The King's Ginger is an English

liqueur A liqueur (; ; ) is an alcoholic drink composed of spirits (often rectified spirit) and additional flavorings such as sugar, fruits, herbs, and spices. Often served with or after dessert, they are typically heavily sweetened and un-aged beyond ...

by Berry Bros. & Rudd. The liqueur was originally created for

King Edward VII Edward VII (Albert Edward; 9 November 1841 – 6 May 1910) was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and Emperor of India, from 22 January 1901 until his death in 1910. The second child and eldest son of Queen Victoria a ...

. After his death in 1910, it was commissioned exclusively for the royal family. In 2011, it was standardized and made available to the public in select countries.

History

The King's Ginger was created in 1903 when

's doctor commissioned Berry Bros. & Rudd to create a "fortifying beverage" to be served in King Edward's flask. King Edward's doctor was concerned about the King's constitution: the King was obese, suffered from various ailments, elderly and tended to travel the countryside in his convertible and go hunting regardless of the weather conditions. The doctor hoped this beverage would help "stimulate and revivify His Majesty during morning rides." King Edward enjoyed the beverage and drank it regularly, sharing it with his friends, particularly during hunting trips. It also became popular with the royal family, and when King Edward died in 1910 the family continued to commission hundreds of cases annually. The King's Ginger was only sold to the royal family and aristocracy in bottles without labels by Berry Bros. & Rudd. The recipe changed frequently and sales averaged 250 cases annually. In the late 2000s, a British bartender acquired a bottle of King's Ginger and visited Berry Bros. & Rudd to purchase a bottle. He complained that the recipe was inconsistent and asked that the company produce a public facing version. Working on behalf of Berry Bros. & Rudd, a Dutch distiller created the King's Ginger, in 2011, to be sold in the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand. It was made available in the United States in 2012.

Production

Today's distributed, 82 proof, King's Ginger comprises a neutral based grain spirit, ginger, lemon oil, Glenrothes single malt scotch, and sugar. ''Food & Wine'' describes the King's Ginger as full of ginger notes and "earthy and spicy and unlike anything else."

References

{{authority control Products introduced in 1903 Drink companies of the United Kingdom British royal warrant holders Liqueur brands English liqueurs Edward VII