In 1903, a royal physician faced an unusual medical crisis. King Edward VII refused to stop driving his open-top Daimler through freezing British mornings…
The monarch – already obese, elderly and suffering from various ailments, was getting dangerously cold during his motorcar expeditions. His doctor needed a solution that wouldn’t require telling the King to stop doing what he loved. So he commissioned world famous wine dealers Berry Bros. & Rudd to create a medicinal alcohol drink.
The Problem Was Real
Early motoring wasn’t a pleasant Sunday drive. Edwardian motorists dealt with oil smuts, smoke, dust, dirt and horse droppings on shared roads.
Without windscreens, which added considerable weight and created a dangerous plate glass window risk, passengers required elaborate protective gear. Goggles. Veils. Fur-lined leather coats. Hot water bottles and blankets during cold weather.
The physician explained something called “wind chill” to the King, a concept completely unknown to the rest of the world at the time. As speeds increased in these primitive open-top vehicles, the cooling effect became medically significant.
Bizarre But True! Edward VII owned eight Daimlers and drove them whatever the weather, often exceeding the 20mph speed limit. His passion for speed was genuine. His health ailments, however, were equally genuine. So the doctor commissioned a ginger-based liqueur specifically designed to warm and revivify His Majesty during cold morning drives!
The Formula Worked
Berry Bros. & Rudd created what they originally called “Ginger Brandy – Special Liqueur.”
The recipe involved macerating ginger root and other botanicals in neutral spirit, then sweetening and ageing the mixture to create a balanced, complex flavour profile. The warming properties were immediate. The distinctive spicy kick provided exactly what the physician ordered.
King Edward VII granted Berry Bros. & Rudd their inaugural Royal Warrant in recognition of this tailored elixir. The liqueur became so significant to the monarch that it elevated the drink beyond mere beverage status into a personal emblem of Edwardian opulence.
Its popularity extended quickly from motoring to shooting, fishing and hunting parties. Outdoor pursuits where a warming “stirrup cup” was typical before mounting a horse. Flasks carried throughout cold days.
The latest bottle design references Edward VII’s original saddle flask, a hunting flask held in a leather holster and carried on the side of a horse.
Then It Disappeared
After Edward VII’s death in 1910, something bizarre happened. The King’s Ginger didn’t get discontinued. It went underground…
For nearly a century, the liqueur was produced exclusively for the British royal family and aristocracy. It remained an elite secret, fostering an aura of exclusivity that elevated its status far beyond what any marketing campaign could achieve.
Berry Bros. & Rudd finally relaunched it commercially in 2009 for a wider audience. A century-long royal secret became available to anyone who wanted to taste what Kings drank when their doctors got worried.
The Irony Is Delicious
Edward VII smoked twenty cigarettes and twelve cigars daily. He maintained multiple mistresses throughout his marriage. His considerable obesity meant he famously couldn’t button his bottom waistcoat button—a fashion “rule” that persists today.
His physician’s concern wasn’t paranoia. The King died at just 68 after his lavish lifestyle caught up with him.
A liqueur created for a monarch with serious health problems, caused by his own hedonistic lifestyle, became medicinal alcohol prescribed by a doctor – probably exacerbating his existing medical issues further!
What You’re Actually Tasting
The King’s Ginger works neat. It works in cocktails. Hot toddies. Ginger ales and Champagne cocktails.
The spicy, warming notes make it versatile enough for bartenders and home enthusiasts alike. The unique flavour profile sets it apart from other ginger liqueurs because it wasn’t designed to be a commercial product. It was designed to solve a specific medical problem for one very stubborn king.
A bottle of King’s Ginger isn’t just a spirit. It’s a taste of history where medical intervention, royal stubbornness and the dawn of the automobile age collided to create something that lasted over a century. Worth experiencing for yourself, so pick up a bottle below now…
First crafted by Berry Bros. & Rudd for King Edward VII in 1903, The King’s Ginger is golden in colour and delightfully robust in flavour. A revitalising and warming spirit that brings people together. The King’s Ginger is wonderfully uplifting when enjoyed on its own and comes to life in many delicious cocktails. It’s the perfect foundation for any occasion.
