SLOE GIN MASTER CLASS WITH BOMBAY SAPPHIRE

Posted December 12, 2011 by Hanna-May White in FASHION

The last Bombay Sapphire event was part of the Imagination series and it was truly experiential, we got to touch, smell and some of the time taste all the ingredients that go into this sought after Gin. The venue was to die for as it was set in the Natural History Museum but my company was dryer then the Gin and had me front of the line for every drink.

Bombay Sapphire Sloeberry Flip

So when I was invited to the Bombay Sapphire Sloe Gin Master class to be led by the Ambassador for Bombay Sapphire, Sam Carter, I cleared my schedule immediately. Then started to look at what else would make the night unforgettable and one word came to mind…company. And my company was “ the business” as they say on the cobbles here in London.

I was in heaven as I had a bevy of beauties escort me to The Bombay Sapphire Blue Room, which for those that have not been offers a stylish and glamorous setting for a cocktail mixology master class, but before I get into the ingredients of what makes the perfect Bombay Sapphire Sloe Gin allow me to tell you what makes the perfect night. One measure of beauty and brains in the form of my editor Hanna White, a handful of charm from Lady Robin Budd and the essence of wit itself to be squeezed over the proceedings by Caroline Kent. The journey began with an introduction to Caroline who I had never met before and if our introduction was anything to go by I was in for a night of surprises. The lady who’s tweets cuts most people at the knee’s and does it in a way that makes you say thank you afterwards had me watching my tongue and doing my best to keep my “ intoxication umbrella” firmly in place. Yes…I may have had a glass of wine to steady my nerves at The Penthouse before we left..but how foolish I was as I did not need it. It seems there are some ingredients that just have chemistry like Caroline and everyone who meets her.

We arrived to meet the rest of the cast members of my perfect night and greeted with a Bombay Sapphire Sloeberry Fizz cocktail on arrival and then introduced to master of all things Bombay Sapphire, Sam Carter. Who took us on a world tour, without increasing his carbon foot print, of 10 exotic botanicals found in Bombay Sapphire and then back in time of the 1000 years of gin history and he did it all without saying, “ *Great Scott!”. * although I wanted to make certain members of my company say that all night J.

Bombay Sapphire Vale of Martinez

Sam gave us the tour and then moved us to the class room where he was like an alcoholic Bill Nigh the science guy sharing his knowledge on the importance of Vapour Infusion, the 1761 process which makes Bombay Sapphire so unique. With the expert guidance from Sam, this interactive master class gave us the opportunity to make 3 Bombay Sapphire cocktails. I made the Bombay Sapphire Sloe Gin Cobbler as did Caroline ( although mine was far superior due to the way I treated the lemon peel like a submissive slave) and Hanna making the Bombay Sapphire Vale of Martinez. I would tell you what Lady Robin made but at this stage and a few Gin’s in…I can’t remember.

What I do remember was that we got to make and try a Bombay Sapphire Quibble, a Bombay Sapphire Belvoir and a Bombay Sapphire Sloeberry flip.

Bombay Sapphire Sloe Cobbler

With our goodbye’s said and hands, not Gin, firmly shaken we made our farewells into the night. All of us in the warm embrace of a Gin haze. Some of us went on home and a few on to a night not to be forgotten with talks of a new pop up bar concept and the seedy side of the animal kingdom but while each of us will always have a memory of the night none of us will ever easily forget the power of a good Bombay Sapphire Sloe Gin cocktail.

To find out more about Bombay Sapphire visit http://www.bombaysapphire.com