To think the Queen had strange taste in drinks?

[Inextremis]

I was watching a documentary about what the royals eat - and it was mentioned that the late Queen's favourite drink was equal measures of Gordon's gin and Dubonnet, with a couple of ice cubes. Well, I thought - I've never had Dubonnet, so why not give it a try? I've never been a fan of gin, but thought that maybe the Dubonnet improved the taste in some way. It did not. The drink is bitter and slightly sour. Does anyone drink this and really like it? I'm surprised that, with access to literally any drink on the planet, the Queen chose this. I certainly shan't be drinking it again!

I think it’s nice, but I like bitter drinks like gin, Campari, Negronis. Negronis have been super popular in recent times, so the queen was definitely not alone!

What sort of drinks do you like?

A Gin and Dubonnet is like rocket fuel. I tried one out of curiosity after the Queen died. I think it's best sipped very slowly.

In terms of taste, I'd say it's like a Negroni, which is along the same taste lines.

I 'm older generation and I remember that in the 1960s Dubonnet was extremely popular. It was considered a really sophisticated drink. I was only a teenager and never tasted it myself but I remember the tv ads.

But tbh I think the Queen's taste in alcoholic drinks is the least of our concerns when it comes to the Royal family atm.

I used to drink gin & dubonnet as a student, 50 years ago. Well before it was known that this was a favourite at Buckingham Palace!
I think our late Queen's tastes were pretty dull, probably due to the times she grew up in and possibly because she viewed food as fuel rather than enjoyment. The only thing I would ever criticise her about is the sweet tooth, which is also well known!

I quite like it, but I don’t really have a sweet tooth and like gin.
Strong though! Prefer a G&T

Most people have a favourite drink, I suppose that was just hers. As other posters have said it was quite fashionable at one time and she probably liked it and stuck with it.

I heard she only ever had one or two alcoholic drinks at formal occasions (her sister was less restrained) so it makes sense that if you're only having one drink you will have the one you like best.

Had I been the Queen I think I would have had to been permantly sloshed with the dysfunctional family she was head of. 🙄

I once tried Dubonnet (I think it was at a Jubilee house party so very much bought it in homage to the late Queen). I thought it smelt and tasted like bin juice. And I actually love a strong bitter drink usually, love a Campari spritz, love a Negroni.

I like a Mojito if having a mixed drink, but vodka and Diet Coke is my usual tipple. Wine with meals (not every meal, obviously!).

I agree that the Queen's choice of drink is pretty insignificant when it comes to matters Royal!

Maybe it's one of those things that's an acquired taste? As I now have (most of) a bottle of gin and (most of) a bottle of Dubonnet, maybe I should attempt to acquire it.

Served ice cold and with a twist of orange - best drink ever!

I thought that was the Queen Mum's drink

Yes I thought so to. She liked a drink did the Old Girl 😁 perhaps QE2 had the same tastes as her mama

There is nothing wrong with Gin and Dubonnet (one called it a Bloody Tower!) but what was bizarre was Mummy's absolute hatred for cucumber sandwiches cut into triangles.

My Mother loved dubonnet, she was the same age as the The Queen. She used to take it with lemonade and a slice of lemon, we were allowed to suck the lemon after she finished. This was the 70’s and it was very different times.

The advert springs to mind if anyone remembers it, Dubonnet vous?
Also the classic Campari advert, were you truly wafted here from paradise? No Luton airport was the reply.

Dubonnet and tonic water was my Mum's drink in the 70s and 80s. Her best mate drank Campari and soda. They thought themselves th bees knees - and they bloody were!

Lots of people like bitter drinks.

Wasn’t that Queen Mother’s tipple, rather than Elizabeth herself?

Table Manners podcast this week has Claire Foy as the guest- they offered her the Queen’s drinks - geddit?
It’s similar to a straight up martini apparently? It turns out that Claire Foy likes a Cosmo, which is the other end of the taste scale- I’m definitely more team Queen on this, I’d go Dubonnet & gin mix rather than a sweet, citrusy cosmo.

I remember my parents having a bottle of Dubonnet in their drinks cabinet and pinching it for a sneaky drink (mid teens). That was an error. It went straight back. It was vile 😫

She was a supremely wealthy woman in her 90s and grew up in a time/social circle where that would have been a very normal drink.

A lot of classic cocktails are intentionally bitter. A standard dry martini, for example, or a Campari and soda. Lots of aperitifs have a bitterness about them. and sweet, fruity drinks tended to be considered a bit unsophisticated and not very 'grown-up' in the Queen's day.

I love a gin and Dubonnet myself. But I do like bitter flavours - my dad did too and so does my brother, whereas my mum and sister hate them.

My late great aunt used to drink "Gin and It". Awful stuff, made with gin and sweet vermouth. She would drink it from a bucket if she could. Same age group as the queen mother too.

Sounds minging. I much prefer something nice and sweet that will rot my teeth 🦷

Staying on the Royal theme, I read once that someone had called Princess Margaret a sozzled old bag.
Her response "I am NOT an old bag"
Absolute class 👏 😊😆

I used to drink Dubbonet and lemonade which was quite nice. Can't stand gin, it makes me wretch even before it gets to my lips. Same as passionfruit, yuck!

Bitter drinks help with digestion so I imagine it was half taken for function or purpose, I thought her favourite was a gimmlit though.

I much prefer bitter drinks, i must try this one. I can’t bear sweet cocktails