I have heard of Dubonnet mixed with gin as a cocktail. This is apparently Queen Elizabeth's favorite cocktail. I've never had Dubonnet but the recipe sounds a lot like vermouth. Can anyone tell how they differ/are alike?
The Dubonnet Manhattan I finally purchased a bottle of Dubonnet from my local wine shop. My wife is experimenting with the gin/Dubonnet cocktail that the Queen drinks and I sat down the other evening and constructed a Dubonnet Manhattan. Other than substituting for the sweet vermouth, I stayed with the original recipe, rye whiskey (Wild Turkey), Angostura bitters, and a maraschino cherry. I like a stronger drink so my ratio of whiskey to Dubonnet was higher than the traditional 1 part whiskey to 3 parts vermouth; more like 1 to 1. My first impression of this Manhattan is that the Dubonnet is sweeter than any sweet vermouth I’ve had. It also has a fruitier flavor and tastes much more like a rich, red wine that does vermouth. IMHO, this is not an advantage in a mixed drink. Even with the greater than usual ratio of whiskey to Dubonnet, the latter dominates the flavor of the drink. The Wild Turkey barely registers. I missed the blending of the contrasting flavors that I have enjoyed with the traditional, vermouth-laced, Manhattan. From here on in, the Dubonnet is going to be enjoyed on it’s own. It is too overwhelming for an enjoyable Manhattan.
