This cocktail is named – believe it or not – for Queen Elizabeth's mother. She lived to the ripe old age of 101 and is said to have had a real fondness for Dubonnet, which is a fortified wine infused with quinine – the thing that gives tonic water its bitterness. It's been said that Queen Lizzie enjoyed a glass of gin and Dubonnet before lunch, so you can rest assured this cocktail has the royal tick of approval.
This is an unlikely combination of ingredients, yet it combines in a surprisingly tasty way. So, even if you are yet to discover the charm of Dubonnet, or don’t usually go for rum and gin in the same drink, be sure to give it a go. The Aperol and Dubonnet each bring a touch of bitterness and spice, while the gin brings its trademark botanicals to lift the drink, with the rum the final complex touch. The Queen knew what she was on about.
