Gin
Encyclopedia
Gin is a spirit
which derives its predominant flavour from juniper berries (Juniperus communis). Although several different styles of gin have existed since its origins, it is broadly differentiated into two basic legal categories. Distilled gin is crafted in the traditional manner, by redistilling neutral spirits
of agricultural origin with juniper berries and other botanicals. Compound gin is made by simply flavoring neutral spirit with essences and/or other 'natural flavorings' without redistillation, and is not as highly regarded. The minimum bottled alcoholic strength for gin is 37.5% ABV
in the EU, and 40% ABV in the U.S.
Of the several distinct styles of gin, London dry gin, a type of distilled gin, is the most common. In addition to the predominant juniper content, London dry gin is usually distilled in the presence of accenting citrus botanicals, such as lemon and bitter orange
peel, as well as a subtle combination of other spices, including any of anise
, angelica
root and seed, orris root
, licorice root, cinnamon
, almond, cubeb
, savory, lime
peel, grapefruit
peel, dragon eye
, saffron
, baobab
, frankincense
, coriander
, grains of paradise
, nutmeg
and cassia bark. London dry gin may not contain added sugar or colorants; water is the only permitted additive.
Some legal classifications of gin are defined only as originating from specific geographical areas (e.g. Plymouth gin
, Ostfriesischer Korngenever, Slovenská borovička
, Kraški Brinjevec
, etc.), while other common descriptors refer to classic styles that are culturally recognized, but not legally defined (e.g., sloe gin
, Wacholder
and Old Tom gin
).
genièvre or the Dutch
jenever
, which both mean "juniper". The 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica states that the word gin is an abbreviation of "Geneva", both words being derived from the French genièvre (juniper).
, this drink was used, although ineffectively, as a remedy. As the science of distillation advanced from the Middle Ages into the Renaissance period, juniper was one of many botanicals employed by virtue of its perfume, flavor, and medicinal properties.
The Dutch
physician Franciscus Sylvius
is credited with the invention of gin. By the mid 17th century, numerous small Dutch and Belgian distillers (some 400 in Amsterdam alone by 1663) had popularized the redistillation of malt spirit or wine with juniper, anise
, caraway
, coriander
, etc., which were sold in pharmacies
and used to treat such medical problems as kidney
ailments, lumbago, stomach
ailments, gallstone
s, and gout
. It was found in Holland by English troops who were fighting against the Spanish in the Eighty Years War who noticed its calming effects before battle, which is the origin of the term Dutch courage
. Gin emerged in England in varying forms as of the early 17th century, and at the time of the Restoration, enjoyed a brief resurgence. When William of Orange
, ruler of the Dutch Republic
, occupied the British throne with his wife Mary in what has become known as the Glorious Revolution
, gin became vastly more popular, particularly in crude, inferior forms, where it was more likely to be flavored with turpentine
.
Gin became popular in England after the government allowed unlicensed gin production and at the same time imposed a heavy duty
on all imported spirits. This created a market for poor-quality grain that was unfit for brewing beer
, and thousands of gin-shops sprang up throughout England, a period known as the Gin Craze
. By 1740, the production of gin had increased to six times that of beer, and because of its price, it became popular with the poor. Of the 15,000 drinking establishments in London
, over half were gin shops. Beer maintained a healthy reputation as it was often safer to drink the brewed ale than unclean plain water
. Gin, though, was blamed for various social and medical problems, and it may have been a factor in the higher death rates which stabilized London's previously growing population. The reputation of the two drinks was illustrated by William Hogarth
in his engravings Beer Street and Gin Lane
(1751). This negative reputation survives today in the English language, in terms like "gin mills" or "gin joints" to describe disreputable bars or "gin-soaked" to refer to drunks, and in the phrase "mother's ruin," a common British name for gin.
Brief poem seen circa 1940, anonymous:
"The principal sin,
Of Gin,
Is, among others,
Ruining mothers".
The Gin Act 1736
imposed high taxes on retailers and led to riots in the streets. The prohibitive duty was gradually reduced and finally abolished in 1742. The Gin Act 1751
was more successful, however. It forced distillers to sell only to licensed retailers and brought gin shops under the jurisdiction of local magistrates. Gin in the 18th century was produced in pot still
s, and was somewhat sweeter than the London gin known today.
In London
in the early 18th century, gin sold on the black market was prepared in illicit stills (of which there were 1,500 in 1726), and was often adulterated with turpentine
and sulfuric acid
. As late as 1913, Webster's Dictionary
states without further comment, " 'common gin' is usually flavored with turpentine."
