Bombay Sapphire was the brainchild of Thomas Dakin, who purchased a site in Warrington, England, in 1761, intending to start a gin distillery. Fast-forward to the present day, and the best Bombay Sapphire gins all share the same DNA of the original recipe.
It wasn’t until 1831, when the Dakin family purchased a copper pot still and adapted it for vapour infusion distillation, did Bombay Sapphire as we know it today first appeared.
Tom and Mary, the original Carterhead stills from 1831, are still in use today. They have been joined by two state-of-the-art copper pot stills with a capacity of 12,000 litres, fondly named Henry and Victoria.
7 Best Bombay Sapphire Gins
The best Bombay Sapphire gins are carefully crafted using the finest ingredients of up to twelve different botanicals sourced from the four corners of the globe.
1. Bombay Sapphire Distilled London Dry Gin
Overview
- Distiller: Bombay Sapphire
- ABV: 40% (80 Proof)
- Country: England
- Colour: Clear
Review
In its colourful blue bottle, Bombay Sapphire is a London dry gin is distilled with ten handpicked botanicals of almond, angelica, cassia, coriander, cubeb pepper, grains of paradise, juniper, lemon, liquorice, and orris root.
These botanicals are placed in vapour-infused baskets in the Carterhead stills to capture lively, crisp, and bright flavours.
On The Nose
Intense aromas of juniper jump out and are followed by the tangy whiffs of fresh lemon zest and subtle spices.
On The Palate
The opening is clean a juniper forward and lemon zest building into a potent mix of peppery spice and vegetal flavours. The finish is a mix of juniper and welcoming hints of mixed herbs.
Best Served
As a Gin Mule with spicy ginger ale, complimenting the juniper’s notes and invigorating with a dash of lime, finished off with a trio of lime wedge, mint sprig, and a slice of ginger to trim the cup.
Pricing & Info
You can check the latest pricing, product information, and order online.
2. Bombay Sapphire Premier Cru Gin
Overview
- Distiller: Bombay Sapphire
- ABV: 47% (94 Proof)
- Country: England
- Colour: Clear
Review
Bombay Sapphire Premier Cru celebrates the most refined flavours of south-eastern Spain, where Spanish fino lemons create the heart of the gin with reflections of mandarin and sweet navel oranges accompanying crisp juniper.
Ripe handpicked lemons are patiently hand-peeled and hung to dry naturally under the mesmerizing Mediterranean sun before being infused into this lemon gin.
On The Nose
The prominent zesty, tangy lemon and orange freshness are mixed with a cracked pepper spice entangled with the piney juniper.
On The Palate
Assertive zesty lemon and orange notes are seasoned with peppery spice and soothed with plenty of crisp juniper. The finish is long and spicy with floating notes of fresh citrus.
Best Served
This zesty gin is worthy of the refreshing mix that comes with the good old trusted G&T garnished with a wheel of bright lemon and plenty of sunshine.
Pricing & Info
You can check the latest pricing, product information, and order online.
3. Bombay Citron Pressé Distilled Gin
Overview
- Distiller: Bombay Sapphire
- ABV: 37.5% (75 Proof)
- Country: England
- Colour: Pale Yellow
Review
The second creation celebrating the sustainable lemons from Spain is the Bombay Citron Pressé, which uses early harvested naturally pressed lemons to infuse the Sapphire gin with no added sugar, which gives it its unique colouring and flavour.
This is a lemon gin that’s truly packed with lemons but not too sweet.
On The Nose
An unmistakable burst of fresh citrus and plenty of crisp juniper.
On The Palate
The taste buds rejoice at the zesty flavours of infused freshly squeezed lemon flavours that tease the tongue with hints of juniper and gentle spices.
Best Served
Inspired by the Tom Collins gin cocktail, this is the perfect accompaniment to a tall glass with a dash of lime juice and sugar, topped with fizzy soda water and garnished with a wedge of lemon for a perfect sundowner.
Pricing & Info
You can check the latest pricing, product information, and order online.
4. Bombay Bramble Distilled Gin
Overview
- Distiller: Bombay Sapphire
- ABV: 37.5% (75 Proof)
- Country: England
- Colour: Ruby Red
Review
The traditional Bombay Sapphire gin is dressed in red and infused with only 100% natural ingredients of blackberry and raspberry.
It is the focal point of a delicious bramble and perfect for those sultry summer nights when a refreshing gin is laced in red. An excellent gin for beginners looking for additional berry taste.
On The Nose
The aromas of plump berries, the freshness of citrus, and assertive spices provide a sophisticated allure to the gin.
On The Palate
The natural sweetness of red berries even out the dryness of the juniper. Mid-palate reveals a zesty hint of citrus, leading to a discreet serving of spices on the clean, semi-sweet berry finish.
