Description

Colombo 7 is based on a 70 year old recipe created in Colombo, Sri Lanka, during the war. It was originally distilled by a young Asian who ignored the typical attitude of the time, that a good London Gin could not be distilled outside of the United Kingdom.

Colombo 7 consists of, quite predictably, seven botanicals; all of which are simple, but together create a sophisticated and complex aroma as well as a distinctive taste. The botanicals themselves were originally sourced within Sri Lanka as trade channels were not active during the war. This has resulted in a unique gin taste reflecting the region in which it was produced. Today, the distillery - Rockland Distillers, has replaced some of the ingredients to reflect a more traditional London Dry recipe. Although we haven’t tried the 70 year old gin, we believe in their simple description of Columbo 7, “the original, revived”.

Rockland Distillers distill the gin in small batches in England, from copper pot stills to create this exceptional and very reasonably priced London Dry Gin.

Columbo Gin is British Asia, symbolised through their trademark lion elephant logo

THE TASTE

The taste has initially a juniper led experience, which moves on to a soft and welcome sweetness accompanied by the distinctive spices that bring the exotic country of Sri Lanka into the picture. The harmony is well balanced and the sweet, spice, sour and bitter elements of the gin work wonderfully together.

It would compliment Asian cooking very well indeed, especially a curry.

THE BOTANICALS

Angelica root, coriander seed, angelica, liquorice root, Sri Lankan cinnamon bark, curry leaves, ginger root

COLOMBO NO.7 GIN TO TASTE…

A hefty dose of sugar sweet juniper greets the nose, joined by a spice that is zesty and bright, rather than curried. Colombo No.7 smells like an honest to goodness gin, redolent of bright purple juniper berries and tropical forests.

Colombo No.7 has landed at a funny time in our gin drinking history; when it was first made 70 years ago it would have been unimaginably alien with its citrus absence and curry leaf presence, but tasted next to gins created in the last couple of years it almost cries of tradition. Juniper leads the way to taste, with liquorice and angelica lending an earthy, almost dusty sweetness and a soft mouth. Cinnamon sings loud and bright, though doesn’t whip at the tongue in a typically barbarous manner, instead conspiring with the ginger and curry leaf to bring a fragrant warmth and depth. Coriander seed rounds out the flavour, bringing a hint of citrus and nuts and prolonging the finish.

Tonic complements Colombo No.7 beautifully; with an initial super-sweet fizz of lemon sherbet curling up the tongue and around the corners of the mouth, before juniper and curry leaves step in to slap the silliness away. Piquancy cannot be distilled, but we’re always of the opinion that no one ever gave cinnamon that memo, as the spice so often coats the tongue in kerosene and lights a fire. That said, despite a predominantly spiced base, the gin makes no attempts to sting the mouth, instead the cinnamon, curry leaf and ginger form a steady, garden-green soapbox from which the juniper can shout. It’s… good. Very good.

Amal suggests curry leaves as a garnish – but only at a push. “This gin,” he says, “is perfect with good quality tonic. Why wreck it with the juices of a garnish, after all the trouble we have taken to make you a perfect recipe.” We tried it with curry leaves and it was pretty exquisite, but as we’re slightly less protective of the gin than its owner, we were also willing to road test it. Our garnish shout is fruit. Play with the gin’s provenance and add a slice of sweet, fleshy mango. Delicious.

While the recipe may have taken no time to reinterpret, the label was another matter. Intricate and beautiful, it took Rockland Distillery a great deal of time and effort to work out the design, which speaks of gardens and nature and baroque henna tattoos. In the midst of all this lush green sits a bronze oval featuring the namesake seven – this in itself representative of Colombo No.7’singredients. Towards the top sits another oval, this one bearing an image of the mythical beast Gaja-singha.

Colombo No.7 explains the use of Gaja-singha on its website: the elephant symbolises wisdom, as in pioneering the first gin to be manufactured in the Indian subcontinent, whilst the lion represents the courage of creating a gin using strange and exotic ingredients. The overall look is striking and bold – much like the liquid within.

As a brand, we’re sold. It would be nice to see it made in Sri Lanka but with both national and international uncertainties so easily inflamed it’s UK-based distillation is understandable to say the least. Perhaps ironically, Colombo Gin serves as a reminder that it is through surmounting challenges that real inspiration is born. Had political turmoil and the potential of loss not have been in the air, the Colombo No.7 recipe would never have been dug up out of necessity and may not exist today. With Amal on board, Rockland Distillery is clinging firmly to family roots, and withColombo No.7 its saying ‘hey! We did weird gin first and what we’ve achieved is great!’