Dutch or Belgian gin, also known as jenever
or genever, evolved from malt wine spirits, and is a distinctly different drink from later styles of gin. Jenever is distilled
at least partially from barley
malt (and/or other grain) using a pot still
, and is sometimes aged in wood. This typically lends a slightly malty flavor and/or a resemblance to whisky
. Schiedam
, a city in the province of South Holland
, is famous for its jenever-producing history. It is typically lower in alcohol content and distinctly different from gins distilled strictly from neutral spirits (e.g. London dry gin). The oude (old) style of jenever remained very popular throughout the 19th century, where it was referred to as "Holland" or "Geneva" gin in popular pre-Prohibition bartender guides. The column still
was invented in 1832, making the distillation of neutral spirits practical, and enabling the creation of the "London dry" style, which was developed later in the 19th century.
In tropical British colonies, gin was used to mask the bitter flavor of quinine
, which was the only effective antimalarial compound. The quinine was dissolved in carbonated water to form tonic water
; the resulting mix became the origin of today's popular gin and tonic
combination, although modern tonic water contains only a trace of quinine as a flavoring.
Gin is a popular base spirit for many classic mixed drinks, including the martini. Secretly produced "bathtub gin" was commonly available in the speakeasies
and "blind pigs" of Prohibition
-era America due to the relative simplicity of the production method. Gin remained popular as the basis of many cocktail
s after the repeal of Prohibition.
Sloe gin
is traditionally described as a liqueur made by infusing sloe
s (the fruit of the blackthorn) in gin, although modern versions are almost always compounded from neutral spirits and flavorings. Similar infusions are possible with other fruits, such as damson
s (damson gin
).
The National Gin Museum is in Hasselt
, Belgium
.
, traditionally made with gin and dry vermouth
. Several other notable gin-based drinks include:
Distilled beverage
A distilled beverage, liquor, or spirit is an alcoholic beverage containing ethanol that is produced by distilling ethanol produced by means of fermenting grain, fruit, or vegetables...
which derives its predominant flavour from juniper berries (Juniperus communis). Although several different styles of gin have existed since its origins, it is broadly differentiated into two basic legal categories. Distilled gin is crafted in the traditional manner, by redistilling neutral spirits
Rectified spirit
A rectified spirit, rectified alcohol, or neutral spirit is highly concentrated ethanol which has been purified by means of repeated distillation, a process that is called rectification. It typically contains 95% alcohol by volume...
of agricultural origin with juniper berries and other botanicals. Compound gin is made by simply flavoring neutral spirit with essences and/or other 'natural flavorings' without redistillation, and is not as highly regarded. The minimum bottled alcoholic strength for gin is 37.5% ABV
Alcohol by volume
Alcohol by volume is a standard measure of how much alcohol is contained in an alcoholic beverage .The ABV standard is used worldwide....
in the EU, and 40% ABV in the U.S.
Of the several distinct styles of gin, London dry gin, a type of distilled gin, is the most common. In addition to the predominant juniper content, London dry gin is usually distilled in the presence of accenting citrus botanicals, such as lemon and bitter orange
Bitter orange
The name "bitter orange", also known as Seville orange, sour orange, bigarade orange, and marmalade orange, refers to a citrus tree and its fruit. Many varieties of bitter orange are used for their essential oil, which is used in perfume and as a flavoring...
peel, as well as a subtle combination of other spices, including any of anise
Anise
Anise , Pimpinella anisum, also called aniseed, is a flowering plant in the family Apiaceae native to the eastern Mediterranean region and Southwest Asia. Its flavor resembles that of liquorice, fennel, and tarragon.- Biology :...
, angelica
Angelica
Angelica is a genus of about 60 species of tall biennial and perennial herbs in the family Apiaceae, native to temperate and subarctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere, reaching as far North as Iceland and Lapland...
root and seed, orris root
Orris root
Orris root is a term used for the roots Iris germanica, Iris florentina, and Iris pallida. Once important in western herbal medicine, it is now used mainly as a fixative and base note in perfumery, as well as an ingredient in many brands of gin....
, licorice root, cinnamon
Cinnamon
Cinnamon is a spice obtained from the inner bark of several trees from the genus Cinnamomum that is used in both sweet and savoury foods...
