So what is it that Dubonnet so much a part of French history?
Well, I rather went on a little history trip while researching this – we could also call it a Google rabbit warren. Once I started looking into the story I found it full of interesting titbits.
Let’s start at the beginning with the creator: Joseph Dubonnet
In the early 1800s France was expanding its empire and French troops were sent out to some inhospitable places. These places were often malaria hotspots, an awful illness that the French government knew had to be controlled. The treatment for malaria was quinine, which was made from the cinchona bark and tasted pretty foul. In 1830 the French government put out a public appeal to create a drink that would make quinine more palatable. The winner was the Parisian Joseph Dubonnet. It is essentially quinine added to fortified wine.
It was so popular with the troops that they continued to drink it when they came home. By the turn of the century, Dubonnet was popular not just throughout France, but also across the channel in England, where the Queen Mother used to mix it with gin.
Dubonnet is still popular and in 1976 it is bought out by Pernod Ricard, who produce it in France. It It is also produced in the United States by Heaven Hill Distilleries of Bardstown, Kentucky.
This iconic brand did produce memorabilia but this one that we found is especially fun for two reasons. The first is the condition. It still even has the little plastic protectors underneath is with is incredibly rare. Secondly, I actually really like the way the letters are separated in DU-BON-NET the gaps are for placing your cigarettes; a small but fun detail.
