Discover a new gin from a familiar name that's perfect for summer

A Citron Pressé is my favourite non-alcoholic beverage whenever I am in France.

The drink is basically a deconstructed lemonade with pulpy lemon juice, cold water, and sweetening ingredients served separately.

It is a terrific thirst quencher on a warm day, but it not often seen outside France.

Now the innovative people at Bombay Gin have produced their own take on the Citron Pressé - and it would go down a treat on a warm day in Australia.

The Bombay product is billed as "a new vibrant gin bursting with the taste of freshly-squeezed Mediterranean lemons inspired by the Tom Collins cocktail".

The colour will certainly catch your eye and the gin has been created with a 100% natural fruit infusion and no added sugar.

The concept is similar to Bombay Bramble, the brand’s first flavoured gin, and is definitely a gin, just with added zest.

The Bombay approach differs from using highly concentrated artificial flavours and colours - a common practice.

“When crafting Bombay Citron Pressé it was so important that only the best ingredients were used, combined with a distinct production process," says Bombay Sapphire Master Distiller Dr Anne Brock.

"Our Master of Botanicals, Ivano Tonutti, ensures that the highest quality Mediterranean lemons are harvested at their ultimate ripeness to truly showcase the very best flavours that nature has to offer. We know that people are searching for natural, premium spirits and Bombay Citron Pressé delivers this with a wonderfully bright and fragrant taste.

"Zesty lemon is underpinned by the classic notes of our vapour infused gin, providing a natural sweetness and a brilliant base for a host of delicious cocktails.”

I think I have found my summer drink of choice - wine excepted, of course.

The makers recommend enjoying Bombay Citron Pressé in an Ultimate Tom Collins, made over ice and finished with fresh, juicy lemon and a splash of soda water.

Complimenting the launch of Bombay Citron Pressé is a ready made canned cocktail; the Bombay Citrus Collins.

Bombay Citron Pressé has an RRP of $65.00 and is available at Dan Murphy’s, BWS and select retailers nationally.

Bombay Citrus Collins four-pack has an RRP $25.99 and can be found at the same outlets.

See https://bombaysapphire.com/

How to make the very best gin and tonic

Remember when gin was a simple drink used in G+Ts and the occasional cocktail?

This Saturday is World Gin Day and around the world spirits lovers will be celebrating myriad different styles and gin combos.

Whether you like your gin neat, as the basis for a cocktail, or in a classic lime-garnished G&T here are some mouth-watering ideas from some of my favourite gin creators.

From traditional gins to those infused with berries, or rhubarb, here we go. 

Tom Warner, co-founder of Warner's Distillery kicks off with a farm-grown G&T using his rhubarb gin.

“Every bottle is one-third real rhubarb juice, so it’s naturally pink. It tastes like rhubarb and looks like rhubarb because that’s what it ruddy well is. Cracking with Mediterranean Tonic (also absolute dynamite with Ginger Ale if you’re not a tonic fan). Add a slice of orange if you’ve got one going spare.”



Four Pillars from Healesville in the Yarra Valley believes the simplicity of a gin and tonic lets the gin shine.

“For me, there is nothing better than our signature Rare Dry Gin mixed in a G&T with good quality tonic water, plenty of ice, and a slice of orange,” says co-founder & distiller Cam Mackenzie.

“We use whole fresh oranges in each distillation so using an orange wedge as a garnish really complements the unique citrus notes in the gin.”

There are several ways to enhance the classic gin and tonic without deviating from its fundamental essence, as Bombay Sapphire master distiller Dr Anne Brock points out.

Her suggestions include switching the garnish to match the flavour profile of the gin; stirring in a sprig of herb to add flavour intensity; using a flavoured tonic water to change up the flavour dynamic and using an infused gin like Bombay Bramble, which uses blackberries and raspberries to add a different flavour.

She also advises: Don’t be shy with the ice: at its core, a G+T should be refreshing. Using too little ice, or letting it melt quickly, is a fast track towards undermining a cocktail that needs to be cold to be its best.

Two recipes;

Bombay Sapphire Classic Gin & Tonic: 50ml Bombay Sapphire, 100 ml premium tonic water, lime wedge. Fill a balloon glass to the rim with large, cubed ice, pour 50ml of Bombay Sapphire, squeeze fresh lime into drink and drop into glass, top with premium tonic water, stir and enjoy.

Warner’s Rhubarb G+T: Combine 60ml Warner’s Rhubarb Gin with a splash of Mediterranean tonic, add a slice of orange or blood orange

Lemons add lift to “premier cru” gin

Bombay Sapphire is among the world’s leading gins - but there is drinking pleasure beyond the classic G+T. 

The distilling team from Bombay Sapphire has just launched a the new small-batch gin, Bombay Sapphire Premier Cru - a hand-crafted, super-premium gin that celebrates Murcia, Spain, and the citrus fruits found within the region.

The new releasefeatures Murcia’s fine lemons, with complementary mandarin and sweet navel orange flavours for a bittersweet kick.  

Bombay Sapphire Premier Cru offers a point of difference in mixed drinks and cocktails.

Bombay Sapphire Master of Botanicals, Ivano Tonutti (what a great job title), sources the ingredients. He said: “I am delighted to showcase the work of our suppliers and farmers in Murcia, many of whom I’ve known personally for over 20 years. 

