Named after the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra (Mumbai since 1995) the Bombay Sapphire London Dry Gin is not only an eye-catcher due to its distinctive blue square bottle. Also the relatively young age of this brand, which was only founded in 1987, and the rather rare steam-infusion distillation make Bombay Sapphire London Dry Gin what it is. The origin of the Bombay Sapphire brand name is the result of a competition in the 1980s between various media and advertising agencies, whose best suggestion was used. The brand name Bombay reflects the part of English history during the Indian colonial time (British Raj) on the one hand and on the other hand the term Sapphire hints at the “Star of Bombay”, which is one of the largest and most important of the Star Sapphires, nowadays on display at the Smithsonian. (picture: barfish.de)

The steam-infusion method which imparts the Bombay Sapphire London Dry Gin with the aromas of its ten Botanicals, namely grains of paradise, cinnamon, pepper, coriander, lily, juniper, angelica, licorice root, lemon and almond, is characterized by the fact that the botanicals’ container is attached at  the top of the pot still. The alcohol vapor flowing through the botanicals is now able to carry flavors with it. In contrast to conventional gin making where the botanicals are added directly into the liquid to maceration, this procedure is referred to as a drag distillation and its stills are known as Carter-Head stills. Overall, the Bombay Sapphire London Dry Gin receives a triple distillation, resulting in products with 40% by volume and 47% by volume.

The nose of this clear London Dry Gin shows a very pronounced juniper character. The 40% by volume are almost unnoticeable, which makes the nosing of the Bombay Sapphire London Dry Gin extremely mild and gentle. It shows an extraordinary complexity in the nose with flavors of coriander and light citrus fruits. Although they are not as clear and distinct as, for example, in the Beefeater London Dry, they are hinted at in the Bombay Sapphire. Overall the nosing of the Bombay Sapphire London Dry Gin is a great pleasure. Unfortunately, the oral sensation cannot entirely fulfill the expectations created by the olfactory impressions, leading to a score reduction. It is still very mild, yet a little bitter. The complexity in the mouth is not as developed as it is in the nose, but the mild and creamy character of the Bombay Sapphire is definitely a plus. The typical juniper is weak to moderate and after a resting it in the mouth for a while, fruity notes of strawberry emerge. The Bombay Sapphire London Dry Gin culminates in a pleasant but not too long lasting finish, leaving the aforementioned fruity nuances in the mouth.

Details:

Type: London Dry Gin

Age: —

Alcohol: 40% abv

Region: Florida/U.S.A.

Bottler: Bombay Spirits Company/Bacardi Ltd.

Score: 7/10 Points

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3. Beefeater 24