Bombay Sapphire Gin (47%)

Sweet but balanced nose, with the juniper not too forward, but playing alongside the orange peel and (slight) anise. There is also a clear floral presence. A punch of coriander hits you first on the entry, followed closely by fruit, which surprisingly isn't all citrus; lemon, lime, and something resembling white peach, delivered with a healthy dash of cracked black pepper. I suspect the cubeb berries provide a lot of these hard-to-place fruit and pepper notes. A powerful wave of salinity builds and finishes with a bang. 3.5 stars.

Used to be my go-to drink for years. Strong fragrance of star anise. Best with lemonade.