Dubonnet just won big in the Decoded Spirits Awards – but what do you know about it?

Dig into the history of most aperitifs, digestifs or liqueurs, and you’ll quickly discover that many of our most cherished spirits were initially created for medicinal purposes. Jägermeister was first pitched as an aid for digestion. Absinthe was devised as a cure-all for ailments like gout, colic and even epilepsy. Dubonnet, the herbaceous, bitter, quinine-infused wine-based aperitif best known as That Dusty Bottle On Nan's Shelf, is no different. 

Dubonnet’s origin story takes place in 1840s North Africa. It was the early days of the second French colonial empire, and malaria was running karmic roughshod through the newly arrived colonist population. Quinine was already a known antidote for the illness. Still, the French would rather die than taste something so foul, prompting the government to issue a handsome reward to whoever could make it more palatable. Enter Joseph Dubonnet.

Blending muscat, grenache, carignan and macabeo grapes from France’s Languedoc-Roussillon region and pumping them percolator-style through a blend of ground cocoa, raw coffee, cinnamon, chamomile, and – crucially – quinine, Dubonnet’s elixir took out top honours. Now, almost 180 years and countless other awards later, it’s been crowned the winner of Dan Murphy’s Decoded Spirits Awards for Aperitifs, Digestifs and Liqueurs – determined after our panel of experts blind-tasted hundreds of other brands in this broad category.

Dubonnet’s most public fan was the Queen Mother, whose fondness for a Dubonnet and gin before bed was inherited by Queen Lizzie herself and immortalised in a cocktail named in her honour. But beyond the royal palace, Dubonnet’s spicy, aromatic qualities lend themselves to a variety of tasty applications. 

Bitter aperitifs like Dubonnet – and Decoded Spirits Finalists Luxardo Aperitivo and Byrhh Grand Quinquina – are an acquired taste, so finding a way to bring their bold flavours into focus is essential. For those who enjoy their spirits straight up, over ice with a wedge of orange works a treat. You could build your aperitivo hour spritz around them (sorry, Aperol) or substitute them for other fortified spirits to give your favourite cocktails a fresh twist (swap out sweet vermouth for Byrhh Grand Quinquina in your next Negroni – trust us).

If you’re yet to explore this year’s Dan Murphy’s Decoded Spirits Awards, you can find the full list of Finalists and Winners here. In fact, if you’re a My Dan’s Member, you’ll score exclusive offers on every Decoded winner. Our tip? Start with Dubonnet and go from there. You could even make like the Queen and grab a Decoded gin while you’re at it.