Itremainspopular even todaywhen peoplegoout hunting – an activity which takes place in winter, when it’s very cold. It was typical to have a‘stirrup cup’before going out on a hunt,a tot of something to calm you down before getting on a horse,and it was just as typical to carry a flask throughout the day.” The King’s Ginger – our favourite ginger and lemon liqueur – is steeped in 117 years of history, since its inception in 1903. The story behind it is just as colourful as the king it was named for. I speak to Ronnie Cox, our Brands Heritage Director, to uncover the details of its rich heritage. The King and his neighbourhood The brand story behind this liqueur revolves around King Edward VII who reigned from 1901 to 1910 and is said to have been a thoroughly sociable chap who amongst other activities enjoyed driving his horseless carriage, a Daimler. The brand legend has it that his physician was concerned about Edward's health, exposed as he was to the elements in his new automobile. Thus he commissioned Berry Bros. & Rudd, the King's wine and spirits merchants to formulate a liqueur to warm His Majesty. In 1903 King Edward VII granted Berry Bros. their first Royal Warrant. Henry Berry was leading up the companyat the time. He would have introducedthe physicianto various sorts of cordials, as they were called in those days,one of which would have been thebrandy and ginger cordial.” In 1903, St James’s Street was thethrivingepicentre of London’s clubland; a districtassociated withthe leisurely pursuits of high society, from gunsmiths and hunting shops to hatters and cigarstores – and, of course, wine merchants.

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. As I sit typing this I think the outcome will be that I have lost my favourite spirit of all time but that a close second has emerged.

The King's Ginger is an English liqueur by Berry Bros. & Rudd. The liqueur was originally created for King Edward VII. 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. Today's distributed, 82 proof, King's Ginger comprises a neutral based grain spirit, ginger, lemon oil, Glenrothes single malt scotch, and sugar. [1]

Everything about this revitalising spirit tells a story, one that began in 1903 when the royal physician commissioned The King’s Ginger for King Edward VII. We collaborated with design agency Stranger & Stranger to revitalise The King’s Ginger for a new age. The new bottle comes in the shape of a saddle flask, the sort that Edward VII would certainly have carried, in recognition of its heritage. We’re delighted that the latest iteration of The King’s Ginger was awarded a gold medal by the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2021.

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It remains popular even today when people go out hunting – an activity which takes place in winter, when it’s very cold,” says Ronnie, “It was typical to have a ‘stirrup cup’ before going out on a hunt, a tot of something to calm you down before getting on a horse, and it was just as typical to carry a flask throughout the day.” From shooting, the liqueur’s popularity promptly extended to fishing and hunting parties. The latest iteration ofThe King’s Ginger bottle designreferences these roots,evoking Edward VII’s original saddle flask, also known as a hunting flask. Originally made by Berry Bros & Rudd for King Edward VII, this has become a bit of a Christmas classic, its pure gingery spiciness working very well in solo-digestif style or as the partner, with a good Scotch blended whisky, in lieu of ginger wine in a souped-up whisky mac. The bottle has been opened, I poured a good measure into a glass, took a small sip and it is a very different drink. Very nice but very different.