A new spirit is set to shake up the drinks scene this summer and it comes highly recommended by none other than Her Majesty The Queen (and the Queen’s Mother, too).

Dubonnet, a French aperitif, is so popular at Buckingham Palace that the Queen has just awarded it a coveted Royal Warrant. From 2022, bottles of Dubonnet will proudly state “By appointment to HM the Queen”, alongside an image of the official crest.

Simon de Beauregard, a director of Pernod Ricard said: “We are delighted Her Majesty enjoys our beautiful brand and humbled to have received a Royal Warrant.”

The sweet fortified wine has been slowly growing in popularity over the last few years. “The growth is partly due to lockdown, but we believe it is more to do with consumers looking for a lower-alcohol drink,” de Beauregard said.

What is Dubonnet?

Dubonnet is a French aperitif owned by Pernod Ricard made from a blend of fortified wine, with herbs, spices, including black currant and tea varietals and quinine.

The aperitif was invented by a wine merchant and chemist in France called Sir Joseph Dubonnet. Like tonic water, it was conceived as a way to get the French Foreign Legionnaires abroad to drink quinine, a natural treatment for malaria.

The aperitif was so popular with soldiers, it become a drink in its own right. Today, it’s enjoyed straight on ice, or mixed into cocktails as a substitute for vermouth.

Dubonnet and Gin

The Queen’s favourite way to drink Dubonnet is in a cocktail called simply Dubonnet and Gin.

The cocktail is made from one part gin to two parts Dubonnet, typically served over ice with a slice of orange or lemon.

Related food news: Buckingham Palace shares the recipe for Her Majesty’s favourite scones