Stock Your Drinks Cupboard With These Royal Warrant Holders
Ever wondered where the Royal Warrants are from and what they mean? Simply put – they are a tried-and-tested seal of quality goods, services and purveyors utilised by the British Royal Household.
Whilst these date far back almost a millennia to the reign of Henry II in 1155 – they continue to be used and authorised in present times by the Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh and the Prince of Wales to guarantee skill and high standards. Royal Warrants can be attributed to almost any supplier to the Royal House should the Royals wish to honour them and the current holders range from cleaning companies (In-depth Hygiene Services) to broadband providers (BT).
Nevertheless, the oldest continuous warrant is perhaps unsurprisingly held by a wine merchant in London’s St James street; Justerini & Brooks, who have maintained the distinction since 1761. Their neighbours Berry Brothers & Rudd (founded in 1698) also hold a warrant gained in 1903.
Some of the United Kingdom’s very best gins, whiskies and ports are also high on the Warrant list – making for an interesting insight into Royal British drinks cabinets. DDW takes a further look:
Champagne
There may be 26 different drink-related Royal Warrants, but at least 10 of these are Champagnes: Bollinger (continuously held since 1884), Taittinger, Mumm, Krug, Lanson (awarded in 1837 and the official champagne of Wimbledon), Laurent Perrier, Louis Roederer, Pol Roger (Churchill’s favourite and served at William & Kate’s wedding reception in 2011), Moët & Chandon and Veuve Clicquot.
Pimm’s
The quintessential British summer tipple has been enjoyed throughout the British lands and its many sporting events since 1840 however it only gained its Warrant in 2011.
Johnnie Walker
JW was granted its first Royal Warrant in 1934 by King George V, a true Scotch whisky lover. Today, the marques fine blends can be found in almost every country on Earth – making it one of the world’s most popular spirits.
Martini Vermouth
It said that the Queen loves a dry martini after a long day, and who could blame her? Like any martini lover, the monarch knows that the secret to a perfect one is always in the vermouth. And when it comes to vermouth, HRH QEII prefers the original; Martini brand as created by Luigi Rossi in 1863 (the exact recipe of which is held so secretly that it is vaulted away in a Geneva bank vault).
Harvey’s Bristol Cream
The nation’s favourite sherry has been made in Jerez since 1769 and has been an official supplier to the Crown sine 1895. Although sales of the fortified wine may be ever so slightly less now than they were during Queen Victoria’s reign (the original granter of the Warrant), it remains a popular beverage. Such is the case that the nation’s Poet Laureate is still paid with a butt of sherry per annum in lieu of cash (a whopping 720 bottles a year).
Tanqueray Gin & Gordon’s Gin
Two favourites of the Royal House for both dry martinis and G&T’s alike. These are essentials in the Royal drinks cupboard – so much so, that the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh’s team ensure that there are least 2 cases of each with them when travelling. Interestingly, the Royal Family also produces their own small-batch gin (Buckingham Palace Gin) which as of yet does Not yet have a Warrant… perhaps it is just a matter of time.
Angostura Bitters
An essential component behind any bar this company has been manufacturing aromatic bitters for the Royal House since 1824. It is a key component to a myriad of cocktails and also holds the distinction to be carried in the Royal luggage wherever the monarch may go.
You are now prepared to give your drinks cabinet the Royal treatment… time to stock up for winter!