Bombay Sapphire gin Master Distiller reveals ‘bonkers’ career journey

A master gin distiller has revealed to Kitchen Confidential her extraordinary career path from bartending backpacker to head of Bombay Sapphire.

The last time Dr Anne Brock was in Australia she was 18 and, after dropping out of medical school, she worked behind a bar to fund her backpacking adventures.

Now, Brock has returned to our shores as the Master Distiller for global gin company Bombay Sapphire in Hampshire, England.

“My whole life I wanted to be a doctor but when I dropped out of medical school, I decided I wasn’t going to make long term plans anymore,” she starts.

“So there is no way I would ever have imagined the next time I would be in Australia would be because of my role now. It’s bonkers.”

Brock is the head of the 33-year-old company and overseas a team of 21 distillers and support staff, who nose and taste every single drop of Bombay Sapphire gin that’s consumed globally.

Dr Anne Brock, master distiller of Bombay Sapphire, pictured at the gin’s distillery in Hampshire, England. Picture: Supplied

It’s a niche career that started with her role working behind bars.

“Gin was always my drink of choice,” she said. But it wasn’t until she finished her PhD in Organic Chemistry at UK’s prestigious University of Oxford that she realised she could combine both her loves.

“Chemistry was always my favourite subject at school and I decided to study it because I knew a science degree would open doors. But it was a close friend who suggested I get into distilling,” she explained.

“It was a proper light bulb moment because until then I didn’t even consider that to be a job.”

Dr Brock has revealed the “light bulb moment” that eventually landed her in her current role. Picture: Supplied

Despite women being among the original distillers, the industry became male dominated with the industrial revolution.

However Brock said she’s while she’s surrounded by majority men, she’s only ever been welcomed by her male colleagues.

“It’s why I make sure I’m counted as a woman. I want more and more women to see this as a viable career path,” she said.

Brock is in Australia to launch the Bombay’s newest small-batch gin, Premier Cru. She said while alcohol sales increased in the pandemic with people mixing their own cocktails at all, it’s been even more encouraging to see that trend continue now lockdowns are over.

“For anyone who works in the spirit industry the most important thing for us is a healthy and creative hospitality industry. It’s been so nice to see the industry bounce back,” she said.

Originally published as Bombay Sapphire gin Master Distiller reveals ‘bonkers’ career journey