Best Served
Not to state the obvious, but as its name suggest, the Bombay Bramble gin is a fitting accompaniment to a Bramble cocktail stirred with lemon juice and sugar syrup garnished with a wedge of lemon and a duo of blackberries to enhance the flavours.
Pricing & Info
You can check the latest pricing, product information, and order online.
5. Bombay Sapphire Sunset Special Edition
Overview
- Distiller: Bombay Sapphire
- ABV: 43% (86 Proof)
- Country: England
- Colour: Clear
Review
The second limited edition in the line, the Bombay Sapphire Sunset Special Edition, is inspired by the warm glowing embers of the setting sun.
With ten signature botanicals used, the addition of three notes of white cardamom, sundried Murican mandarin, and Indian turmeric adds the warm glow to a uniquely vapour-infused gin.
On The Nose
Aromatic turmeric and white cardamom. Piney juniper is still evident, while the aromas of coriander, anise, and floral angelica hover in the background.
On The Palate
Opening with warmth from soft spices and slightly bitter mandarin orange shining through. Mid-palate brings citrus peel, juniper, rosemary, and light tinges of cracked pepper on the finish.
Best Served
The Bombay Sunset Negroni is the perfect aperitif to enjoy as the sun lazily sets with the last rays of warmth reaching out. A wheel of orange and a star of anise will enhance the Mediterranean vibe.
Pricing & Info
You can check the latest pricing, product information, and order online.
6. Star Of Bombay London Dry Gin
Overview
- Distiller: Bombay Sapphire
- ABV: 47.5% (95 Proof)
- Country: England
- Colour: Clear
Review
It’s a London Dry gin but with a bolder expression with two additional botanicals of ambrette seeds and slowly dried bergamot orange peel.
Taking things down and slowing the process allows for a longer distillation that gives this smooth star the deep aromas followed by rich flavours.
It was inspired by the 182-carat cabochon cut violet diamond presented to silent film actress Mary Pickford by her husband. This gin had to make as much of an impact, which it certainly does.
On The Nose
The aromas are loud and aromatic, with coriander, angelica, and fresh pine notes. The juniper is slightly more muted with a fresh citrus blast and hints of musk.
On The Palate
Upfront floral notes with the mid-palate of angelica and juniper, with a peppery and nutty essence peaking before it finishes into a long punchy coriander finish.
Best Served
Keeping to the classic theme, this gin is beautifully paired with a tonic and slows the pace down as you enjoy a refreshing sipper with a twisted wheel of orange to enhance the aromatic notes of bergamot.
Pricing & Info
You can check the latest pricing, product information, and order online.
7. Bombay Sapphire English Estate Gin
Overview
- Distiller: Bombay Sapphire
- ABV: 41% (82 Proof)
- Country: England
- Colour: Clear
Review
Bombay Sapphire English Estate gin was launched in 2019 as a limited edition, the first in a series of promising new limited editions to follow.
Taking its inspiration from the countryside surrounding Laverstoke mill and bottling it, it is based on the original London dry gin with the additional botanicals of Pennyroyal mint, rosehip, and toasted hazelnuts.
On The Nose
The aroma of fresh juniper is evident, with notes of nutty hazelnut and tingling mint making a debut. The whiffs of floral are present with the afterglow of citrus.
On The Palate
Opening with juniper and pleasing spices with mint rising in the mid-palate with hints of floral and a slightly dry nuttiness. Subtle lemon and violet floral on the finish.
Best Served
Enjoy it in a Secret English Garden with a helping of cloudy apple juice and refreshing ginger ale to spruce up the flavours with a garnish of lemon and apple wheels, lemon rosemary, and a sprig of mint.
Pricing & Info
You can check the latest pricing, product information, and order online.
Ingrid’s Top Pick
Bombay Citron Pressé Distilled Gin
Due to its uplifting citrus kick, yet not deviating too far from the classic original recipe, I’ve selected Bombay Citron Pressé Distilled Gin as my top pick.
Try it with a cheeky splash of Limoncello for the ultimate lemon G&T.
Conclusion
Whichever Bombay you choose, the best Bombay Sapphire gins have their own unique flavour profile added to a trusted recipe that is masterfully distilled using vapour infusion to give you a bright and refreshing gin experience.
Don’t forget to check out our article on our recent trip to the Bombay Sapphire distillery, where we enjoyed the fantastic Bombay Sapphire gin tour.
Also read: Bartender Secrets: The 8 Best Gins for a French 75
Further Reading
Below are some additional articles from The Drinks Geek blog. We write articles on several fascinating areas of drinks, including different brands, drink types, cocktail recipes and more.
