Bombay Sapphire Bramble Premier Cru Murcian Lemon Gin700ML

Bombay Sapphire Bramble Premier Cru Murcian Lemon Gin 700ML is a 47% ABV gin built around hand-picked Murcian Fino lemons from a single late harvest in southeastern Spain. Rated 94 points by Distiller, this expression layers intensely bright citrus over the classic Bombay Sapphire botanical backbone, resulting in one of the more distinctive premium gins in the brand's portfolio.

Quick Facts: ABV: 47%  |  Origin: Hampshire, England  |  Style: Botanical Gin  |  Distillery: Laverstoke Mill

Production & Heritage

Produced at Laverstoke Mill in Hampshire, England — Bombay Sapphire's dedicated distillery — Premier Cru Murcian Lemon uses the brand's signature vapor infusion process, where spirit passes through a copper basket holding the botanicals rather than boiling them directly. This technique preserves more delicate aromatic compounds. The expression incorporates 13 botanicals: the standard ten (juniper berries, lemon peel, coriander seeds, orris root, angelica root, bitter almonds, liquorice, cassia bark, cubeb berries, and grains of paradise) plus three premier cru additions — Fino lemons, mandarin peel, and sweet orange. The Fino lemons are grown in the Murcia region of Spain, left to ripen through the winter months in Mediterranean sun, then hand-picked and hand-peeled at peak maturity to capture the most concentrated citrus oils.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: A pronounced lemony top note arrives first, suggesting lemon custard and fresh citrus oils. Underneath, juniper's resinous character anchors the nose alongside subtle floral flourishes from the orris and angelica roots.

Taste: The palate opens rich and oily with bright lemon and rounded orange notes. Mid-palate, deep resinous and piney juniper takes hold, meeting berry-like juniper fruitiness and more savory herbal tones. The 47% ABV provides structure without harsh heat, allowing the interplay between citrus and spice to develop fully.

Finish: Long, smooth, and complex — crisp citrus gives way to pithy peel bitterness and warm spice from the cassia bark and grains of paradise. The lemon character lingers well after each sip, resolving into dry, gently bitter botanicals.

How to Drink Premier Cru Murcian Lemon

Neat or over a single large ice cube rewards attention to the citrus complexity; a splash of chilled water opens the floral mid-notes without diluting the juniper core. In cocktails, this gin brings genuine depth:

• Gin & Tonic: The amplified Fino lemon character pairs naturally with a quality Indian tonic, needing only a twist of lemon peel as garnish — no extra citrus juice required.
• White Lady: The rich, oily texture and lemon custard aromatics reinforce the cocktail's Cointreau and lemon juice base, adding botanical complexity.
• Gimlet: The higher 47% ABV stands up to fresh lime cordial while the Murcian lemon notes create a layered citrus dimension beyond what a standard London dry delivers.

Best For

• Gin enthusiasts looking for a citrus-forward expression that retains juniper authority
• Upgrading a home G&T ritual with a more aromatic, single-harvest gin
• Gifting to someone who appreciates terroir-driven spirits and provenance storytelling
• Hosting a cocktail evening where one versatile bottle needs to work across multiple serves

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Premier Cru Murcian Lemon taste like? It leads with bright, custard-like lemon and sweet orange, supported by deep piney juniper, warm baking spice, and a long finish of pithy citrus peel. The overall profile is rich and oily rather than sharp or thin.

How does Premier Cru Murcian Lemon compare to Hendrick's citrus releases? Hendrick's citrus-forward expressions tend to emphasize floral and cucumber-inflected aromatics alongside their citrus, while Premier Cru Murcian Lemon puts a single-origin Fino lemon front and center within a juniper-dominant framework at a higher 47% ABV. The two brands also differ fundamentally in distillation: Bombay uses vapor infusion, while Hendrick's blends pot and Carter-Head still distillates.

Is Premier Cru Murcian Lemon good for sipping neat? Yes — the 47% ABV and rich, oily mouthfeel make it rewarding as a neat pour, particularly for drinkers who enjoy citrus-forward gins with enough juniper weight to maintain classic gin character.

Where is Premier Cru Murcian Lemon made? It is distilled at Laverstoke Mill in Hampshire, England, Bombay Sapphire's dedicated distillery. The defining Fino lemons are sourced from the Murcia region of southeastern Spain.

What foods pair well with Premier Cru Murcian Lemon? Fresh seafood such as grilled prawns or ceviche complements the citrus brightness; soft goat cheese balances the juniper's resinous depth; lemon tarts echo the gin's custard-like lemon notes; charcuterie with fennel salami plays well against the herbal and anise-adjacent liquorice botanical; and grilled asparagus with hollandaise mirrors the rich, oily texture.

What sizes does Premier Cru Murcian Lemon come in? The standard size is the 700ml bottle, which is the most widely available format for this expression.

Is Premier Cru Murcian Lemon worth the price? It positions as a super-premium expression within the Bombay Sapphire range, priced above the core London Dry and standard Sapphire but justified by the single-harvest sourcing, additional premier cru botanicals, and higher 47% ABV. The 94-point Distiller rating supports its standing as a quality step up from standard Bombay Sapphire.

Why Premier Cru Murcian Lemon?

What separates this expression from the crowded premium gin shelf is specificity: a single late harvest of hand-picked, hand-peeled Fino lemons from Murcia, not a generic "citrus botanical" addition. The vapor infusion process preserves those delicate lemon oils in a way that direct-contact distillation cannot, and the result — rated 94 by Distiller — is a gin where terroir actually matters. At 47% ABV, it carries enough weight for serious cocktail work while remaining smooth enough for neat appreciation. For drinkers who already know and trust the Bombay Sapphire botanical profile, this is a focused, provenance-driven evolution rather than a gimmicky flavor extension.