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. 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 The hunting flask would have been held in aleather holster and carried on the side of a horse when you were out hunting or going from one place to another – in the days before the commercial advent of the motorcar,” explains Ronnie. 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. 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

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.” 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.

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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. 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.” Today's distributed, 82 proof, King's Ginger comprises a neutral based grain spirit, ginger, lemon oil, Glenrothes single malt scotch, and sugar. [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.

The result is clean and elegant, tactile and seductive. Its translucent golden bottle recalls honey or nectar, suggesting richness, vitality and purity. 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 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. We’re delighted that the latest iteration of The King’s Ginger was awarded a gold medal by the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2021.

The birth of The King’s Ginger

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.

It remains popular even today when people go out hunting – an activity which takes place in winter, when it’s very cold,” says Ronnie, “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.” 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. 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. 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.” 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.”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] 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.”