Bombay Sapphire Gin Review – An Expert Tasting Guide

Bombay Sapphire Gin is known as one of the premier gins in the world. If you have not tried it as yet, you are missing out on a real treat.

Key Information

• Distillery: Bombay
• Country: Hampshire, UK
• ABV: 47%
• Bottle Sizes: 700ml
• Known Botanicals: lemon peel, liquorice, orris root, cassia, cubeb, almond, juniper berries, angelica, and coriander, grains of paradise.
• Base Spirit: Grain
• Awards: 1st – World Gin Awards

Where Is Bombay Sapphire Gin Distilled?

The UK has for a long time been the home of premier gins. Bombay Sapphire Gin is no exception. This high-quality gin is distilled in the English countryside in the county of Hampshire. The distillation process takes place from start to finish in an old paper mill near the ancient English city of Winchester.

Winchester is perhaps better known as the home of King Arthur’s Round Table but is now also known as the home of Bombay Sapphire Gin. A visit to the distillery is worth your while if you are in the area. Tickets to guided tours are easy to book online.

Not only can you tour the distillery. You can also take part in classes where you can learn how to make cocktails. Tasting sessions are available throughout the year.

Bombay Sapphire Alcohol Content

The ABV of Bombay Sapphire is 47%. The average ABV of gin is around 40% which is the minimum alcohol by volume for a spirit to qualify as gin.

The UK is home to many craft distillers and they produce gins with an ABV which is often higher than 40 per cent per volume.

The Bottle Sizes

Bombay Sapphire Gin is sold all over the world. The most popular bottle size is 70ml. However, the distillery also produces 750ml bottles aimed mainly towards the US market. On occasion, 1000ml bottles are also available. They are often sold as part of special packages which may include a collector’s glass.

What Botanicals Will I Find In Bombay Sapphire Gin?

Bombay Sapphire was a bit of a sensation when it first hit UK’s drinks market. In a very crowded marketplace, the botanicals stand out and are what makes this gin special.

If you are a gin lover, you will pick up lemon peel, liquorice, orris root, cassia, cubeb, almond, juniper berries, angelica, and coriander. You will also notice a touch of grains of paradise which is a much sought after African spice. It is this unique range of botanicals that have turned Bombay Sapphire into a worldwide taste sensation.

The base spirit of Bombay Sapphire is juniper berries. When the gin was first launched in 1986, many gin lovers were confused about the base spirit. With so many other exciting botanicals added in, the base spirit was hard to distinguish. But, when you let the gin linger for a moment, you will pick up notes of juniper berries.

Awards Won By Bombay Sapphire Gin

This is a gin with a string of awards. It is perhaps best known for winning first place at the World Gin Awards. The award was a well-deserved recognition of the effort that has gone into producing this unique gin.

On top of this award, Bombay Sapphire has also won gold at the PAC awards and the sought after Mobius Statuette along with many other awards.

The Flavor Profile

The flavor profile of Bombay Sapphire Gin is one of the more interesting in the gin world. If you normally enjoy drinking a gin with fewer botanicals, you will find the profile more complex.

It is a bit like smelling an exclusive perfume for the first time. Before you go ahead and take your first sip, it is a good idea to smell the gin. It gives your nose a chance to pick up some of the finer nuances.

Compared to other gins, you will find that the taste is more intense and peppery. The taste will linger in your mouth. Sip it slowly, and you will soon find that you start to pick up all of those exciting botanicals that make up this gin. Coriander is the second note that tantalizes your taste buds followed by orris root.

How Should I Drink It?

The best accompanying liquid is tonic water, but you may want to go easy on the lemon. Instead of adding a slice of lemon, think about contrasting the taste of the gin with a slice of cucumber.

A simple slice of cucumber highlights many of the botanicals in the gin. Drinking Bombay Sapphire Gin before a spicey meal will refresh the palate and prepare your taste buds for what is to come.

What We Like About Bombay Sapphire Gin (And What We Don’t..)

There is no denying it – this is more of an exotic gin. If you have not tried a craft gin before, you may be a bit surprised. It is perhaps not the right gin for someone new to gin.

However, if you are looking for a gin that is full of taste sensations, and you have got the time to sit down and enjoy a glass of truly good gin, Bombay Sapphire Gin is for you. It is a sipping gin that is more refined and sophisticated when compared to other gins in the same price range.

There is no doubt about it. This is truly a great gin that tastes great. Enjoy with a splash of tonic water or mix in a cocktail.