Dubonnet Red

What's the secret to a long life? If Queen Elizabeth II is anything to go by (she turned 94 in April), a morning tipple of Dubonnet and gin is just the trick. Dubonnet Rouge is an old school French apéritif made from fortified wine and a secret blend of citrus peels, spices, herbs, and quinine. It was originally created in the 1840s to make the anti-malarial quinine more palatable to the French Foreign Legion troops but has now become a staple of most bars. HRH isn't likely to fear a case of ague from London's unwholesome fens, she drinks it because it's delicious. It offers up a delightful sip of dried plums and cherries and is a perfect balance of bitter and sweet. Pour with an Australian gin like Four Pillars and you'll have a cocktail on which the sun never sets.