Bombay Sapphire Gin Cocktails at Blackbird Cafe

Enjoy Bombay Sapphire Gin Cocktail

So why is gin drinks so popular?

There are a few reasons why Gin has become so popular. One reason is that it is a versatile spirit that can be used in many cocktails.

Gin has a unique flavour profile with a distinctive juniper taste setting it apart from other types of alcohol. This makes it a popular choice for cocktails because it adds depth and complexity to the drink’s flavour.

By the time the 1960s rolled around, the Gin and tonic were starting to lose its fizz. It was the start of a steady decline for Gin, which forced Victorian distillers out of London or to shut up shop completely!

Gin fans were ageing, and by the time the 80s arrived, people had made vodka their choice with drinks such as the Woo Woo, Sea Breeze and, of course, the Cosmo created by Toby Cecchini at the Odeon in NY in 1987.

Several vodka brands launched slick advertising campaigns, like Absolut Vodka, in 1979. They commissioned Andy Warhol and other famous artists to design branded creations and campaigns that captured the spirit of the times. It made vodka “cool”, and as such, sales in the US jumped from 10,000 cases sold in 1980 to almost 400 (394) million in 2000.

Understandably, this pushed Gin to the back of cocktail cabinets, ready to be forgotten. But, finally, things were about to change after 25 years of being unloved and underappreciated.

By the 1960s, Gin had given way to vodka as the spirit of choice.

Michel Roux was the brilliant marketer behind Absolute Vodka. He understood Bombay Gins’ approach to avant-garde thinking and helped develop a brand that would put Gin back under the spotlight.

He worked with the Bombay Spirits Company’s Master Distiller at the time Ian Hamilton, to develop a premium gin inspired by the original recipe.

Adding two exotic spices – Cubeb Berries from Java and Grains of Paradise from West Africa – brought floral notes and peppery length. But they didn’t stop at the taste. Roux understood the importance of image in the category and wanted to associate it with luxury and design.

So he came up with the Bombay Sapphire Gin name, which was inspired by The Star of Bombay, a 182-carat cabochon blue Sapphire from Sri Lanka and one of the largest ever found. The iconic blue bottle was a natural and brilliant addition that has been synonymous with bartenders since our launch in 1987.

So it’s time to enjoy Bombay Sapphire Gin Cocktail.