I'm a fairly dedicated Bombay Sapphire Martini drinker. Bombay Sapphire is my personal flavor preference. Also, the alcohol kick (47%) makes it a little more lethal than the standard gins. I actually cut my teeth on Vodka martinis, because the gin version usually tasted like lighter fluid. Not so with Bombay Sapphire. It's very smooth and flavorful. Also, I've heard a lot about Hendrick's Gin, which I recently finally tried. The deal with Hendrick's is it's from Scotland, and distilled in small batches. The floral flavor is a bit much for me personally, although I can understand why some might like it. It is surely a well-crafted, smooth gin. Plymouth has probably been around the longest - rumored to have been a favorite of the likes of Churchill and Roosevelt. I've yet to taste that one.
I've also seen a London Gin called Bulldog, bottled in a crock-like container (ala Hendricks). Usually it's sold at a super premium price. But tonight I saw it for less than my usual Bombay Sapphire, so I decided to give it a go. After all, I DO own an English Bulldog. Not to mention a Mini Cooper with Union Jacks on the mirrors.
I'm pleased to report, I did not have to give it to the dog - it was quite good - not as unusual in its botanicals as the Hendricks was, but still different and interesting, with flavors like poppy. Also, it was a little lighter in alcohol, weighing in at the typical distilled spirit proof of 80 (40%).
Bottom line, this dog will hunt. But more likely, like my own bulldog, it will curl up on the couch and snore contentedly.
