The King’s Ginger
There is no time like Christmas for sharing a dram with family and friends, and while whisky may be peerless in the world of alcohol, it can be rewarding to veer off the well-trodden path on occasion. After falling in love with Fraiser of Scotland’s strawberry liqueur this time last year, I decided that my festive cabinet would not be complete this time around until an alternative was acquired. As ever, I turned to my local specialists at the Good Spirits Co. who recommended, amongst many others, The King’s Ginger, from London wine and spirits merchant, Berry Bros. & Rudd.
Founded in 1698, Berry Bros. & Rudd have been the official wine supplier to the Royal Family since the time of George III and count Lord Byron and William Pitt the Younger amongst their former customers. They were responsible for the launch, in 1923, of the Cutty Sark blend and continue to bottle some of the finest examples of single cask whisky around today.
In 1903, Berry’s were commissioned by the Royal Physician to create a liqueur, with which King Edward VII could revive himself, following long winter excursions in his new horseless carriage. The result was The King’s Ginger. Made in Holland and bottled at the unusually high strength of 41% abv, this is a versatile cocktail ingredient that works just as well as a dram in it’s own right.
The Dram
Smell: Ginger, Honey, Lemon and Lime.
Taste: Good weight on the palate with warming Ginger Spice, Lemon & zesty Lime.
Thoughts: An absolute bargain at just £20 a bottle. Great on its own but should you feel adventurous, there is an extensive list of cocktail recipes on the official website (see below). A great addition to any drinks cabinet, The King’s Ginger is a rich, warming nip that’s tailor made for the winter season.
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