Why Dubonnet Deserves Its Comeback – From Royal Ritual to Cult Favourite
- Oliver Day
- 6 days ago
- 2 min read
For decades, Dubonnet sat quietly at the back of British drinks cabinets. It wasn’t flashy, it wasn’t fashionable, but it was always there. The bottle you’d notice at your grandmother’s, sitting beside the Bristol Cream and the port, waiting for someone who still remembered how to pour it properly.
Then, somewhere between royal nostalgia and modern curiosity, people started to whisper about it again. The Queen’s favourite drink. Two Dubonnet, One gin, a slice of orange a little ice. Simple. Elegant. Irresistibly British.
So perhaps it’s time to admit what we already know: Dubonnet deserves its return.
The drink that never tried too hard
Dubonnet has no interest in reinvention. It isn’t trying to be a spritz, or a new-world vermouth, or anything other than what it is. That’s precisely the charm. It has a richness that feels grown-up, a deep ruby glow that catches the light in a way modern cocktails never quite manage.
It’s the kind of drink that rewards people who don’t need to follow a trend. A quiet nod to those who know the difference between something revived and something rebranded.
From royal ritual to modern cult
For Queen Elizabeth II, it was part of daily life — a pre-lunch ritual that lasted longer than most governments. But it wasn’t just royal. It became a shared shorthand for a certain kind of British taste: restrained, civilised, quietly confident.
Now, a new generation is discovering what she already knew. Mixologists have started listing it again. Country-house bars are pouring it beside the fire. Even a few London clubs are giving it pride of place on the trolley. The drink is back, but not because it’s been reinvented — it’s because people have grown tired of pretending everything needs a twist.
Bottled properly at last
That’s where G&D comes in. We haven’t created a “new” Dubonnet and gin. We’ve simply done it properly — Dubonnet blended with Blackeye London Dry Gin, distilled in England and bottled at 23 percent ABV. The balance is exact, the flavour unmistakable.
No measuring, no mixology, no fuss. Just the drink as it should be.
Why it matters
Every generation rediscovers something worth keeping. Dubonnet is one of those things. It belongs to Britain — the kind of Britain that still understands the pleasure of an aperitif before lunch, the stillness before the first sip, the idea that taste is often about knowing when to stop.
A small ritual, quietly passed down. Not nostalgia, just good manners in a glass.
Q1: Why is Dubonnet popular again?
A: Dubonnet has returned as people rediscover the simplicity and balance of the Queen’s favourite drink — two Dubonnet, one gin.
Q2: What does Dubonnet taste like?
A: It’s rich and slightly spiced, with notes of herbs, citrus and quinine. When blended with gin, it becomes balanced and aromatic.
Q3: How is G&D connected to Dubonnet?
A: G&D bottles the classic Dubonnet and gin recipe using Blackeye London Dry Gin, refined to 23 percent ABV for a perfect pour.best. G&D blends Dubonnet with Blackeye London Dry Gin for the perfect balance.
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