This June, the Queen will become the first monarch in British history to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee, marking an incredible 70 years on the throne. So, whether you’re planning a street party with your neighbours or simply watching the televised celebrations with a tipple, you’ll want to raise a glass of something special. If you’re in need of some happy hour inspiration, bespoke alcohol gift set company Bottled & Boxed share their pick of the best jubilee-themed cocktails for you to try this year.
Her Majesty’s Cup
What makes a jubilee cocktail really special are traditional British ingredients that both look and taste delicious. So, if you want to make a showstopping drink this year, why not recreate the jubilee punch once served at London’s iconic Dorchester Hotel?
An impressive recipe with quintessentially British presentation, Her Majesty’s Cup is a fruity sharing cocktail that’s served in an actual teapot. To a bowl of sweetened fresh rhubarb, add a generous helping of Hendrick’s Gin, chopped strawberries, sloe gin, and a squeeze of fresh grapefruit. Steep a fine quality Earl Grey teabag in this mixture for five minutes, discard the teabag, and chill this mixture in the fridge overnight.
To assemble your cocktail the next day, fill a teapot with one third of the rhubarb gin base and top up with a bottle of champagne and a handful of ice. Serve in individual teacups with a garnish stick full of fresh berries for the final flourish. Afternoon tea with a twist!
Gin and Dubonnet
If you fancy a taste of royalty when celebrating the jubilee this summer, why not try the cocktail favoured by the monarch herself? The Dubonnet cocktail has reportedly been a favourite of the Queen’s for decades, so shaking up a batch of these undeniably classy cocktails is the perfect way to pay homage to her this year.
For this sophisticated drink, first you’ll need a bottle of Dubonnet, which is a Parisian aperitif made of fortified wine, quinine, and fruit zest. To a cocktail shaker, add ice, a wedge of lemon, two parts Dubonnet, and one part gin. To really celebrate the best of Blighty in this drink, use British gins such as Gordon’s, Tanqueray, or Beefeater’s London Dry. Once shaken, serve in a crystal tumbler with a few more ice cubes and twist of lemon rind, for a refreshing drink on a special summer’s day.
Patriotic panna cotta
If you often enjoy your alcohol in the form of a sweet treat, then this shot of panna cotta is perfect for you. Part-dessert, part-cocktail, this fun recipe uses the all colours of the Union Jack, doubling as an after-dinner digestif that’s as patriotic as it is delicious.
To assemble your panna cotta cups, pour grenadine syrup into short glass tumblers (or plastic ones, if making these for a street party and hoping to avoid any accidents). Fill your glasses to about one third with the grenadine, as this will form the bright red layer at the bottom of your glass. Place these in the freezer while you make the white panna cotta layer.
Next, rehydrate two and half gelatine sheets in cold water for five minutes while heating 150ml milk, 400ml double cream, and 60g caster sugar in a saucepan. Taking the pan off the heat, add a dash of vanilla extract and stir in the gelatine until it is completely dissolved. Allow this to cool off before pouring your panna cotta mixture into the glasses over the layer of frozen grenadine. Refrigerate until set, and just before serving pour over a generous shot of blue curaçao for the final part of the Union Jack. Enjoy this delicious, tri-coloured panna cotta with a small dessert spoon.
“As the country gathers this June to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, why not get into the spirit of things with some patriotic cocktails? Whether you’re watching the celebrations from home or planning a neighbourhood street party, it’s fun to toast with a drink that pays homage to all things British.
“From using classic spirits distilled in the British Isles to incorporating the colours of the Union Jack, there’s plenty of ways you can transform everyday tipples into something special. So, get creative in your cocktail station and celebrate the jubilee in style this summer!”
Steve King, Managing Director at Bottled & Boxed
