Episode 43

Anne Brock of Bombay Sapphire Is Bullish on the Future of Gin

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00:51:48

October 14th, 2025

51 mins 48 secs

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About this Episode

If there’s a typical path to becoming the master distiller at Bombay Sapphire, Anne Brock didn’t take it. Besides some bartending experience, her road took her through studying medicine and getting a doctorate in organic chemistry on the way to England to lead production of one of the world’s most popular gins.

In this episode, Brock covers a range of topics with host Molly Troupe, from her scientific approach to botanicals and fixatives to consistency of product and the global future of gin. Along the way, she discusses:

  • being ready to deal with short-term crises (such as finding unexploded WWII ordinance in the distillery)
  • the challenges that small distilleries face and the need for adaptability
  • her experience with the single and multi-shot distillation methods for gin
  • the debate over fixatives in gin—such as orris and angelica—and testing their effectiveness
  • sourcing and certifying sustainable botanicals for a global brand
  • the challenges of maintaining consistency despite botanicals that inevitably vary by season and growing region
  • the value of her close collaboration with Alessandro Garneri, Bombay Sapphire’s master botanist
  • the importance of bridge ingredients and experimenting with new botanicals, such as fresh turmeric
  • the current trend toward classic, juniper-forward gins
  • the demand for gin in emerging markets—such as India and China—and, in turn, the flavors that those regions can contribute

And more.

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