Review: Tanqueray Bloomsbury London Dry Gin
Tanqueray continues to play with the good-ol’ green bottle with its latest limited edition gin, Tanqueray Bloomsbury.
Says the distillery:
For the newest limited edition release of Tanqueray, the juniper-forward Tanqueray Bloomsbury London Dry Gin, Master Distiller Tom Nichol drew inspiration from a recipe created by Charles Tanqueray’s son, Charles Waugh Tanqueray. In 1868, when Charles died, his son Charles Waugh Tanqueray took over his business. He was only 20 years at the time, but was a brilliant businessman and innovator just like his father.
His original recipe on which Tanqueray Bloomsbury was based dates back to around 1880, when the distillery was located in Bloomsbury, England. The new Tanqueray Bloomsbury gin will launch into the on-trade with limited availability at specialty retailers. The launch of Tanqueray Bloomsbury follows the successful release of Tanqueray Old Tom in 2014 and Tanqueray Malacca in 2013.
The recipe is written write on the front label, but it’s in old-timey writing and a bit difficult to make out. The botanical bill includes “Italian berries” (juniper), coriander, angelica, crushed cassia, and just a touch of savory. (Additional elements not on the label may also be present.)
The gin is designed to be juniper forward, but standard Tanqueray is already quite juniper-forward as it is. (That said, though it’s hardly my favorite gin, my 2010 rating now feels a bit low. I’d call it B+ today.)
That helps give Bloomsbury a softer entry, even though it’s built with juniper in mind. That juniper is present both on the nose and on the palate, which folds in clear cinnamon character and a little caramel, too. Is there a nod to the whiskey world here? The juniper is clear and strong, but it quickly fades to a quiet earthiness. The finish offers some dusty coriander character that lingers for a bit.
Bloomsbury is a simple gin, but it’s well crafted and balanced among its component parts. Young Charles Waugh Tanqueray may have just been a kid, but I guess he knew what he was doing.
94.6 proof.
A- / $33 / tanqueray.com [BUY IT NOW FROM THE BOTTLE CLUB]
Tanqueray Bloomsbury London Dry Gin
$33
Same 94.6 proof – check the bottle photo.
Totally correct. I had bad information, it seems. Corrected!
Got to be nice to the distillery, eh? Bought a bottle a few days ago. Had it neat at room temp, tasted like a bad vodka. Had it over ice, slightly better only because the delicacy of the herbs was almost evident. Made some tonic permutations, TB added only the ethanol. Took it camping, the fire smoke made a slight improvement. TB may technically be a gin, but it adds nothing special to the liquor cabinet. A generous C-. I could up the grade if such an action would be profitable.
I call ’em like I see ’em. Your mileage may vary.