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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 The Edwardian times were really the heyday of shooting: it was the pursuit of the landed gentry, aristocrats and friends of theKing.Edward VII or his friends would introduce The King’s Ginger to theirfriends, and it became a secret success amongst the very few – well before the days of the commercialisation of the brand.” Originally made by Berry Bros & Rudd for King Edward VII, this has become a bit of a Christmas classic, its pure gingery spiciness working very well in solo-digestif style or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 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.
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. Originally formulated by Berry Bros. & Rudd for King Edward VII, The King’s Ginger is a beautifully warming, revivifying elixir with a spicy-yet-honeyed flavour, perfect for the wintery outdoors. Generally ginger beer bottles were returnable, unless the manufacturer had died or adopted a new design. They also had value where they were short in supply. Rural households, for example, often kept a number of ginger beer bottles for use in the pantry. In Kings Lynn, however, there was evidently no shortage, and with a large number of public houses as well as multiple manufacturers the bottles had little re-sale value. This is demonstrated by the large number that were dumped. Though some were clearly old when they were thrown away, most were overlooked or ignored by the scavengers who nevertheless did a good job of emptying the dust-heaps of wine bottles, jam jars and other re-salable vessels.The result is clean and elegant, tactile and seductive. Its translucent golden bottle recalls honey or nectar, suggesting richness, vitality and purity. 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. 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] 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. In contrast to the previous bottle, the new bottle is also fully recyclable. Sustainability is a key consideration behind the new design, broadening its appeal to a new audience of socially and environmentally conscious consumers. Edward VII would have been familiar with Berry Bros. (as we were then known), as his parents and grandparents had been – making it a natural destination for the Royal Physician in his search for a restorative for the King. He came to visit the shop, setting the wheels in motion for the birth of The King’s Ginger.
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. 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.
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. 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
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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. The vision for The King’s Ginger is one of relevance to the modern audience – while at the same time, staying true to its roots. It draws out its origin story as a revitalising restorative: a spirit presented in a tall, lean bottle, perfectly suited to high-energy kingly pursuits such as horse-riding, hunting and fishing.” The new bottle allows the liquid to be the hero; it takes the design from staid tradition to a more refreshing, convivial experience,” says Guy. “During the re-design, we knew we needed to shed new light and energy on a brand which had been around for a long time and give it appeal to a new audience.” 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. King Edward VII literally lived life in the fast lane. He would endlessly drive his horseless carriage (a Daimler), whatever the weather. So much so, that in 1903 the Royal Physician became concerned about the monarch’s health. So, he called on Berry Bros. and Rudd for a solution, a bespoke liqueur that would warm and revivify His Majesty. Crafted from fresh ginger, (for centuries celebrated for its medicinal properties) and enlivened by the judicious addition of citrus oil, The King’s Ginger was born. Rich, golden and delightfully crisp in flavour, it helped King Edward stay colourful and ready for whatever came next.
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.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.” Right: a Lincolnshire porter bottle from a merchant in Boston. We found several porter bottles in the ditch. Porter as a drink was going out of fashion by the 1880s. See the post on a porter bottle. While our latest iteration of The King’s Ginger remains true to this history, that doesn’t mean it won’t evolve. The latest recipe brings out more of its spicy, gingery warmth, which proved popular with the judging panel of the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, who awarded The King’s Ginger a gold medal in 2021. 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.”
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