dubonnet flavor. Which is mostly wine, with hints of bitter undertones from the Cinchona, and some of the other blended herbs and berries used in the production. As expected, the gin pairs very well here. The sharp juniper bite is reduced by the Duboonet, but the Gordon’s does come through about midway through the sip. The half lemon wheel is a great garnish. Though I did find that squeezing the lemon added a little more of a citrusy, sour bite that really compliments the flavor profile going on here.
I thoroughly like this. It’s light and very flavorful. Mrs. Sharkbait topped hers with a splash of tonic, and that did not take away anything from this at all. The Yeoman of the Cellars has absolutely nailed the ratio as well. I tried making one listed on the Dubonnet site (AKA the equal parts recipe), and I didn’t think it was as good as the 2 to 1 ratio.
Will drinking a Dubonnet & Gin make you royalty? Most definitely not, but you can certainly feel like it while you enjoy. Plus according to Tasting Table, the Queen started drinking before noon. So if lunchtime cocktails are good enough for the Queen, they’re good enough for all of us!
Have a good weekend!
GSTK!
(Banner image courtesy Matthew Tetrault Photography)
Evening, gentlefucks and gentlefuckettes. I am writing trombone music and drinking dollar beer while watching the CFL. I am in the goddamn POCKET right now.
Apparently we need to send up the sexy bat signal!
Now that the heat wave from hell is over, I’m going to pretend it’s autumn and start using my bottle of allspice dram. Got some limes here, so it’s going to be The Lion’s Tail to start: bourbon, allspice dram, lime juice, Angostura, simple syrup.
That sounds fantastic
Wait, the NBA owner in PHX was DasRaycess? Colour ME shocked 😲
We need to add our own twist to this and it can go in the books as the “Corgi”.
YES!
Also I suck and have completely neglected the book idea. I’ll start focusing on that.
Gordon’s? Quite the proletarian, Lizzie.
Even has her warrant on it too. It IS a good gin, especially for cocktailing
It is. My folks bought it when I was a kid. I mixed it with passion fruit cocktail. Delish!
I like Tanqueray myself.
What’s the new King’s favorite drink? Pimm’s cup in a pimp cup?
That would be glorious wouldn’t it? If anything, Laphroaig 10. That has a warrant on it from the Prince of Wales. Guessing they need to update that now…
I am a nerd, so I looked it up. Charles and Camilla both like wine. Charles also likes a gin and tonic. He drinks beer too.
Being unemployed fir 73 years tends to make one enjoy the drink.
He also has his own brand of organic single malt, so I guess he drinks that too?
And of course
Tampon String Cocktail
Mixed Drink Recipe from Cocktail Builder
1 1/2 oz of whipped cream
1 oz of cherry liqueur
1 of cherry
1 oz of Vodka
Layer the shoppingmode vodka and cherry liquer then put whip cream on top and a cherry on that when taking the shot engulf the whole thing and after you swallow pull the stem of the cherry out.
Sounds bloody terrific!
but only for a few days a month
Camiller Genuine Draught
(King Chuck rolls into Hooters and orders a Slippery Nipple)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oViOQ-_c8h8
I have heard that the Dubonnet is more of a supper club…
Talking to my father about ‘Welcome to Wrexham’ and he informs me that he’s decided he needs to start watching more English soccer.
Me: “Oh that’s a great idea! Here are so…”
Dad: “I’ll probably root for this team called Chelsea.”
Me: “Oh, fuck OFF!”
This makes me wonder, is anyone kin (especially as closely as father/son/daughter) to a supporter of a blood enemy like that?
Meeting him at the bar. I’m not going to sell him on Arsenal, but I am going to direct him to something like Crystal Palace.
He did say he won’t root for Liverpool because John Henry owns them, and Dad’s a very angry Red Sox fan.
So, he owes you for the Yankees thing!
As the resident Crystal Palace “fan” please give your Dad my regards or not what am I your social director
Dear God no! Does hhe know that their stadiu
/hit by a beer bottle from the back
Manager thieving bastards.
I may actually make myself a cocktail to celebrate this morning’s Preliminary Final. That was a very nice way to wake up.
Not an especially close match. MEOW.
Well done on your well-earned Gently-Used Fleshlight!
My trophy case is more polluted than Hef’s grotto
I’ll bet if you shined a blacklight on it you could blind people.
or they would just wish that they were blind…
…or a certain stretch of I-40 in Oklahoma
I mean it’s not the *best* way to wake up, but I’m sure it was nice.
did you sip the drink with your pinkie out?
and
I’m surprised that the Dubonnet site didn’t call for more of their product in a drink. That’s just a wasted opportunity.
Right? I found that odd.