Bacardi-owned Bombay Sapphire has created a new lemon-forward gin to highlight its sustainability efforts, the Spirits Business reports.
‘Premier cru’, meaning ‘first growth’, is a term often used in French wine classification to indicate superior quality. Bombay Sapphire chose to use the term on its new expression to call attention to its ‘carefully sourced’ botanicals, particularly the lemons that serve as the heart of its flavour.
The London Dry gin has been made with hand-picked and hand-peeled lemons from a single harvest in Murcia, Spain. Its botanical mix also includes mandarin and navel oranges, for a ‘bittersweet yet balanced’ flavour.
Ivano Tonutti, Bombay Sapphire’s master of botanicals, said: “I am delighted to showcase the work of our suppliers and farmers in Murcia, many of whom I’ve known personally for over 20 years, in a truly remarkable gin. Each lemon has been hand-picked at its ripest moment in small quantities during the late Fino harvest season, using skilful techniques passed down from generation to generation.
Sitting at a higher ABV of 47%, the gin is recommended for use in a variety of cocktails, including a classic Martini and a French 75.