While juniper is the most well known botanical used to flavor gin, there are often a host of other supporting flavors. These can range from cassia to lemon rind to grains of paradise to almost any spice the mind can conceive of. For these reasons, gins are highly variable as their influence is driven by more than factors like grain or fruit used and aging vessels. Among the most famous gins is Bombay Sapphire London Dry Gin, which includes over 10 different botanicals, include cubeb, grains of paradise, and almonds.
Bombay Sapphire London Dry Gin
While Bombay Sapphire London Dry Gin is from a 1761 recipe, its worth noting that the brand is from the 1980’s. Following a run of success, it was sold to Bacardi, who has crafted other versions (including original Bombay Dry and Bombay East). The version in the US is the 94 proof, while international versions are 80 proof.
Sight: Clear.
Smell: The nose leads off with a bit of spice before jumping into juniper. The smell is bright and perfume like with a touch of almond, a variety of citrus (predominately grapefruit), and a hint of coriander. The spice creeps back in and is almost pepper like – most likely from the grains of paradise or cubeb berries.
Sip: The start has a hint of sweetness that slowly fades as the mouthfeel gets slightly warm. The heat persist throughout, but notes of juniper and citrus rind dominate the top notes. Hints of spice and earth notes grow in the background, with a persistent touch of pepper.
Savor: The ending is dominated by spicy pepper and juniper wrapped in lemon peel. The ending lingers provocatively.
Bombay Sapphire London Dry Gin is an aggressive gin that doesn’t end up tasting like a pine tree. This dominance is driven by the citrus and spice notes that help balance the juniper notes throughout. The result is a bold gin that toes the line between herbal and spice in an elegant and strong way. While the palate feel is slightly harsh, the flavors are strongly indicative of a London Dry Gin.
In Cocktails
Bombay Sapphire London Dry Gin really opens up in Martini. Floral notes and juniper jump out to lead, with plenty of citrus coming in to play background. Combined with the acidity and herbal notes of the wine, it blends smoothly and effortlessly, leading to a clean and inviting drink. Bombay helps to keep the strength of the gin in the forefront, but allows the vermouth to play its support role admirably.
In Review – Bombay Sapphire London Dry Gin
We recommend Bombay Sapphire London Dry Gin, both thanks to it’s dominate characteristics and complex flavor profile. The added bonus of playing nicely with other ingredients while still showing the full strength of botanicals present in gin. The price and availability are another reason for our recommendation. In the low to mid $20 price point, there’s a lot of value offered for the price.
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