LAST THURSDAY – the 21st April – was the Queen’s 96th birthday, and in her honour, I thought I would try her favourite drink for the first time – gin and Dubonnet. Unfortunately, I couldn’t try it on the day itself, as it was impossible to find any Dubonnet near where I live.
But, persistent as I am for new alcoholic experiences, I tracked down a bottle over the weekend, and was able to prepare ‘The Liz’ for pre-supper drinks. I followed this recipe to the letter, even making sure to find nice-shaped cubes of ice. (Unfortunately I lack any glasses with the ‘EIIR' cypher, but next time I’m at Windsor Castle, I’ll make sure to half-inch a few.)
And the result?
I liked it! Although it was a little sweet, it definitely had enough sharpness so that it could not be dismissed as a ‘granny’s drink’. I can see it being just the thing to neck swiftly on the sly after launching an aircraft carrier or before sitting through endless dancing. And even though the Dubonnet, at 14.8%, is no stronger than Super Tuscan, the gin gives it enough of a kick.
Will I have it again? You bet. And I’m now such of a fan of Dubonnet, that I have even put a splash in my rhubarb crumble today instead of some port… Watch this space.
Excellent. As you know, my ole mum used to love it. But she would only drink it with Plymouth Gin. In her opinion ( and mine tbf) the best gin. Botanicals in PH gin are very different to other gins. Takes away some of the sweetness!
Cheers! 'twas your brother's birthday too and thank goodness he wasn't born by C-section on the 20th April, the day before as we know whose birthday that was!! Your father asked a few minutes ago should we have some rhubarb for our lunch and why not though it will be needing some rain or it will go all woody as last year. Dubonnet - never tasted it. The old Bombay gin - yes... one of your maiden aunts born 1889, died 1986, had gin & T every day and in her later years this brand every day and smoked too. Maiden aunt because like tens of thousands of others their future husbands died in the Great War. She was a Land Girl in this war and not sure what she did for the rest of her life other than she had an long affair with a married man and may have worked in a Hull department store's ladies section. She lived with her family in whatever houses they had and carped about having to help with housework though in her latter years only rose at about 11 a.m. after breakfast brought to her in bed, in those days families looked after their own for as long as possible and only her last weeks were in hospital. Virginia Nicholson wrote an excellent book 2007 'Singled Out: How Two Million Women Survived Without Men after the First World War' about all the thousands of maiden aunts and how remarkable and brave many were. Now to go and pick some rhubarb!
It's an interesting cocktail for how it sits in the middle of the range and a move in any direction gives you a new drink. Dubonnet is a vermouth in all but name so this is a weak version of the 70s "Gin and It". Swap out half the vermouth for Campari and you have the oh-so-2010s Negroni. Swap the gin for bourbon and it's the cherry ripeness of the Manhattan. Dial up the gin to get to the Martinez. Go further and dry it up and you have the Martini. Add lemon syrup and soda for a gin Sling and then chuck out the Dubonnet for a Tom Collins.
I think a few drops of orange Angostura bitters would add something to the base gin + Dubonnet.
In terms of gin, I think you want the citrus and juniper in a gin to shine through the vermouth so Tanqueray 10, Tanqueray, No3 or even just a straight forward Beefeater. Plymouth I've always found too punchy neat (although not as much as Martin Miller), but might calm down with a good slug of Dubonnet and plenty of ice.
Years ago I was persuaded to try a gin and martini rosso (miles too sweet...) but eventually found solace in a gin and campari...double gin single campari plenty of ice / lemon and a tonic for the lightweights...Adds a welcome bitterness..
You have tempted me now...to both drink & crumble!
Excellent. As you know, my ole mum used to love it. But she would only drink it with Plymouth Gin. In her opinion ( and mine tbf) the best gin. Botanicals in PH gin are very different to other gins. Takes away some of the sweetness!
Enjoying your Sunday Guy. 👍🏽
Cheers! 'twas your brother's birthday too and thank goodness he wasn't born by C-section on the 20th April, the day before as we know whose birthday that was!! Your father asked a few minutes ago should we have some rhubarb for our lunch and why not though it will be needing some rain or it will go all woody as last year. Dubonnet - never tasted it. The old Bombay gin - yes... one of your maiden aunts born 1889, died 1986, had gin & T every day and in her later years this brand every day and smoked too. Maiden aunt because like tens of thousands of others their future husbands died in the Great War. She was a Land Girl in this war and not sure what she did for the rest of her life other than she had an long affair with a married man and may have worked in a Hull department store's ladies section. She lived with her family in whatever houses they had and carped about having to help with housework though in her latter years only rose at about 11 a.m. after breakfast brought to her in bed, in those days families looked after their own for as long as possible and only her last weeks were in hospital. Virginia Nicholson wrote an excellent book 2007 'Singled Out: How Two Million Women Survived Without Men after the First World War' about all the thousands of maiden aunts and how remarkable and brave many were. Now to go and pick some rhubarb!
Omg
I shall try but I’m sure I’ve tried dubbonet before & thought it horrid. Crumble ? Dubonnet? You dirty b*****d ( aka phoenix nights!)
Then by the size of that dish, you have enough fir a while. They are missing a treat.
It's an interesting cocktail for how it sits in the middle of the range and a move in any direction gives you a new drink. Dubonnet is a vermouth in all but name so this is a weak version of the 70s "Gin and It". Swap out half the vermouth for Campari and you have the oh-so-2010s Negroni. Swap the gin for bourbon and it's the cherry ripeness of the Manhattan. Dial up the gin to get to the Martinez. Go further and dry it up and you have the Martini. Add lemon syrup and soda for a gin Sling and then chuck out the Dubonnet for a Tom Collins.
I think a few drops of orange Angostura bitters would add something to the base gin + Dubonnet.
In terms of gin, I think you want the citrus and juniper in a gin to shine through the vermouth so Tanqueray 10, Tanqueray, No3 or even just a straight forward Beefeater. Plymouth I've always found too punchy neat (although not as much as Martin Miller), but might calm down with a good slug of Dubonnet and plenty of ice.
Apparently Prince Phillip favoured a can Boddingtons, which I find hard to believe. And not because it’s an awful beverage.
The crumble is very 1980s :-)
Years ago I was persuaded to try a gin and martini rosso (miles too sweet...) but eventually found solace in a gin and campari...double gin single campari plenty of ice / lemon and a tonic for the lightweights...Adds a welcome bitterness..
I’ll pass on the rhubarb crumble. Satan in dish.