The Bloomsbury is one of my all time favorite gin based cocktails. It is also one of the few that specifically calls for Peychaud’s bitters. A radical twist on the Martini, this cocktail is both sweet and highly herbal. I first encountered it in Robert Hess’ “The Essential Bartender’s Guide”. I asked Robert for the history behind this drink which he created ten years ago.
“The Bloomsbury was a drink I created for a small cocktail competition that Tanqueray 10 sponsored here in Seattle. It was named Bloomsbury after the name of where Tanqueray was first distilled. I don’t remember much more than that about it.”
Be that as it may, it is one tasty cocktail that everyone should add to their short list.
Bloomsbury
2oz gin
0.5oz licor 43
0.5oz lillet blanc
2 dashes peychaud’s bitters
Garnish: lemon twist
Stir with ice and strain into chilled cocktail glass. Add lemon twist.
Good Spirits News 
I was going through my spec list for work and I could of sworn we had this on our menu as an old classic. So turns out sans the Peychaud’s bitters, this is an Ozone Cocktail from *1700 Cocktails for the Man Behind the Bar, R. de Fleury, 1934
Thought it was interesting and wanted to share.
Cheers!
Joshua Perez
Sent from my iPhone
Joshua,
Thanks for the info! It’s always interesting to trace the pedigree of cocktails. I looked up that book, and it seems to be an early version of Stan Jones’ “Jones Complete Bar Guide”. Or as Robert Hess would call it, a “Wad-o-drinks”.
Cheers,
Blair