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Bombay Sapphire

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Bombay Sapphire
TypeGin
ManufacturerBombay Spirits Co., Ltd.
DistributorBacardi
Country of origin England
Introduced1986
Alcohol by volume 40% (UK, The Nordics, Cont. Europe, Canada, Australia)
47% (US and export/duty-free)
Proof (US)80 (UK, The Nordics, Cont. Europe, Canada, Australia)
94 (US and export/duty-free)
ColourClear
Related productsBombay Original Dry
Websitebombaysapphire.com

Bombay Sapphire is a brand of gin that is distilled by the Bombay Spirits Company, a subsidiary company of Bacardi, at Laverstoke Mill in the village of Laverstoke in the English county of Hampshire.

The brand was first launched in 1986 by English wine-merchant International Distillers & Vintners. In 1997 Diageo sold the brand to Bacardi.[1] Its name originates from the gin and tonic popularised by the Royal Indian Armed Forces during the British Raj in colonial India; "Bombay" refers to the Indian city and "Sapphire" refers to the violet-blue Star of Bombay which was mined from British Ceylon (Sri Lanka), and is now on display at the Smithsonian Institution.[2] Bombay Sapphire is marketed in a flat-sided, sapphire-coloured bottle that bears a picture of Queen Victoria on the label.[2]

The flavouring of the drink comes from a recipe of ten ingredients: almond, lemon peel, liquorice, juniper berries, orris root,[3] angelica, coriander, cassia, cubeb, and grains of paradise. Alcohol brought in from another supplier is evaporated three times using a carterhead still, and the alcohol vapours are passed through a mesh/basket containing the ten botanicals to gain flavour and aroma. This is felt to give the gin a lighter, more floral taste compared to gins created using a copper pot still. Water from Lake Vyrnwy, a reservoir in Powys, Wales is added to bring the strength of Bombay Sapphire down to 40.0% (UK, the Nordics, several continental European markets, Canada and Australia).[4]

The 47.0% version is the standard for sale at duty-free shops in all markets.

Production

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Laverstoke Mill, Hampshire
Glasshouses by Thomas Heatherwick for growing the botanicals

Until 2013, production and bottling of Bombay Sapphire was contracted out by Bacardi to G&J Greenall in Warrington, Cheshire. However, in 2011, plans were announced to move the manufacturing process to a new facility at Laverstoke Mill in Laverstoke, Hampshire. These plans included the restoration of the former Portal's paper mill at the proposed site and the construction of a visitor centre.[5][6][7]

Planning permission was granted in February 2012, and the centre opened to the public in the autumn of 2014.[8][9] The visitor centre included a new construction by Thomas Heatherwick of two glasshouses for plants used as botanicals in the production of Bombay Sapphire gin.[10][11] As part of the transfer of production, two of Greenall's stills were moved from Warrington to Laverstoke.[6]

After production was shifted to Laverstoke, bottling of the drink remained contracted out by G&J Greenall, with the undiluted gin being tankered to Warrington for dilution and bottling. Bottling has subsequently been shifted to Glasgow in Scotland.

Varieties

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Three of the Bombay varieties

Bacardi also markets Bombay Original London Dry Gin (or Bombay Original Dry). Eight botanical ingredients are used in the production of the Original Dry variety, as opposed to the ten in Bombay Sapphire. Wine Enthusiast preferred it to Bombay Sapphire.[12]

In September 2011, Bombay Sapphire East was launched in test markets in New York and Las Vegas. This variety has another two botanicals, lemongrass and black peppercorns, in addition to the original ten. It is bottled at 42% and was designed to counteract the sweetness of most tonic water.

A special edition of Bombay gin called Star of Bombay was produced in 2015 for the UK market. It is bottled at 47.5% and is distilled from grain. It features bergamot and ambrette seeds in harmony with Bombay's signature botanicals. This version has later been extended to several other markets.

Bombay Bramble is a variety infused with blackberries and raspberries and bottled at 37.5% ABV.

In the summer of 2019, Bacardi launched a limited edition gin called Bombay Sapphire English Estate, which features three additional English-sourced botanicals: Pennyroyal Mint, rosehip and hazelnut. It is bottled at 41%.

Design connection

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The brand started a series of design collaborations. Their first step into the design world was a series of advertisements featuring work from currently popular designers. Their works, varying from martini glasses to tiles and cloth patterns, are labelled as "Inspired by Bombay Sapphire". The campaign featured designers such as Marcel Wanders, Yves Béhar, Karim Rashid, Ulla Darni, and Dror Benshetrit and performance artist Jurgen Hahn.

