Prince of Wales

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Cocktail History

The Prince of Wales is a classic cocktail that is said to have been created by King Edward VII, the monarch of England from 1901-1910. It was first published in a tell-all book about the prince in which this drink, which is traditionally made with sparkling wine, rye whiskey, pineapple, sugar, cherry, and bitters, was listed as being one of his favorites.

Cocktail Ingredients

To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:

Sparkling Wine: This is a carbonated wine made with white or red grapes. We used Villa Bellezza Winery Brillante because it has a light and airy flavor. For a mocktail version of this drink, try Gruvi Non-Alcoholic Prosecco in place of the sparkling wine.

Rye: This is a type of whiskey made with at least 51% rye grain, malted barley, corn, and water. We used Sazerac Rye 18-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey because it has a nice spiced flavor with notes of vanilla, pepper, and herbs. For a mocktail version of this drink, try The Gospel Responsible Rye Non-Alcoholic Whiskey in place of the whiskey.

Pineapple Juice: This is the liquid juice of a pineapple. We used fresh pineapple juice.

Simple Syrup: This is a sweetener made with white sugar and water. We made ours at home using Alex’s stovetop recipe.

Maraschino Liqueur: This is a liqueur made with Maraschino cherries, honey, herbs, spices, sugar, and alcohol. We used Luxardo Maraschino Orginale Liqueur because it has a distinct earthy aroma and sweet cherry flavor. For a mocktail version of this drink, try Trader Vic’s Premium Maraschino Cherry Syrup in place of the cherry liqueur.

Aromatic Bitters: This is a food product made with botanicals, herbs, and alcohol. We used Angostura Aromatic Bitters. For a mocktail version of this drink, try All The Bitter Alcohol-Free Aromatic Bitters in place of the aromatic bitters.

Lemon Peel: This the peel of a lemon that has been cut into a strip.

Bartending Tools

To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:

Jigger: This is used to measure and pour ingredients. We used the Japanese jigger from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.

Boston Shaker: This is used to shake ingredients. We used the Boston shaker from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.

Hawthorne Strainer: This is used to strain out ice and solid ingredients after the cocktail is shaken. We used the A Bar Above Hawthorne Strainer.

Pineapple Corer: This is used to remove the core of the pineapple before it’s juiced. We used the OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Pineapple Corer.

Paring Knife: This is used to cut ingredients. We used the OXO Good Grips 3.5 Inch Paring Knife.

Juicer: This is used to juice citrus, fruits, and vegetables. We used the Hamilton Beach Large Juicer.

Peeler: This is used to remove the garnish peel from the citrus. We used the OXO Good Grips 2-Piece Peeler Set.

Tasting Notes

The Prince of Wales features sweet aromas of pineapple, rye spice, and lemon zest, and it has an off-dry taste with slightly sweet flavors that are mostly overshadowed by the rye whiskey but are still noticeable and a spiciness from both the whiskey and bitters. The drink then finishes with the same dry but flavorful characteristic, accented with bubbles that bring the flavors up to the nose a bit more.

(Updated in 2022) Our Opinion of This Cocktail Recipe: We both thought this drink was very interesting because it features sparkling wine paired with a hodgepodge of flavors. We expected it to be sweet and fruity because of the pineapple, but it’s actually quite dry, not so much that Kendall, who usually prefers a sweeter drinks, wouldn’t make it again though. All in all, the Prince of Wales is a fine bubbly beverage filled with a mix of unexpected flavors.

Which of our palates is yours most like?
Find out if your palate is most similar to Alex’s or Kendall’s by answering five questions.

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Which of our palates is yours most like?
Find out if your palate is most similar to Alex’s or Kendall’s by answering five questions.

Take Our Quiz →

Alex’s Take: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
“We tried this cocktail once in 2020 and two years later, I now have a new appreciation for what it offers. While I don’t remember disliking it for any reason, I don’t remember it standing out to me either; this time, however, I was able saw it as a true departure from the standard sparkling wine cocktail. While most that feature bubbly have a sweet but citrusy characteristic, this one omits citrus altogether and goes full force with dark, spicy rye instead of sweetness. The latter is there in the form of pineapple, cherry, and sugar, but all they bring is flavor rather than actual balance, although that’s not a bad thing. The balance is brought on by the wine itself, making the drink a pleasure as long as you enjoy the flavors of whiskey and bitters but not so much if you’re looking for a fruity paradise in a glass.”

Kendall’s Take: ⭐⭐⭐
“Two years into doing regular cocktail tastings, and this is still one of the most interesting sparkling wine drinks I’ve had. I go into bubbly cocktail tastings expecting all of them to be fairly sweet, but this one couldn’t be further from that. The rye lends its usual dark, spicy burn that you expect to be offset by fruity pineapple and sweet wine, but that’s not the case. This drink is quite dry with a fascinating tang that’s just hard to describe. It doesn’t land of my list of favorite cocktails, but it’s worth experiencing at least once if you want a sparkling wine cocktail with a twist.”

