Bombay Sapphire East Gin

Simple yet elegant. Vietnamese peppercorn add pop and flare while the lemongrass gives it a great layer of aroma over the juniper berries.

A twist on but not much different from the original Bombay Sapphire. The extra botanicals impart a bit more exotic flavor but, I think that there are other better Gins that target a similar audience.

You know, as much as I dislike London dry gin, it was very exciting to see additional botanicals that are definitely unique, given how boring those Brits make their gin. It's super disappointing to hear that it was proofed down and not up, for some reason, but if I had to think, I'm hoping this is to let the new botanicals shine through. I have expectations of savory and spicy flavors. A high lemon/lime zest scent, with a bit of milder white pepper, and just a touch of sweet wheat. The nose really does remind me of a American, rye based gin, so this is a good start for a London dry. Initial flavor suffers from the proof, as the body is quite mild, but classic juniper and citrus zest is here. A few seconds later is when things start to get very dry, as expected. The lemongrass may be part that I'm tasting initially, since the citrus notes are milder than what I got on the nose. Opening up with some air does spice things up, but not with a botanical, and instead some raw ethanol (surprising for the proof). In the end, the botanical blend, including the new peppercorns, seem to blend together into a martini perfect gin, but this was not what I was looking for. A mildy potent finish. Overall, this presumably new gin is simply a gimmick with the new botanicals added, and proofing it down didn't really help much. It's absolutely perfect for a dry martini, but it otherwise tastes like regular Bombay Sapphire, and if it costs any more than the original (thankfully it was cheap to begin with), I would ignore it in lieu of the original.

Intense aromas of lemongrass, juniper, and coriander, along with a subtler note of licorice. Oily mouthfeel, with a palate of spice, citrus, and earth – black peppercorn and lemongrass being particularly dominant, though juniper and coriander return here as well. Flavours are well-balanced. The medium-length finish has some harshness, but not enough to make the overall experience unpleasant. 2.75/5.00 – Decent (neat)

thai lemongrass, vietnamese black peppercorn