October 14, 2025

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

51 minutes

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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