Sanderson, London, is hosting the Bombay Sapphire Gin Journey Masterclass, along with a special menu of Bombay Sapphire Gin cocktails. The Masterclass is aimed at people who want to know more about the versatility of gin, and to discover how it can be matched with other flavours in order to bring out its full potential. To do this, Renaud de Bosredon, the Bombay Sapphire brand ambassador, has created a bi-weekly event at the Sanderson, that is both fun and educational with a real wow factor to it as well.
Three Bombay Sapphire cocktails are used in the Masterclass that reflect the geography of the 10 botanicals in the gin, each with its own Sensory Spray Atomizer with a specific paired flavouring.
The three cocktails are:
- Mediterranean Ultimate Gin and Tonic Twist – with almond and fig flavoured vermouth and salted caramel. The sensory atomizer is coffee.
- Moroccan Ultimate Gin and Tonic Twist – with coriander infused Martini Rossaro and coconut water. the sensory atomizer is fresh ginger.
- Asian Ultimate Gin and Tonic Twist – with lemon grass, coffee. The sensory atomizer of spicy szechuan peppers.
Each cocktail was sampled, and described, before squirting the atomizer into your mouth to pick up the flavour of it, then returning to try the cocktail again. The results were amazing, with friendly debate about what new flavours appeared and which ‘half’ of the cocktail people preferred.
Lastly, the Moroccan Ultimate Gin and Tonic Twist was sampled with headphones on playing the sound of a Moroccan market, and a blindfold, heated and steamed to reflect the hot Moroccan sun. Fully immersed with at least two senses being tricked to thinking they were in Morocco, the cocktail was tried again; lots of wows and disbelief at the exploding flavours, and yet more great discussion.
It’s no wonder that the tasting led to lots of discussions, with different people noticing different flavours and aromas. Many repeated the comment that the atomizer made such a change to the flavours that it was like having two cocktails for the price of one. As the Masterclass came to a close, many were ready to try some more, with matched food at the bar or in the interior dining area.
There are 5 other Bombay Sapphire Gin Cocktails that can be tried, along with paired side dishes. Each one has been specially created to showcase the versatility of gin and to give you the feel of being in different locations around the world. They can be taken in any of the Sanderson bars but for real enjoyment I suggest using the Long Bar. You may well meet Abigail Messenger, the head waitress who keeps the Gin drinkers well looked after. She took time to explain how the cocktails were prepared, and which were the staff favourites, and added a real sparkle to my evening.
First up, the Sanderson Gin Journey Riverbank Tonic, a really bright and fresh gin with watercress and violet, making it peppery and floral at the same time. It was served in a large glass with way too much ice, so ask for a straw with this one to really enjoy it.
The Sanderson Gin Journey Jakartas Cure is supposed to be an uplifting Indonesian inspired cocktail, mixing tamarind and carrot juice. It didn’t work for me, coming across more like a vegan smoothie that had gone wrong. The carrot also hugged the glass, making the finished product not visually appealing.
The Sanderson Gin Journey Siams Manhattan cocktail was a beautiful reddy bronze colour and full of mixed aromas, highlighted by Martini bitters. Beautiful to look at and hold, it sadly tasted like a Campari and Soda with a smooth introduction and no peppery finish. Very pleasant to drink, but just a shame it was so close to something else.
The Sanderson Gin Journey African Calabre’s Brightest is a superb blend of gin and peach along with fine Sherry wine. Highly aromatic, the peach comes across bright and almost as a light summer orange with the botanicals of the gin. The Sherry hints throughout but comes in and the finish, almost like a ship waiting to leave port on a summer evening. A feminine cocktail that works well.
The Sanderson Gin Journey African Punch cocktail was a vibrant burst of citrus with a lingering warming cinnamon finish and definitely had the wow factor. It was also the bar staff’s favorite.
The complexity of Gin, highlighted by Bombay Sapphire in the Masterclass helps to explain the growing excitement and explosion of Gin offerings, and Sanderson are at the front with this.
The Sanderson Gin Journey Masterclass is on until mid November, but the gin cocktails will remain, so you have time to taste them all.
Oh my gosh , now this is the sort of class I would love to send my best friend on. Looks like you were having fun.
Looks like you had fun. The drinks look amazing.
The flavours from each were wildly different, and made for a real adventure. I was on my own which meant the tasting was very subjective, as it is often good to have another taster to compare notes and identify the hidden flavours.