Bombay Sapphire is a brand of gin, produced in England from a recipe of 10 botanicals: cassia, cubeb berries, coriander, angelica, juniper berries, orris root, almond, lemon, grains of paradise, and liquorice. The brand was launched in 1987, and was based on Bombay Original London Dry Gin which is a 200-year-old formula that eschewed boiling botanicals for vapor infusion.
The gin is triple distilled using carterhead stills rather than the more commonly used pot still. This still produces gin with lighter aromas and flavors as botanical elements are only added to the spirit via vaporization. A perforated copper basket keeps botanicals separate from the spirit so that when heated only the spirit’s vapors can pass through. Water from Lake Vyrnwy in Wales is added to the spirit after distillation to bring the alcohol level down to 40 percent.
Tasting notes:
Sweet, mild, clean fragrance of lemon, juniper and licorice. This is a complex gin; more flavors can be detected with each sip: cinnamon spice, astringent pine needles, a touch of lime zest and, finally, a big licorice finish comes singing through. Slightly oily feel. Great for a gimlet or martini with a lemon twist.