Recipe

This cocktail recipe was adapted from The Art of Vintage Cocktails by Stephanie Rosenbaum.

Sale
The Art of Vintage Cocktails
The Art of Vintage Cocktails
Hardcover Book; Rosenbaum, Stephanie (Author); English (Publication Language); 108 Pages – 01/07/2014 (Publication Date) – Egg & Dart (Publisher)
$10.98

AuthorThe Art of Vintage Cocktails

Yields1 ServingPrep Time5 mins

Ingredients
 3 oz Sparkling Wine
 1 ½ oz Rye
 ½ oz Pineapple Juice
 2 dashes Maraschino Liqueur
 2 dashes Aromatic Bitters
 1 Lemon Peel

Method
1

Add rye, pineapple juice, maraschino liqueur, bitters, and cubed ice to a shaker.

2

Shake for 10-20 seconds.

3

Strain into a cocktail glass.

4

Top with sparkling wine.

5

Garnish with lemon peel.

Ingredients

Ingredients
 3 oz Sparkling Wine
 1 ½ oz Rye
 ½ oz Pineapple Juice
 2 dashes Maraschino Liqueur
 2 dashes Aromatic Bitters
 1 Lemon Peel

Directions

Method
1

Add rye, pineapple juice, maraschino liqueur, bitters, and cubed ice to a shaker.

2

Shake for 10-20 seconds.

3

Strain into a cocktail glass.

4

Top with sparkling wine.

5

Garnish with lemon peel.

Prince of Wales

Make It a Mocktail: Use Gruvi Non-Alcoholic Prosecco in place of the sparkling wine, The Gospel Responsible Rye Non-Alcoholic Whiskey in place of the whiskey, Trader Vic’s Premium Maraschino Cherry Syrup in place of the cherry liqueur, and All The Bitter Alcohol-Free Aromatic Bitters in place of the aromatic bitters to try a booze-free version of this drink.

Shop Glassware & Tools

Find collections of cocktail glassware and bartending tools we recommend for your home bar in our Amazon shop.

Nick and Nora Glass - Gold Trim / 5oz (150ml) / 6 Pack
Nick and Nora Glass – Gold Trim / 5oz (150ml) / 6 Pack
Nick and Nora Glass – 5oz (150ml) / 6 Pack; Gold trim.; 6 pack.; Genuine Cocktail Kingdom Product.
$44.99
OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Pineapple Corer & Slicer,Silver/Black
OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Pineapple Corer & Slicer,Silver/Black
Cores and slices whole pineapples quickly and easily; Measurement markings help prevent piercing the bottom of the shell
$22.95 Amazon Prime
Hamilton Beach Juicer Machine, Big Mouth Large 3” Feed Chute for Whole Fruits and Vegetables, Easy to Clean, Centrifugal Extractor, BPA Free, 800W Motor, Black
Hamilton Beach Juicer Machine, Big Mouth Large 3” Feed Chute for Whole Fruits and Vegetables, Easy to Clean, Centrifugal Extractor, BPA Free, 800W Motor, Black
Source: Circana, Retail Tracking Service, US Unit Sales, 12 Months Ending July 2023; Cup not included
$69.85 Amazon Prime
OXO Good Grips 2-Piece Peeler Set - Swivel and Julienne
OXO Good Grips 2-Piece Peeler Set – Swivel and Julienne
Sharp, durable, Japanese stainless steel blades won’t rust; Straight Peeler all-purpose design for effortless prep
$16.95 Amazon Prime
OXO Good Grips 3.5 Inch Pairing Knife,Black/Silver,3-1/2-Inch
OXO Good Grips 3.5 Inch Pairing Knife,Black/Silver,3-1/2-Inch
Sturdy, stainless steel blade; Soft, comfortable, non-slip handle ensures a safe grip; Hand wash with warm, soapy water and promptly dry
$9.95 Amazon Prime

More Sparkling Wine Cocktails

If you like this sparkling wine-based cocktail recipe, here are a few others we’ve tried that you may enjoy:

French 75 Cocktail Recipe

French 75 (Variation): A sparkling wine cocktail made with brandy, lemon juice, simple syrup, and a lemon twist

Nucleus Mimosa Cocktail Recipe

Nucleus Mimosa: A sparkling wine cocktail made with orange juice, cranberry juice, and a lime slice

Minute To Midnight Cocktail Recipe

Minute To Midnight: A brandy cocktail made with pear liqueur, Angostura aromatic bitters, dry sparkling wine, and a lemon twist

Mountaintop Meadow Cocktail Recipe

Mountaintop Meadow: A vodka cocktail made with elderflower liqueur, simple syrup, lavender bitters, dry sparkling wine, a pineapple wedge, and mint

This post contains affiliate links, meaning we make a small commission each time you purchase a product using our links. Product images sourced from Amazon Product Advertising API. Amazon affiliate links last updated on 2024-03-25.

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