Brand

Dubonnet

Dubonnet is a wine-based aperitif (quinquina) created in 1846; it is characterized by a wine base flavored with cinchona bark, herbs, spices and cane sugar. It is produced on an international scale (historical production in France, with bottlings also in the USA).
  • Thuir (FR); Bardstown, KY (USA, bottling) · Pyrénées-Orientales / Roussillon (France); Kentucky (USA, bottling) · France; United States (bottled under licence)
  • Since 1846

Dubonnet

Meet the producer

Official website
The story
Dubonnet was created in 1846 by Joseph Dubonnet as a medicinal aperitif containing quinine, devised to make quinine more palatable for soldiers. Over time the brand became a historic aperitif, preserving a proprietary recipe and expanding internationally. Today the brand belongs to major groups and commercial production is managed across different markets: French production is historically linked to Thuir (Roussillon), while in the United States the product is bottled under licence by local operators.
Production philosophy
To celebrate the tradition of the French aperitif by combining a historic recipe with market adaptations; the brand emphasizes conviviality, heritage and the use of a proprietary blend of wines, herbs and spices to achieve a balanced, versatile profile for cocktails.
Territory
France (historical production and European version, Thuir, Roussillon) and United States (bottling/production under licence in Bardstown, Kentucky).
Production method
Produced as a wine-based aperitif: a wine base (typical grape varieties such as Muscat of Alexandria and grapes from the Roussillon) is flavored with a proprietary blend of herbs and spices, supplemented with cinchona bark (a source of quinine) and sweetened with cane sugar; some versions are fortified/enriched and subsequently matured.
Ageing
Extended maturation in oak barrels for the French version according to official group information.
Characteristics
Type
Brand
City
Thuir (FR); Bardstown, KY (USA, bottling)
Categories
  • wine-based aperitifs
  • aromatic liqueurs
  • historic French aperitifs
Raw materials
  • wine (e.g. Roussillon grapes, Muscat of Alexandria)
  • cinchona bark (quinine)
  • cane sugar
Casks and ageing vessels
  • oak barrels
Representative products
  • Dubonnet l'Aperitif (Dubonnet Rouge)
  • Dubonnet l'Aperitif 100cl
What makes it distinctive
  • Created in 1846 by Joseph Dubonnet as an aperitif containing quinine.
  • Wine-based aperitif with a proprietary recipe of grapes, herbs, spices and cinchona bark.
  • Produced/managed internationally: historical production in France (Thuir, Roussillon) and bottling/market relaunch in the USA via Heaven Hill/Dubonnet Co. in Bardstown, KY.
  • ABV and specifications may vary by market (e.g. 14.8% reported for some European versions; 19% indicated for the US market in the Heaven Hill relaunch).

Products from Dubonnet

Full collection

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