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. TheKing and his hedonistic environs co-existed in perfect symbiosis.In stark contrast to his famously austere motherQueen Victoria, Edward VII’swell-documented interest inmotorcarsandlife’s indulgencesled to an image of acharming“bon viveur”which has endured to this day.Long before they were widely available to the general public, theKing was the proud owner of eight Daimlers, which he called “horseless carriages”.The speed limitin the vicinity of St James’sat the time was20 miles per hour(the speed ofa trotting horse)but theKing was known for his passion for speed– an unexpected factor that would nudge him towards Henry Berry’s ginger cordials. The birth of The King’s Ginger

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. 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.” The result is clean and elegant, tactile and seductive. Its translucent golden bottle recalls honey or nectar, suggesting richness, vitality and purity.Originally made by Berry Bros & Rudd for King Edward VII, this has become a bit of a Christmas classic, its pure gingery spiciness working very well in solo-digestif style or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. On the outside, the recyclable bottle’s shape is inspired by the saddle flask as a nod to Edward’s love of the outdoors, and the Daimler wheel motif on the stopper links to him being the first royal to own a motorcar. Today, 10% of profits goes to The Prince’s Countryside Fund, established by his great-great grandson Prince Charles in 2010 to empower family farms and rural communities to survive and thrive, creating a sustainable future for the countryside and our whole nation.

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.The King's Ginger was created in 1903 when King Edward VII's doctor commissioned Berry Bros. & Rudd to create a "fortifying beverage" to be served in King Edward's flask. [1] 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. [1] [2] The doctor hoped this beverage would help "stimulate and revivify His Majesty during morning rides." [1] 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

Another fancy way of cheating at mulled wine. This is a delicious sweet liqueur made with citrus fruits and ginger. Add a little of King’s Ginger with some citrus fruit and sugar to hot wine, or even better, cider, for a delicious warming drink. But, even as it fell out of use amongst the general public, the saddle flask continues to be used in the context of country sports.St James’s today is a time capsule of the 1900s, and possibly earlier.It was part of the early establishmentandit would all have been very familiar totheKing, who was living in Pall Mall,” says Ronnie Cox, our Brands Heritage Director. 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.