Raising a glass to an old friend …
Surprisingly, this is another favourite and staple tipple we’ve just realised hasn’t been properly reviewed on GINblogger – exactly as happened with Tanqueray London Dry, both of us thinking the other had Done the Honourable Deed.
In fact, we did share the manufacturer’s video on how to make the Ultimate Bombay Sapphire G&T during the early days after our launch, then promptly got side-tracked by all the new and exciting craft gins that came our way, like children in a sweet shop – forgetting our old friend: the stalwart Bombay Sapphire. As with any reliable companion, you tend to take them for granted – and you shouldn’t, because they’ll be patiently waiting in the side-lines when all your flashy new friends have disappeared into the distance.
So, the original Bombay Sapphire Gin is a London Dry, offering its 40% ABV contents in the world-famous blue bottle, which has been titillating our palates since 1987 and, when launched that year, invigorated the fortunes for Hampshire’s Laverstoke Mill Distillery’s gin, as well as lighting the way for the surge of new recipes and brands we are still seeing being created today.
To be honest, it was one of the first premium ‘off the shelf’ gins that really got me into gin, and I felt it to be quite exotic compared to its contemporaries – and rightly, too: Bombay Sapphire features ten hand-selected, sustainably sourced botanicals to create a balanced, bright, fresh flavour, which have been crafted using a unique vapour infusion to draw out the distinctive taste – from the heat of the Moroccan cubeb berries along with the spice of West African grains of paradise.
Other botanicals include Lemon, Coriander, Orris Root, Angelica, Cassia, Cubeb, Almonds and Liquorice – and, of course, Juniper. All combine to produce a strong citrus nose, but also a slight sweetness and floral tone; unusual for a London Dry, but this is what sets Bombay Sapphire apart from its peers.
I like the final kick from the citrus, along with the touch of earthiness – we enjoy ours with Indian tonic and a wedge of lime. To conclude, there will always be space in our larder for you, old friend – we won’t forget you again.
Bombay Sapphire London Dry can be purchased widely for around £20.00
