Bombay Sapphire Gin
Another big name, gin heavy weight is none other than Bombay Sapphire. Bombay Sapphire was originally launched in 1987 and builds on the story of the British in India during the days of the Raj. This is when gin became strongly associated with the ruling classes as it was drunk extensively with tonic as a prevention of malaria. Malaria prevention of course did not come from the gin itself, but from the quinine in the tonic water.
The flavouring of the drink comes from a recipe of ten ingredients: almond, lemon peel, liquorice, juniper berries, orris root, angelica, coriander, cassia, cubeb, and grains of paradise. The spirit is triple distilled using a carterhead still, and the alcohol vapours are passed through a mesh/basket containing the ten botanicals, in order to gain flavour and aroma. This is felt to give the gin a lighter, more floral taste compared to those gins that are distilled using a copper pot still. Water from Lake Vyrnwy is added to bring the strength of Bombay Sapphire down to 40.0%
Tasting Notes
Coriander seeds bring vitality to the gin. Together with juniper and lemon, they represent the high notes of Bombay Sapphire, releasing a fragrant citrusy note that is immediate from the first sip to the last. With less essential oil than other varieties, the Moroccan seed allows the complexity of the coriander aroma to really shine. The Spices blend well with the other botanicals to create a unique taste and sensory experience.
The cubeb berries create an initial warm sensation, with a ‘tingling’ note on the top of the palate, followed by an intense retro-nasal effect that allows the wide notes of our gin to add depth to every taste. With its warm, spiced notes it creates a rounded flavour, blending well with the other intrinsics of Bombay Sapphire. The typical cinnamon note expands in the mouth and creates a long lasting inspired taste.
Serving Suggestions
As with all decent gin, nothing beats the classic gin and tonic. Just make sure you have decent tonic, or it’s a total waste.
Straight from The Mayor
Very few people know gin like I do. Sure, your cocktail monkeys will claim to know what they are talking about, but their opinions on gins are almost always linked to the length of skirt worn by the brand ambassador. Let’s be fair here, Bombay aint bad. I used to quaff this as an alternative to local Waraqi when I live in Uganda and of course Bombay was always the preferred choice. Outside of the deep and remote jungles of East Africa, there are better gins available at a similar price point.
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