Dan Murphy’s and BWS are scrambling to restock a key ingredient used to make Queen Elizabeth II’s favourite cocktail as people raise a glass in memory of the British monarch.

Sales of Dubonnet Rouge, a French aperitif, jumped 465 per cent at Australia’s largest drinks retailer in the three days between Friday and Sunday compared with a typical seven-day trading week. The late Queen’s favourite cocktail is said to be two parts Dubonnet, one part gin, poured over ice with a lemon twist.

“It’s certainly an acquired taste. It’s predominantly a fortified liqueur with spices, so it’s quite niche, quite popular in Europe – obviously very popular with the Queen,” Endeavour Group director of buying and merchandise Tim Carroll said.

The $13 billion beverages group is stocking up on the liqueur after several Dan Murphy’s and BWS stores ran out over the weekend.

“In less than half [a week] we sold almost double that of Christmas, clearly showing a significant uplift from what we normally sell, and that was people clearly googling and recognising what is the Queen’s favourite drink and making it themselves,” Carroll said.

The aperitif is back in stock at most stores, but Endeavour expects demand for Dubonnet to remain higher than usual in the lead-up to the national day of mourning next week to honour the Queen, who died on September 8.

“I know that we’ll have more requests this weekend and equally into next week over the course of her funeral, perhaps.”

Across the country, Dan Murphy’s outlet in Sydney’s Double Bay notched up the highest total sales for the liqueur and was still sold out on Tuesday evening.