Britain’s King Charles III and Camilla, Queen Consort, meet business owners during a visit to Talbot Yard in Yorkersgate, Malton, North Yorkshire, England, Wednesday, April 5, 2023. Reportedly, Charles enjoys a martini every night and even keeps a glass for the cocktail with him when he travels. (Photo: James Glossop/Pool Photo via AP)

Count Tibor Kalnoky, described as a friend of the king, shared in the Channel 4 documentary “The Real Windsors: The Outspoken Heir” that King Charles enjoys a gin martini every night. And apparently, Charles is so particular about how his favorite drink is served that he keeps a special glass with him when he travels, according to the Mirror.

When commenting on a time Charles visited him in Viscri, Transylvania, Romania, a few years ago, Kalnoky stated that the king drank a martini “every night before dinner.”

“He likes a martini before dinner, that’s for sure,” Kalnoky added.

Yet not just any martini ratio will do. According to Tina Brown, author of “The Palace Papers: Inside the House of Windsor,” Charles enjoys his favorite cocktail quite wet, comprised of equal portions of gin and dry vermouth. Unfortunately, there’s no word about what garnish the monarch likes atop his drink — but a safe guess could be a traditional lemon twist since his mother enjoyed her gin cocktails paired with the same citrus.

Thus, we present a recipe for what we believe is the perfect royal gin martini.

Royal Gin Martini Recipe

(Photo: Ambitious Studio* – Rick Barrett/Unsplash)

• 1 1/2 oz London dry gin
• 1 1/2 oz dry vermouth
• Ice
• Lemon twist, for garnish

Fill a mixing glass or cocktail shaker with ice. Add equal parts of gin and dry vermouth to the mixing glass. Stir the mixture until well chilled (about 30 seconds) and strain it into a chilled martini glass. Garnish the drink with a lemon twist that has been gently rubbed along the rim of the glass.

Gin and the Royal Family

Beyond a wet martini, Charles is also understood to adore a classic gin and tonic, with an unnamed source close to him previously saying he “can be quite fussy when it comes to food and alcohol,” per the Mirror.

“He’ll take booze on royal tours with him so that he has always got something he likes to drink,” the source shared. “It’s quite strange behaviour, but for Charles, it just makes sense!”

Related: How to Make the Perfect Gin and Tonic Every Time

Additionally, in early April, Charles and Camilla made an appearance at the Talbot Yard Food Court in Malton, Yorkshire. There, the king left a nearby group of people in a fit of giggles after he declined a tonic water chaser for his quick shot of gin.

Enjoying gin certainly runs in the Royal Family, as Queen Elizabeth II’s favorite cocktail was widely believed to be a gin and Dubonnet. A gin and Dubonnet is an easy-drinking cocktail made with a London dry and Dubonnet Rouge, a French aperitif made of red wine, herbs and spices. The late queen enjoyed hers with a lemon wedge and two ice cubes.

Camilla has also been recognized as a gin lover when it was noted she drank a “large glass of gin and tonic” while watching the Netflix series “The Crown.”

Meanwhile, Prince William is more of a neutral spirits fan. Following visits to a string of restaurants in Birmingham, Willam revealed that he enjoys a Kamikaze cocktail, a margarita riff that replaces tequila with vodka.

Read next:

7 Best London Dry Gins to Try in 2023

Buckingham Palace Launches Pink Gin in Celebration of the King’s Coronation

British Politician Under Fire as Gin Distillers Accuse Him of Not Backing England’s National Liquor

Here at Gin Raiders, we do more than write about current events in gin. We are the only media property reviewing gins and aggregating the scores and reviews of other significant voices in the gin world in one place. If you’re interested in getting a shot of gin in your morning email, sign up for our Deal of the Day newsletter