Queen Elizabeth II Used to Love This ‘Slightly Bitter’ Holiday Drink

This will be the royal family's first Christmas without Queen Elizabeth II, who passed away this past September. The late monarch loved the holiday season and maintained many traditions each year, whether they were public ones—like the Christmas broadcast—or private ones, like a lively game of charades that the family engaged in on Christmas night. And now, we've just learned about the drink that QEII loved to enjoy during the holiday season: a spicy white wine.

Now, you may be thinking to yourself: ‘Spicy white wine? But white wine is usually sweet.’ And while you'd be correct in thinking so, former royal chef Darren McGrady recently opened up to Express about the unique wine that Queen Elizabeth would treat herself to around Christmastime.

McGrady, who worked for the royal family for over 15 years, revealed that Queen Elizabeth used to love drinking the German white wine Gewürztraminer.

According to Decanter, the wine is described as having “complex aromas, ranging from rose to apricot kernel and tropical fruits, together with pepper and sweet spices.” They added, “While these wines are simple they should still show typicity, with spicy fruit and a slightly bitter finish.”

On Halleck Vineyard, they also point out that “Gewurz” means “spice” in German, so it makes sense that the drink has hints of it, whether it's notes of ginger, cinnamon or allspice.

In the past, McGrady noted that Queen Elizabeth would usually drink this wine with dinner. And if she was opting for a different alcoholic drink, then her favorite was usually a gin and Dubonnet.

As the royal family celebrates Christmas without Queen Elizabeth, they will be keeping her memory alive by continuing many of their longstanding traditions. Buckingham Palace reported last month that King Charles III will still travel to Sandringham for Christmas, and he will also attend a Christmas service at St. Mary Magdalene.