With the COVID 19 isolation ongoing and the onset of spring, I have some more time in the afternoon and good weather to enjoy on my porch. It is the perfect combination for one of my favourite cocktails, a Gibson cocktail.
Bombay Sapphire Gin has been my go to gin for this cocktail. When I was in the liquor store, I noticed a different variety of Bombay Sapphire Gin, Bombay Sapphire Gin East. It advertises on its label that it has more lemongrass and pepper notes. It was only a couple of dollars more than the Bombay Sapphire so I decided to give it a try.
I started by sipping it neat. There was definitely some more flavours. While it still had the great balance of Bombay Sapphire, it also had just a touch more pepper notes that made it seem a bit more sharp. It was quite a pleasant difference. However, I don’t drink gin neat. How would it be in my Gibson cocktail?
So, I mixed it with some Martini Extra Dry Vermouth and made a Gibson cocktail. I was pleased to find that the sharper taste added a nice note to my cocktail. It was still a great gin taste that went wonderfully in the cocktail but the sharper pepper notes made a surprisingly better cocktail. It just seemed brighter and tastier. I prefer the East variety and will happily spend the extra couple of dollars
The Verdict
Sometimes it pays off to try something new. The difference between the Bombay Sapphire East and the Bombay Sapphire gin isn’t huge but it is noticeable and very enjoyable!
The Old Fat Guy
