Bombay Bramble

Flavor Profile

Pink gin is all grown up. Bombay Bramble takes the thing that made Pink Gins so popular— the berry flavor— and elevates the concept.

Firstly, Bombay Bramble starts with Laverstoke Mill’s signature Bombay Dry Gin as a base. Then they add “natural flavors of blackberries and raspberries,” which were “harvested at the peak of ripeness.” There is no added sugar. The deep cranberry hue is the result of a natural infusion of “black carrots and black currant.”

Bottled at a robust 43% ABV, this is a berry flavored gin that is suitable for mixing as well.

Tasting Notes

Color: Deep reddish pink, almost suggestive of magenta or cranberry juice. It is perfectly transparent.

Aroma: Tart and berry forward with heavy aromas of currant. Angelica and hints of spice round things out and give Bombay Bramble a vague impression of its source material.

Flavor: Bombay Bramble is tart and rather dry, with clear gin character. Early, cranberry. Mid-palate, juniper, tart raspberry jam, coriander and a hint of lemon zest.

Finish: Dry and un-sweet raspberry preserves with a hint of spice. While cognitively a bit surprising to taste literal berries, absolutely devoid of any sweetness, it works well. Sipped, it’s pleasant with a nice balance.

Cocktails

Bombay Bramble is perfectly designed for the summer Gin and Tonic. I find that it pairs well with any and all citrus— even an Evans Gin and Tonic works well here. I recommend a sweeter tonic, because the sweetness causes those berry flavors to swell into something brighter (and more literally— peak summer).

Clearly, bartenders should treat Bombay Bramble as a specialty gin. It works well enough in a Negroni. The higher proof means it can be applied in a Martini, but Dry Vermouth is not a natural compliment. Avoid super savory applications like the Very Dirty Martini or the Gibson.

Surprisingly while the berry perspective strongly suggests drinks like the Bramble or Jam Cocktail— it does its best work where it’s allowed to shine on its own. It doesn’t need more berries. Bombay Bramble is all the berries you need.

I also suggest swapping Bombay Bramble into cocktails where you might have used Sloe Gin previously. It could well be the 2020’s upgrade that the Sloe Gin Fizz has been looking for.

Overall, Bombay Bramble

Those looking for a dryer more classically traditional gin with berry flavor might be advised to look towards something like Brockman’s. However, Brockman’s Gin is sweeter to the palate.

Bombay Bramble is successful at creating a sophisticated, upscale interpretation of the berry infused pink gin that took the world by storm in the late 2010’s. However, I think the balance, the presence of gin and gin botanical on the nose and palate positions Bombay Bramble to be more than just part of the fad.

The most interesting place where I see Bombay Bramble positioning itself is as the “spirit forward” answer to Sloe Gin in cocktail applications.

Recommended in its category.

 

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