Bombay Sapphire
Bombay Sapphire is the gin in the blue bottle. Its flavor comes from ten botanicals suspended in baskets above the still, so only the vapor passes over them. This makes it lighter and fresher than many other London Dry gins. Here you can read what the brand is, which bottles are available and how to drink it.
More about gin
Bombay Sapphire is a London Dry. Want to know exactly what that means, or how it compares with other well-known gins? Start here.
Hendrick's
Scottish gin with rose and cucumber. Softer and more floral, with a distinctive garnish.
About Hendrick's →Our drinks page lists all the brands we cover, from gin to whisky.
A London Dry made with vapor
Bombay Sapphire was launched in 1987 and is now owned by Bacardi. It is a London Dry gin. The name says something about how it is made: all the flavor must enter the gin during distillation, and virtually nothing may be added afterward. The gin is made in England, at Laverstoke Mill in Hampshire.
What makes Bombay Sapphire different is the way it is distilled. With many gins, the botanicals steep in the alcohol in the still. With Bombay Sapphire, they are placed in copper baskets above the still. The alcohol vapor rises through them and carries the aromas with it. This is called vapor infusion. The result is a gin that is lighter, more floral and less piney than a classic, robust London Dry. The side of the bottle depicts the ten botanicals: juniper, coriander, lemon peel, angelica root, orris root, almond, cassia, cubeb pepper, grains of paradise and liquorice.
In brief
Five ways to drink Bombay
Gall & Gall sells the well-known blue bottle in three sizes, plus two variants with extra spices, the older Bombay Dry and a ready-to-drink gin and tonic in a can.
Bombay Sapphire
The classic blue bottle with ten botanicals. Fresh, lightly spicy and full of citrus. The base for almost anything you make with gin.
Bombay Dry
Bombay's older, simpler gin, without the Sapphire name. Juniper, citrus, cinnamon and liquorice. Smooth and easy-drinking.
Bombay Sapphire East
The regular Bombay with two extra botanicals: lemongrass and freshly ground black pepper. Spicier and fresher.
Bombay Sapphire Sunset
Warm spices on top of the original: white cardamom, turmeric and mandarin peel. Rounder and spicier, with a golden colour.
Bombay Sapphire & Tonic
Bombay Sapphire and tonic, premixed. For a picnic or the boat, when you don't have ice, a glass and a cutting board to hand.
Read about the difference between London Dry, contemporary and flavoured gin on our gin page.
Light, citrusy and gently spicy
Citrus & juniper
Lemon peel and juniper up front, with something floral from the orris root underneath. Less piney than a robust London Dry.
Smooth and spicy
Round, smooth flavour with peppery notes of cubeb and grains of paradise, and a hint of almond. Dry, but not sharp.
Fresh and clean
A fresh, fairly short finish with citrus and a lightly sweet note of liquorice.
Flavor profile of the classic Bombay Sapphire at 40%. East is more spice-forward, while Sunset is warmer and rounder.
Three ways to drink Bombay Sapphire
Bombay Sapphire is made for mixing. Because it is light and fresh, it works best with a tonic that is not too bitter and a citrus garnish.
As a gin and tonic
5 cl Bombay Sapphire with 15 cl well-chilled tonic, in a large glass full of ice. Garnish with a slice of lemon or lime. Lime pairs with East, while Sunset suits a slice of orange.
Gin and tonic recipe →In a Tom Collins
Gin, fresh lemon juice, and sugar syrup, topped up with sparkling water. A refreshing long drink that lets Bombay's citrus notes shine.
Tom Collins recipe →In a Dry Martini
Bombay Sapphire makes a smooth, floral Martini. Stir the gin with a small amount of dry vermouth and plenty of ice, then strain into a chilled glass with a lemon twist.
Dry Martini recipe →Cocktails with Bombay Sapphire
A fresh, light gin works best in cocktails with citrus and fruit. These are the recipes to start with.
Gin and tonic
Gin, tonic, plenty of ice, and a slice of lemon. The drink most Bombay bottles are bought for.
Tom Collins
Gin, lemon, sugar, and sparkling water. A long, refreshing drink for warm days.
Bramble
Gin, lemon, and sugar over crushed ice, topped with a splash of blackberry liqueur.
Gimlet
Gin and lime, briefly shaken. Tart, refreshing, and ice-cold.The right glass for Bombay Sapphire
For a gin and tonic, you want a large glass that can hold plenty of ice; for a Martini, a small glass that stays ice-cold. These are the glasses we recommend ourselves.
Everything else you wanted to know about Bombay Sapphire
Is your question not listed? Check out our cocktail recipes or get in touch.
To the cocktail recipes →What percentage of alcohol does Bombay Sapphire contain?
What is the difference between Bombay Sapphire and Bombay Dry?
Why is Bombay Sapphire's bottle blue?
Which tonic goes with Bombay Sapphire?
Which glass do you use for Bombay Sapphire?
Is Bombay Sapphire a London Dry gin?
Buy Bombay Sapphire
Want the bottle at home right away? Order Bombay Sapphire online from Gall & Gall. Gall & Gall has 7 of them, 5 of which are on offer.
Prices as of October 8, 2026, as provided by Gall & Gall. You can find the current price and stock at Gall & Gall. Glazen.nl receives a small commission if you buy something through these links; you pay nothing extra. No 18, no alcohol.