Fine Spirits & Liqueurs : Gin

94 PTS WINE ENTHUSIAST, SILVER MEDAL 2006 SAN FRANCISCO SPIRITS COMPETITION. Intense licorice notes on the palate

Slight botanical nose, with a steely, mineral, pronounced alcohol note. Soft, smooth texture. Lovely sweet citrus peel flavor balanced with brisk mineral accents.

Reminiscent of citrus and spice with a soft, delicate texture. Elegance is the key here, as all components are superbly balanced in a seamless, captivating fashion.

The flavouring of Sapphire comes from a recipe of ten botanicals: almond, lemon peel, liquorice, juniper berries, orris root, angelica, coriander, cassia, cubeb, and grains of paradise. Unlike the distillation methods of other, more traditional gins, the botanicals are not steeped in the spirit. Rather, the spirit is triple distilled and the alcohol vapours are passed through a mesh basket containing the ten botanicals in order to catch the flavour and aroma. The result is a lighter—and, to critics, more vodka-like—gin.

88 PTS BEVERAGE TESTING INSTITUTE. Reminiscent of spices, minerals, and dried herbs. Medium light body with a delicate, creamy texture.

89 PTS BEVERAGE TESTING INSTITUTE. Reminiscent of spices, minerals, and dried herbs. Medium light body with a delicate, creamy texture.

Bright, deep juniper and citrus aromas; crisp, assertive juniper bite, with a very smooth, oily mouth feel; tremendous depth of flavor; complex array of botanicals.

Bright, deep juniper and citrus aromas; crisp, assertive juniper bite, with a very smooth, oily mouth feel; tremendous depth of flavor; complex array of botanicals.

The world's #1 selling gin. The juniper is predominant in the nose, but well balanced with fresh coriander notes. Fresh citrus and spice backdrop on the palate.

97 PTS BEVERAGE TESTING INSTITUTE. Bright, deep juniper and citrus aromas;

93 PTS BEVERAGE TESTING INSTITUTE, DOUBLE GOLD 2005 SAN FRANCISCO SPIRITS COMPETITION. Pungent, aggressive citrus and juniper aromas.

95 PTS BEVERAGE TESTING INSTITUTE, DOUBLE GOLD 2005 SAN FRANCISCO SPIRITS COMPETITION. Pungent, aggressive citrus and juniper aromas.