The Queen's Gin & Dubonnet

The 21st of April is Queen Elizabeth's actual birthday. So let's raise a toast to the longest reigning monarch of the United Kingdom! And I can't imagine a more appropriate way to do it than by mixing her own favourite lunchtime tipple, a gin and Dubonnet. It's sweet but packs a punch.

4 cl gin

8 cl Dubonnet

Stir the ingredients in a mixing glass with ice. Strain into a glass of your choice, and add a lemon twist or slice of lemon. You can also build the drink in a rocks glass with ice; if so, place the slice of lemon under the ice cubes.

Dubonnet is a fortified wine spiced with, among other things, orange rind, untoasted coffee beans and quinquina. It was created by Joseph Dubonnet in 1846 as a drink that made the bitter taste of quinquina potable. Quinquina has the ability to ward off malaria mosquitoes, and potions with the ingredient were in vogue.

By the way, Queen Elizabeth II was most likely introduced to the drink by her mother,  the Duchess of York, known as the Queen Mother, who daily indulged in the drink. A truly royal drink!