With the Coronation just around the corner, you indubitably want a cocktail selection that's fit for any king, queen, or heir apparent. From classically British cocktails to modern tipples with a hat tip to Charles and Camilla, these royal drinks are nobly delicious. And that's a decree no one can argue.
Coronation Cocktail No. 1
A cocktail born nearly 100 years ago, you can thank Harry Craddock's cocktail book for this aristocratic low-ABV cocktail.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces dry vermouth
- 1 ounce fino sherry
- 1 dash maraschino liqueur
- 2-3 dashes orange bitters
- Ice
- Lemon ribbon for garnish
Ingredients
- Chill a martini glass or coupe.
- In a mixing glass, add ice, dry vermouth, fino sherry, maraschino liqueur, and orange bitters.
- Stir rapidly to chill.
- Strain into the chilled glass.
- Garnish with a lemon ribbon.
Queen Elizabeth's Dubonnet Cocktail
Famously Queen Elizabeth II's favorite gin cocktail, the dubonnet will quickly steal a place in your heart. Just like those little princes and princess.
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces gin
- ¾ ounce dubonnet
- Ice
- Lemon peel for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a coupe or Nick and Nora glass.
- In a mixing glass, add ice, gin, and dubonnet.
- Stir rapidly to chill.
- Strain into the chilled glass.
- Garnish with a lemon peel.
A Cocktail for King Charles
King Charles is known to be a fan of scotch, so it's only right that you toast to his reign with a nod to a classic scotch drink.
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces scotch
- ½ ounce hazelnut liqueur
- ½ ounce honey liqueur
- Ice
- Lemon twist for garnish
Instructions
- In a mixing glass, add ice, scotch, hazelnut liqueur, and honey liqueur.
- Stir rapidly to chill.
- Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with a lemon peel.
Need to Know
Don't want to mix a drink? Keep it classically King Charles with a scotch on the rocks.
Camilla Queen Consort's Afternoon Gin
Soon-to-be Queen Camilla enjoys a gin and tonic here and there. Why not raise your own in celebration today?
Ingredients
- 2 ounces pear-infused gin
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Ice
- Tonic water to top off
- Lemon wheel and rosemary sprig for garnish
Instructions
- In a rocks glass or wine glass, add ice, pear gin, and lemon juice.
- Top off with tonic water.
- Stir briefly to mix.
- Garnish with lemon wheel and rosemary sprig.
Royal Regalia Cocktail
Help yourself to a royally juicy and tropical cocktail with passion fruit, raspberry, and, of course, sparkling wine.
Ingredients
- 1 ounce vodka
- 3 ounces passion fruit juice
- ¾ ounce raspberry liqueur
- Ice
- 2 ounces prosecco to top off
- Pineapple wedge for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, vodka, passion fruit juice, and raspberry liqueur.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Top off with prosecco.
- Garnish with a pineapple wedge.
Elderflower Fizz
You can find elderflowers blossoming across the English countryside. Adding that buttery, floral flavor to Champagne for the Coronation? It's a no-brainer today.
Ingredients
- ½ ounce lemon vodka
- ½ ounce elderflower liqueur
- ¼ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ¼ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- ¼ ounce honey syrup
- Ice
- Champagne or prosecco to top off
- Lemon wheel for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a Nick and Nora glass.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, vodka, elderflower liqueur, lemon juice, lime juice, and honey syrup.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into the chilled glass.
- Garnish with a lemon wheel.
Pimm's Cup
The only thing with more regalia and garnish than the Crown is the British Pimm's cup. What could be more appropriate for a coronation cocktail?
Ingredients
- 2 ounces Pimm's
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Ice
- Ginger ale to top off
- Orange slices, strawberry slices, cucumber wheel, and mint sprig for garnish
Instructions
- In a rocks, add ice, Pimm's, and lemon juice.
- Top off with ginger ale.
- Garnish with orange slices, strawberry slices, cucumber wheel, and mint sprig.
Bramble
The bramble's reign is incredibly short compared to that of the royal family. Gracing the commonwealth from just 1984 until now, it's a modern drink for a modern sovereign.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces gin
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ¼ ounce simple syrup
- ¾ ounce crème de mûre OR blackberry liqueur
- Crushed ice
- Blackberries and lemon wheel for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup.
- Shake well to chill.
- Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Slowly add crème de mûre, pouring down the back of a bar spoon. Allow to sink and do not stir.
- Garnish with blackberries and a lemon wheel.
Tom Collins
In contrast to the bramble, the Tom Collins is a British tipple that's been around for quite some time. Okay, not as long as the royal family, but it predates even the start of Queen Elizabeth II's reign.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces gin
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- Ice
- Club soda to top off
- Lemon wedge for garnish
Instructions
- In a highball glass, add ice, gin, and simple syrup.
- Top off with club soda.
- Stir briefly to mix.
- Garnish with a lemon wedge.
Vesper Martini
The name is Martini, Vesper Martini. A bold and timeless martini is the perfect touch to any royal coronation celebration.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces gin
- ¾ ounce vodka
- ½ ounce Lillet Blanc
- Ice
- Lemon peel for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass or coupe.
- In a mixing glass, add ice, gin, vodka, and Lillet Blanc.
- Stir rapidly to chill.
- Strain into the chilled glass.
- Garnish with a lemon peel.
Espresso Martini
From the same mind as the bramble, the British-created espresso martini is an excellent way to kick off the coronation if the event takes place before your usual morning alarm.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces vodka
- 1 ounce espresso
- ½ ounce coffee liqueur
- ¼ ounce simple syrup
- Ice
- Three whole coffee beans for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass or coupe.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, vodka, espresso, coffee liqueur, and simple syrup.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into the chilled glass.
- Garnish with three whole coffee beans.
Royal Drinks Names for the Coronation
You don't need to whip up new cocktails to use these royal drink names for the coronation. After all, an old-fashioned, Manhattan, and gimlet are just as noble with any other name.
- Your Majesty's Manhattan
- Her Royal Highball
- A Crowning Clover Club
- Dowager Reviver No. 2
- British 75
- Heir Apparent Daiquiri
- British Isle Iced Tea
- Queen Mother Margarita
- Jovial Coronation Julep
- A Walk at Westminster Abbey
- The Duke's Knees
- Bright'n'shiny
- Royal and Famous
- London Sour
- Kensington Palace Punch
- Between the Corgis
- Bank Holiday Bloody Mary
- The Green Man Gimlet
- The Oath
- Crown Jewel
- Noble and Scepter
Royal Drinks Fit for a Coronation
Pop the Champagne, raise a glass, and make a toast to the royal family. Channel your inner king and queen on coronation day and, really, you can use these cocktails to make any occasion so perfectly royal.