From the success of this campaign, the company began a series of events and sponsored locations. The best known is the Bombay Sapphire Designer Glass Competition, held each year, where design students worldwide can participate by designing their own "inspired" martini cocktail glass. The finalists (one from each participating country) are then invited to the yearly Salone del Mobile, an international design fair in Milan, where the winner is chosen.

Bombay Sapphire also endorses glass artists and designers with the Bombay Sapphire Prize, which is awarded yearly to an outstanding design featuring glass. Bombay Sapphire also showcases the designers' work in the Bombay Sapphire endorsed blue room, a design exhibition touring the world each year.

From 2008 the Bombay Sapphire Designer Glass Competition final will be held at 100% Design in London, and the Bombay Sapphire Prize will take place in Milan at the Salone del Mobile.

Evaluation

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Bombay Sapphire has been reviewed by several outside spirits ratings organisations to various degrees of success. Recently, it was awarded a score of 92 (on a 100-point scale) from the Beverage Testing Institute. Ratings aggregator Proof66.com categorizes the Sapphire as a Tier 2 spirit, indicating highly favourable "expert" reviews.[13]

Cultural references

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  • Bombay Sapphire was used in the video work Victoria Day (Bombay Sapphire), 2002 by contemporary artists Marina Roy and Abbas Akhavan.[14]
  • Long-time sports radio personality Jim Rome is known for his love of Bombay Sapphire Gin, which he often refers to as "the Magic Blue".[15]
  • American hip-hop artist Wiz Khalifa and his "Taylor Gang" are also known for their love of Bombay Sapphire dry gin.[16]
  • Former Las Vegas, Nevada mayor Oscar Goodman is known for his love of Bombay Sapphire Gin, and he has served as a spokesman for the brand.[17]
  • American country singer-songwriter and entertainer Robert Earl Keen references "a quart of Bombay gin" in the song "The Road Goes on Forever".[18]
  • American YouTuber and live streamer Etika was known for drinking Bombay Sapphire, among other alcoholic drinks, during streams as a way to celebrate donations.[19]
  • In the Netflix series BoJack Horseman a bottle strongly resembling Bombay Sapphire can be seen in Princess Carolyn's office.[15]
  • English rapper and former YouTuber Scarlxrd has shown his love for Bombay Sapphire in music videos early on in his career, such as "Glx up"[20]

References

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  1. ^ "G&J Distillers Warrington | the Groves & Whitnall's Globe Works". Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 5 November 2013.
  2. ^ a b "Bombay Sapphire Gin - Bacardi Brands".
  3. ^ "Bombay Sapphire Distillery (Laverstoke Mill) - Orris root". www.diffordsguide.com. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
  4. ^ Kahan, Paul (15 March 2022). Enjoying Gin: A Tasting Guide and Journal. Voyageur Press. pp. 56–57. ISBN 978-0760375105. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  5. ^ Richard Haffner. "G&J Greenall eyes acquisitions, plots ad spend". Just-drinks.com. Archived from the original on 26 March 2012. Retrieved 4 October 2012.
  6. ^ a b "Bombay Sapphire Distillery (Laverstoke Mill) - The Story". Difford's Guides. Archived from the original on 27 March 2022. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
  7. ^ "Gin firm's tonic for historic mill (From Andover Advertiser)". Andoveradvertiser.co.uk. 13 May 2011. Retrieved 4 October 2012.
  8. ^ "Gintime Lowdown with Will Brix". gintime.com. 23 October 2013. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
  9. ^ A first glimpse of the Bombay Sapphire distillery Gintime 19 September 2014,
  10. ^ "Bombay Sapphire Distillery, Laverstoke, UK". Heatherwick Studio. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
  11. ^ marthacrass (23 March 2020). "Sustainability rocks". Gin Magazine. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
  12. ^ The Original Bombay Dry Gin listing on Wine Enthusiast: https://www.winemag.com/buying-guide/original-bombay-dry-gin/
  13. ^ Bombay Sapphire listing on Proof66: http://www.proof66.com/gin/bombay-sapphire.html Archived 2012-10-04 at the Wayback Machine
  14. ^ J. Kegan McFadden. "When the Mood Strikes Us..." (PDF). Platform Gallery. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 October 2022.
  15. ^ a b "1980s Bombay Gin Mirror". The Irish Pub Emporium.
  16. ^ Mlynar, Phillip (2 July 2016). "A Hip-Hop Head's Guide to Drinking". First We Feast. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  17. ^ Susan Stapleton (20 November 2019). "Where Former Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman Dines". Eater Las Vegas.
  18. ^ The Road Goes On Forever Lyrics- Robert Earl Keen on YouTube
  19. ^ {ETIKA} DRUNK CHRONICLES: BOMBAY DONATIONS {STREAM HIGHLIGHTS}, retrieved 3 May 2021
  20. ^ scarlxrd - GLX UP (Lyrics) on YouTube
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