“Each lemon has been hand-picked at its ripest moment in small quantities during the late harvest season, using skillful techniques passed down from generation to generation. 

“Murcian citrus is particularly special due to the exact region where it is grown. Sitting in a basin between mountain and sea, it is the perfect micro-climate for growing citrus that slowly ripens in the winter months for the best tasting fruit and impactful flavour.”

Bombay Sapphire’s Master Distiller, Dr Anne Brock said: “We are delighted that gin fans will soon be trying this stunning new expression from Bombay Sapphire, which is a multifaceted celebration of renowned Murcian citrus. I am incredibly proud of the meticulous processes used to produce Bombay Sapphire Premier Cru, from the skilled sourcing and preparation of botanicals, to my role in carefully adapting every small batch of gin to bring out the nuances of the late harvest during distillation, amplifying the unique characteristics and finest flavours into a consistent flavour profile every year.” 

So there! 

Bombay Sapphire Premier Cru has a higher ABV of 47% - so tread carefully. 

It is available at Dan Murphy’s and selected Vintage Cellars, First Choice and independent liquor stores for $79. 

 

 

Meet the drinks that are a work of art

Can a drink also be a work of art? The team behind Bombay Sapphire believe so - and are out to prove it. 

"Sippable cocktail art" may be coming to a bar near you thanks to a partnership between the premium gin distillers and visual artist Ellen Porteus. 

As part of the Stir Creativity campaign, Porteus will use cocktails as a canvas and create bespoke cocktail garnishes, inspired by Bombay Sapphire, Bombay Bramble and Bombay Sunset (a brand I have yet to try, hint). 

Bombay Sapphire will also be donating $1 per cocktail sold over the summer to two charities within the hospitality and arts industries: TipJar and the Arts Project Australia. 

“This has been such a fun project to work on!" says Porteous. 

"Out of all the canvases I’ve used in the past, I’ve got to say a cocktail is one of the most imaginative."

Bacardi-Martini Australia brand ambassador (great gig that) Georgie Mann said: “Creating cocktails is an art within itself, so collaborating with visual artist, Ellen Porteus on these bespoke cocktail garnishes connects to Bombay Sapphire’s core, as there is finesse and craftsmanship in everything we do.”

The three bespoke cocktail garnishes will be available at over 50 venues nationally with the Bombay Sour, Bramble Sour and Sunset Sour. 

See www.bombaysapphire.com

 

A quality G+T for when you are in a hurry

 

Sometimes you just need a drink. 

You don't want to fiddle around with a bottle of gin, a bottle of tonic and finding a lemon to slice. 

So here is a quality cocktail with zero fuss. 

Meet Bombay Sapphire's new cans of Bombay Sapphire & Tonic: ready to pour. All you need is the lemon or lime.

The blurb says it is "best enjoyed chilled straight from the can, or poured over a glass of ice with a slice of lime".

So you still need the slice, but everything else is taken care of. 

Each can contains a double serve; so you can share, or slake your thirst big time. 

British distiller Bombay Sapphire uses up to 12 precious botanicals suspended above the spirit in perforated copper baskets during distillation of its London Dry Gin. 

That way, as the heated spirit vapours rise, they’re gently infused with all the rich aromatic flavours our botanicals release

Sold. Try Dan Murphy's or BWS stores. Around $27.95 per pack of four.

Sapphire standard: How sustainable is your gin?

The team behind Bombay Sapphire Gin is on a mission to ensure their product is 100% sustainable by the end of the year.

The aim is for Bombay Sapphire, distilled in England but owned by the Barcardi group, to be the first major brand made with 100% sustainably-sourced botanicals. 

After decades spent building sustainable partnerships with farmers and suppliers, Bombay Sapphire has announced that all 10 of its botanical ingredients are on track to be certified sustainable by late 2021. 

With the suppliers of eight botanicals already certified according to the For Life standard, the goal is for the remaining two producers – for grains of paradise from Ghana and licorice from China – to be certified in the months which follow the lifting of travel restrictions.

Bacardi has set 2025 as a target for sourcing 100% of all its key ingredients across the board from sustainably certified suppliers.

The 10 Bombay botanicals include juniper from Tuscany, coriander from Morocco, lemon peel from Spain and cubeb berries from Java, are selected by Ivano Tonutti to create the gin’s fresh, bright taste.

The For Life certification is awarded by Ecocert, the world’s leading specialist in the certification of sustainable practices. 

“We take a 360-degree approach to sustainability,” says Bombay's Ivano Tonutti. ”It’s our responsibility to care as much about the farmers and their communities as we do the botanicals they grow and harvest for Bombay Sapphire.

"By looking after their well-being and investing in sustainable farming practices, we are helping to protect the environment and their livelihoods for generations to come.”

Sarah Nichols, Marketing Director for Bacardi ANZ, says: “Our sustainability credentials are second to none and thanks to the team’s hard work we are reaching new heights. We’re now hoping to inspire others to follow in our footsteps. It’s only if we invest in the environment as an industry that we can really move the needle.”

For details see www.bacardilimited.com/corporate-responsibility/environment/