Victoria Day Cocktails

Since everyone likes a long weekend (yup), the Canadian government decided in 1945 that the holiday would fall every year on May 24 or the Monday that precedes it. People still celebrate with fireworks, picnics, parades and long weekends at the cottage. (Note that the outlier province remains Quebec. Quebec has not celebrated Victoria Day since 1918 and celebrates their holiday “Journée Nationale des Patriotes” on the Monday prior to May 25.) 

Do you know that Queen Victoria liked her cocktails? Her favourite mix was said to be claret and malt whisky. Cocktail lovers can always be found at Buckingham Palace. The Queen Mother favoured gin and Dubonnet with a little lemon and so does HRH Queen Elizabeth. My kind of Queens! What better way to celebrate Victoria Day than with some British cocktails. Let’s raise a toast to Queen Victoria this holiday Monday! Thanks for the day off! Our American friends, save these cocktails to enjoy on your Memorial Day long weekend next week!

The Queen’s Favourite (the go-to drink of both the Queen Mother and HRH Queen Elizabeth)

What you need:

• 1 oz gin (I used Spirit of York)
• 2 oz Dubonnet (I used Carpanno Antica Formula vermouth)
• lemon slice 
• 2 Ice cubes (only 2 because that’s what the Queen likes)

What you do:

• Place the slice of lemon on the bottom of a rocks glass (yes, the lemon goes on the bottom, that’s how the Queen likes it)
• To the rocks glass add 2 (and only two) ice cubes
• Add the gin and Dubonnet
• (Have the servants bring another!)

Pimm’s Cup (after all, nothing is better to sip while you watch Wimbledon)

What you need:

• 2 ounces Pimm’s No. 1
• English cucumber wheel (1/2″ thick)
• lemon wheel (1/2″ thick)
• orange wheel (1/2″ thick)
• ice
• 4 oz (approximately) ginger ale
• lemon twist (garnish)
• English cucumber spear (garnish)
• mint (garnish)

What you do:

• In a tall glass, add the cucumber, orange and lemon wheels
• Muddle slightly
• Add the Pimm’s No. 1 
• Add the ice
• Top with ginger ale
• Add cucumber spear and mint garnish

Bramble (invented by Dick Bradsell at Fred’s Club in Soho, London)

What you need:

• 2 oz gin (I used Spirit of York)
• 1 1/2 oz fresh lemon juice
• 1/2 oz simple syrup
• 1 oz Crème du Mûre (I used Chambord) 
• blackberries (garnish)
• slice of lemon (garnish)

What you do:

• Fill a rocks glass with ice
• Add the gin, lemon juice and simple syrup
• Stir
• Add more ice
• Add the Crème de Mûre and let it slowly float down
• Garnish with the blackberries and slice of lemon

Vesper Martini (created by Ian Fleming at the iconic Duke’s Bar in London)

What you need:

• 2 oz gin
• 1 oz vodka
• 1/4 oz Lillet

What you do:

• In a shaker filled with ice, add the gin, vodka and Lillet
• Shake shake shake
• Strain into a martini glass

However you are celebrating this long weekend, cheers!