By Camper English

The Dubonnet Cocktail

Dubonnet is a fortified wine, like port, sherry, and vermouth. I’d say it has the most in common with the latter as it comes in both a sweet (red) and dry (clear) version, and some bartenders these days are substituting it for vermouth in cocktails like the Manhattan. “Fortified” means they add hard alcohol to the wine base to preserve it so that it lasts much longer after opening than a standard wine.

This brand was born in 1846 in France, surprisingly, as a way to help prevent malaria among French Foreign Legion soldiers fighting in North Africa. The malaria preventive ingredient is cinchona tree bark that contains the substance quinine; the same stuff that’s in tonic water. (And tonic water was invented to prevent malaria amongst British soldiers in India). Quinine has a bitter taste to it, but when you mix it with a bunch of aromatic herbs and wine, it becomes far more drinkable. More drinkable still is mixing Dubonnet with gin and other ingredients to make tasty cocktails like the Dubonnet Cocktail, which I’ve slightly adapted below. It comes highly recommended. The Dubonnet Cocktail is said to be the Queen of England’s favorite cocktail, so you queens can enjoy it too.

1.5 oz. gin

1 oz. Dubonnet Rouge

1 splash orange bitters

Shake all ingredients over ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Optionally, garnish with lemon or orange peel.