BOMBAY SAPPHIRE® has launched a brand new flavoured gin experience called BOMBAY BRAMBLE® just in time for a sensational summer. Celebrity guests were introduced to this colourful flavour sensation at a the ultimate brunch party in Johannesburg on 10 November.

The new addition to the growing BOMBAY SAPPHIRE range features a 100% natural berry infusion and heralds the ‘it’ drink of the season: BRAMBLE and tonic

A bold new gin bursting with the 100% natural flavour of freshly harvested blackberries and raspberries from BOMBAY SAPPHIRE has hit the scene – just in time to make this a summer to remember.

Easy to mix and perfect for cocktail experimentation thanks to its rich bold berry flavour, BOMBAY BRAMBLE adds a dazzle of crimson – with no added sugar or artificial flavours – to the classic G&T.

The first flavoured gin from BOMBAY SAPPHIRE, BOMBAY BRAMBLE captures the very essence of berries, which are harvested at the peak of their ripeness and flavour.

The natural infusion made from the fruits is subtly blended with the brand’s signature vapour-distilled gin, allowing its distinctive botanical and juniper notes to shine through.

“The colour and flavour of BOMBAY BRAMBLE comes from the unique botanicals we use in our gin and the 100% natural fruits we use in the berry infusion,” says Bacardi Sub-Saharan Africa Managing Director, Francois Portier. “Our Master of Botanicals and our Master Distiller set out to create a unique new gin that had a strong heritage but that was markedly different and extraordinary – and they’ve definitely achieved that. BOMBAY BRAMBLE is a contemporary gin with a bold and unique flavour profile that’s sure to be a hit.”            

Marking a fruity twist on the original, BOMBAY BRAMBLE was launched at an exclusive, by-invitation-only event held on the rooftop of the new Radisson Red Hotel in Johannesburg’s trendy Rosebank on Wednesday, 10 November.

Guests, including actress and presenter, Mbali Nkosi; Getroud met Rugby actor, David Johnson; photographer and content partner, Lesego Legobane (aka ThickLeeYonce); Sustainable designer, Craig Jacobs; artist, John Baloyi; multi-media artist, Francesco Mbele; and Mr Slimfit himself, Theo Ngobeni,, relished the chance to show off their vibrant crimsons, reds and pinks in a nod to the dress code which took its cue from BOMBAY BRAMBLE’s bold flavour.

On arrival, they were whisked up to the roof in a lift perfumed with the smell of berries in a tantalising foretaste of what was to come. They were then blindfolded to heighten their senses and treated to their very first tantalising sip of the season’s most refreshing drink – BRAMBLE and tonic.   

Billed as the ultimate brunch party, the event was hosted by radio personality Ayanda MVP, who welcomed guests to the party and who revealed the inspiration behind BOMBAY BRAMBLE.  

Ayanda and Bacardi’s Portfolio Brand Ambassador, Cameron Hawkins, had an engaging session, with Cameron explaining: “With BOMBAY BRAMBLE we can now offer even the most discerning gin drinkers an inviting but sophisticated fruit flavour, while maintaining a balanced, premium taste profile that makes it ideal for cocktail creativity. It’s bright, it’s fun and it’s full of flavour – and it’s going to set the tone for a spectacularly memorable summer.”

Illustrating just how perfectly BOMBAY BRAMBLE stirs creativity was Nkuli Khanyile, Gauteng Trade Ambassador for Bacardi, BOMBAY SAPPHIRE’S parent company, during an engaging interactive mixology session.
The expert mixologist showcased just how BOMBAY SAPPHIRE’S 100% natural, berry-infused flavour provides a contemporary twist on the iconic 1980s cocktail called The Bramble.

Served with crushed ice, BOMBAY BRAMBLE oozes sophistication and is an ideal drink to enjoy on a summer’s day. It also serves as the perfect base for a reimagination of the renowned Clover Club cocktail, created during the belle epoque at Philadelphia’s Bellevue-Stratford hotel, highlighting the original drink’s bold raspberry heritage while adding a hint of blackberries. The Clover Club cocktail was the summer drink of choice among the writers, lawyers and captains of industry who gathered at the Bellevue-Stratford.

A lighter option is BOMBAY BRAMBLE and ‘sonic’, which features equal parts of tonic and soda water. This combination brings out the gin’s subtle crimson hue, creating a visually striking drink with a light, fresh and balanced taste.

A lively addition to BOMBAY SAPPHIRE’s growing range of premium gins, BOMBAY BRAMBLE  brings not only a carefree new flavour to the social scene, but also an eye-catching deep berry hue, and is available from retailers and in bars and restaurants nationwide.

BOMBAY BRAMBLE is also available online from Takealot.com. The recommended retail price is R299 (ABV: 37.5%).

BOMBAY BRAMBLE® is available from retailers and in bars and restaurants nationwide. It is also available online from Takealot.com.