UK: Buckingham Palace Selling Homemade Gin To Make Up For Pandemic Losses

The garden at Buckingham Palace provides a habitat for 30 species of birds and more than 250 species of wildflowers. The planting of mulberry trees was popularised in England during the reign of James I, and this royal association continues today, with 40 different species of the trees in the Palace garden.

By Premila D’Sa
Huffington Post
07/14/2020

Excerpt:

The Royal Family announced Monday that they’ve started selling homemade gin. Buckingham Palace gin is made from ingredients gathered at the palace gardens, which span about 39 acres and have about 200 species of wildflowers.

According to the palace’s website, it contains 12 hand-picked flowers and citruses, including “lemon, verbena, hawthorn berries and mulberry leaves.” Mulberry trees were planted in the royal gardens in the 1500’s under King James I, and there are now 40 different species growing in the gardens.

“For the perfect thirst-quencher, the recommended serving method is to pour a measure of the gin into an ice-filled short tumbler before topping up with tonic and garnishing with a slice of lemon,” suggested the palace in its official announcement. The beverage will also be served at events there.

It isn’t surprising that the palace picked gin as their beverage of choice. Queen Elizabeth, as well as her late mother, are notoriously known for their love of gin cocktails made with Dubonnet, a French floral aperitif. The Queen likes her cocktail with two ice cubes and a slice of lemon right before lunch.

A former royal servant once revealed that the Queen Mother once requested two small bottles of Dubbonet and gin on a handwritten note, saying that she would take it with her in the morning “in case it is needed.” The note ended up becoming a sought-after royal artifact that was auctioned off for £16,000.

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