Over the past few years, Tanqueray have released a series of limited editions: Tanqueray Malacca, and their Old Tom Gin. The Master Distiller of Tanqueray, Tom Nichol, has recently retired, but before he left, he created Tanqueray Bloomsbury (47.3% ABV), which is what we’re going to be taking a look at today.

Tanqueray Bloomsbury is based on a recipe created by Charles Waugh Tanqueray (son of the founder) that dates from the 1880s, when the Tanqueray distillery was located in Bloomsbury, London.

Its botanicals include: Tuscan juniper, coriander, angelica, winter savoury, and cassia bark.

On its own
Nose: Brilliant, bright juniper; juicy and resinous, with the crispness of pine needles and fragrant complexity of pine blossom.
Taste: Rather resinous, there is piney juniper upfront and hints of cedar. This is followed by light, slightly bitter citrus notes from coriander, as well as an array of floral notes towards the finish, along with some dryness.

Gin Tonic
The gin’s presence is easily felt in this drink, with a long, crisp, razor sharp finish of fresh juniper. Refreshing and reviving, this is a straightforward Gin Tonic with a sublime simplicity to it.

Martini
Bright and fresh, with plenty of juniper, pine, and cedar notes, as well as hints of black pepper and menthol. An excellent and bold cocktail.

Negroni
Very bitter and intense: the juniper-focused gin sings through, adding some dry, tannic, resinous notes. In the middle, there are also some dark chocolate notes, before an intense and lasting bitterness on the finish.

In Conclusion
Tanqueray Bloomsbury bucks the trend of gins moving towards a more contemporary style, but, as Tom Nichol’s last hurrah at Tanqueray, I wouldn’t expect anything less. Whilst I embrace innovation in gin styles, this goes to show that there is still much to explore in the classic realm.