Gin is the London pub classic and in Victorian England, people turned to public houses or pubs for Gin or beer as a substitute for water. In 1830s London, the infamous Public houses or Pubs were in full swing, and Charles Dickens himself was knocking back Gin while writing “Oliver Twist.”
During times in history when water wasn’t particularly safe to drink, some societies around the world considered alcohol to be a perfectly good alternative for quenching thirst. And as one would expect, this belief had quite an impact on the people living in them.
What is Gin?
Gin is a crystal clear distilled spirit that gets its primary flavour from being infused with dominant aromatic botanical flavours of juniper berries, herbs, spices, flowers, and fresh and dried fruits. Gin is produced in different ways from a variety of herbal infusions, accounting for a wide range of distinct styles and brands.
Gin initially comes from a grain base, usually wheat or barley, quite similar to Vodka. In its essence, any gin starts as a vodka which is then redistilled with botanicals. Vodka stays free of any aroma or flavour while gin is infused with multiple flavours to create a unique flavour profile.
The main criteria for this aromatic, flavourful spirit is its discernible predominant juniper flavour which is supported by other botanical elements; traditionally coriander, citrus, rosemary, cassia, liquorice, orris, seeds and other herbs. The modern contemporary gins are distilled using different spices, leaves, fruits and flowers to add greater complexity. Gin is normally bottled at 80 to 90 proof and its flavours range from floral to citrus to fruity.
Types of Gin
There are three types of gin which are classified by the method of production distilled gin, redistilled gin and compound gin. Distilling gin is a process of extracting essential oils similar to making perfume and creating a clean, pure spirit.
Distilled gin
Distilled gin is made by distilling a mash, or fermented alcohol base, similar to the production of brandy or whiskey. The botanicals are put in a basket and hung inside the alambique while distilling the spirit. This way the vapours of the alcohol are forced through the botanicals and will retain the flavours once condensed back into liquid, and the gin will acquire a more delicate and subtle flavour.
Redistilled gin
Redistilled gin is made from a second distillation of a distilled neutral spirit. It is the most common and oldest method of making gin. A neutral spirit is redistilled with juniper berries and botanicals to give the gin a bold and distinctive flavour.
Compound gin
Compound gin is a cheap and simple way to make gin. Extracted essences of juniper berries and other spices are blended with a distilled neutral spirit to impart flavour.
Every gin in the world is unique as each distiller will have their own technique and each recipe will have a unique flavour as there are hundreds of different botanicals used in making gin.
Styles of Gin
While gin is traditionally made in England and Netherlands, it is a versatile spirit that can be made anywhere. The global popularity of gin led to several different styles of gin.
Genever Gin
Genever Gin is the original style of gin from the Netherlands that dates back to the Dutch War of Independence. It is similar to whiskey where the malted grains are allowed to germinate but the fermentation is abruptly stopped to give a robust flavour with botanicals and is sweetened. It has a distinct rich flavour and taste with fewer citrus notes and more earthy qualities.
London Dry Gin
London Dry Gin is the most traditional and is considered the benchmark of quality gin. It originated in England but is produced all over the world. The most famous brands of Gin such as Bombay Sapphire, Beefeater and Tanqueray are all bottles of London Dry Gin. It has a dominant juniper flavour and fresh citrus notes. Fresh or dried citrus peels are added before distillation which provides the citrus highlights. In the term “dry” there aren't any artificial flavours added apart from the natural flavouring from the botanicals.
Old Tom Gin
Old Tom Gin is the English successor of the Genever gin. It was brought to England and made sweeter to cover the taste of poor-quality spirit by using liquorice. It had a reputation for being a cheap booze for the common masses which had poor quality and taste. Modern Old Tom gin is a higher quality style of a sweeter gin with a robust flavour.
Plymouth Gin
Plymouth Gin is exclusively made in the port city that its name comes from. It is a lighter-bodied gin that is more focused on citrus notes. The typical ingredients include juniper, cardamom, dried orange peels, coriander seeds, orris root, and Angelica root. Currently, only one distiller has the license to produce it under Plymouth, Coates & Co.
New Western Dry Gin
New Western Dry Gin was the name given to the style of gin innovated by distiller Christian Kogstad and bartender Ryan Magarian when they co-founded Aviation Gin in 2006. They created a style of gin without a dominant juniper flavour. Instead, it emphasized the botanical ingredients traditionally added to gin.
Gin for the Soul
From the tropical islands of the Pacific to the highlands of continental Europe, gin is the perfect drink to enjoy during the warmer months. With the approaching summer, it is time to bring out the gin from the back of the shelf and make your favourite cocktails. From the timeless classics of the Martini, Negroni, Tom Collins and Gin & Tonic to the modern trends of bartending with the Singapore Sling, Gin Fizz and the New York Sour, Gin always takes the spotlight as the star of the cocktail culture.
