Flavor Profile
The Bombay Sapphire gin lineup is no stranger to special editions— you may remember Bramble, East, English Estate, or the short lived, travel exclusive Amber. Their latest looks southward to citrus field of Spain for inspiration. Bombay Sapphire Murcian Lemon Gin adds mandarin, navel orange, and the juicier, more aromatic Fino Lemon to Bombay Sapphire’s already expansive product lineup. Bottled at 47%, the label on top proudly proclaims this gin to contain the 2022 harvest.
The gin was first launched in the UK in 2021.
Tasting notes
Color: Perfectly clear
Aroma: Recognizable somewhat as part of the Sapphire line, some of the trademark coriander and green juniper are present on the nose, highlighted with some zesty lemon. Expect a more subtle lemon oil with woody facets.
Flavor: More earthy and peppery than it is citrus forward. While citrus is present, it’s not overwhelming everything else.
Cracked white pepper, bitter orange zest, juniper and coriander build into a more bitter citrus led finish. Think of lemon zest with the thinnest bit of pith, topped with some cubeb and woody juniper.
Finish: Long and quite dry with a woody, peppery tang.
Cocktails and suggested serves
Bombay Sapphire Murcian Lemon Gin is significantly brightened in traditional gin serves like the gin and tonic, Tom Collins or Gin Fizz. Similarly the earthier, drier notes can be played up in a Negroni or Last Word.
I found it to be a versatile mixing gin. Bartenders will be able to use it behind the bar with ease and in most presentations, that additional citrus is present— but not literal enough to suggest a “lemon flavored vodka.” Kudos for accentuating the signature botanical without hitting the gin drinker over the head with it.
Overall, Bombay Sapphire Murcian Lemon Gin
Bombay Sapphire Murcian Lemon Gin is complex and a more subtle take on “lemon flavored” gin that reads more as a gin with lemon than it does a lemon flavored gin. I appreciate the complexity, the ways that the botanical bill calls to mind their flagship Bombay Sapphire Gin, and the ways it diverges. The added citrus accentuates some facets that were present in the original, but they don’t do so at the expense of the juniper.
Overall, Bombay Sapphire Murcian Lemon Gin is a lovely gin, that is more for fans of gin than it is for fans of lemon alone.
Awards
Saw at stores! Will have to try it!
I saw this on sale at my local liquor store. Since Bombay Sapphire was my “gateway gin” when I was a college student, I decided to give this iteration a go.
Neat: Juniper is the dominant flavor. There’s also a lot of spice, although the gin is smooth enough to balance it out. There is also some citrus flavor, but less than I’d expect from a gin that literally has the word “lemon” on the label.
For cocktails: I found it made a nice but not amazing Negroni. I mixed a bone-dry martini (gin over ice, stirred, then served in a chilled cocktail glass with a twist of lemon); it was very clean and balanced, and I had to resist the urge to make another. This gin really shined in a gin & tonic, almost like it was made for this purpose.
I think most gin lovers would enjoy the Bombay Sapphire Murcian Lemon, and would benefit from having a bottle in their liquor cabinets.