Bombay Sapphire is world's favourite gin

The gin market may have remained flat recently, but the popularity of Bombay Sapphire has nearly tripled since the famous spirit, which is used to make cocktails such as martinis and negronis, was acquired by family business Bacardi in 1987.

According to International Wine and Spirit Research, the famous gin brand had an annual compound growth rate of 5.2% in the past three years and saw a 1.5% increase in its market share in the 12 months to the end of December 2010, up to 38%.

This makes it the world’s best-selling premium gin for the third consecutive year, Bacardi said in a statement.

Bombay Sapphire is made using a secret recipe created in 1761 by English distiller Thomas Dakin. To produce the famous gin, Bacardi uses a Carterhead belonging to the Dakin family.

Bacardi, whose portfolio of brands include Bacardi rum, Grey Goose vodka and Martini vermouth, was established in Cuba in 1862 by brothers Facundo and José Bacardi. After the Castro revolution, the company left Cuba and later relocated to Hamilton, Bermuda, and Miami.

Facundo's great-great-grandson, also called Facundo Bacardi, heads the company’s board of directors.