, almond, cubeb
Cubeb
Cubeb , or tailed pepper, is a plant in genus Piper, cultivated for its fruit and essential oil. It is mostly grown in Java and Sumatra, hence sometimes called Java pepper. The fruits are gathered before they are ripe, and carefully dried...
, savory, lime
Lime (fruit)
Lime is a term referring to a number of different citrus fruits, both species and hybrids, which are typically round, green to yellow in color, 3–6 cm in diameter, and containing sour and acidic pulp. Limes are a good source of vitamin C. Limes are often used to accent the flavors of foods and...
peel, grapefruit
Grapefruit
The grapefruit , is a subtropical citrus tree known for its sour fruit, an 18th-century hybrid first bred in Barbados. When found, it was named the "forbidden fruit"; it has also been misidentified with the pomelo or shaddock , one of the parents of this hybrid, the other being sweet orange The...
peel, dragon eye
Dragon Eye
The Dragon Eye Unmanned Aerial Vehicle is a small reconnaissance UAV developed by the Naval Research Laboratory and the Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory for use by the U.S. Marine Corps....
, saffron
Saffron
Saffron is a spice derived from the flower of Crocus sativus, commonly known as the saffron crocus. Crocus is a genus in the family Iridaceae. Each saffron crocus grows to and bears up to four flowers, each with three vivid crimson stigmas, which are each the distal end of a carpel...
, baobab
Baobab
Adansonia is a genus of eight species of tree, six native to Madagascar, one native to mainland Africa and the Arabian Peninsula and one to Australia. The mainland African species also occurs on Madagascar, but it is not a native of that island....
, frankincense
Frankincense
Frankincense, also called olibanum , is an aromatic resin obtained from trees of the genus Boswellia, particularly Boswellia sacra, B. carteri, B. thurifera, B. frereana, and B. bhaw-dajiana...
, coriander
Coriander
Coriander is an annual herb in the family Apiaceae. Coriander is native to southern Europe and North Africa to southwestern Asia. It is a soft, hairless plant growing to tall. The leaves are variable in shape, broadly lobed at the base of the plant, and slender and feathery higher on the...
, grains of paradise
Aframomum melegueta
Aframomum melegueta is a species in the ginger family, Zingiberaceae. This spice, commonly known as grains of paradise, melegueta pepper, alligator pepper, Guinea grains or Guinea pepper, is obtained from the ground seeds; it gives a pungent, peppery flavour...
, nutmeg
Nutmeg
The nutmeg tree is any of several species of trees in genus Myristica. The most important commercial species is Myristica fragrans, an evergreen tree indigenous to the Banda Islands in the Moluccas of Indonesia...
and cassia bark. London dry gin may not contain added sugar or colorants; water is the only permitted additive.
Some legal classifications of gin are defined only as originating from specific geographical areas (e.g. Plymouth gin
Plymouth Gin
Plymouth Gin is a style of gin that by law can only be produced in Plymouth, England, it being a Protected Geographical Indication within the European Union. The Plymouth Gin Distillery is the only gin distillery located in Plymouth in what was once a Dominican Order monastery built in 1431 and...
, Ostfriesischer Korngenever, Slovenská borovička
Borovicka
Borovička is a Slovak alcoholic beverage flavored with juniper berries. It is characterized by a white or golden colour and a taste similar to that of dry gin. It is popular especially in Slovakia, Poland, and the Czech Republic. Today's commercially-produced borovička contains about 40% alcohol...
, Kraški Brinjevec
Brinjevec
Brinjevec is a strong alcoholic drink, produced in the Karst and Brkini regions in Slovenia. It is re-distilled from ground and fermented juniper berries only and it differs from similar drinks that have different alcohol bases with added juniper flavor...
, etc.), while other common descriptors refer to classic styles that are culturally recognized, but not legally defined (e.g., sloe gin
Sloe gin
Sloe gin is a red liqueur flavoured with sloe berries, which are a small fruit relative of the plum. Sloe gin has an alcohol content between 15 and 30 percent by volume. The traditional way of making sloe gin is to infuse gin with the berries. Sugar is required to ensure the sloe juices are...
, Wacholder
Wacholder
Wacholder is a German gin, distilled with the juniper essence already added. The word is German for juniper. Wacholder is a speciality of the district of Lippe....
and Old Tom gin
Old Tom Gin
Old Tom Gin is a lightly sweetened Gin popular in 18th-century England that now is rarely available. It is slightly sweeter than London Dry, but slightly drier than Dutch/Holland Gin/Jenever, and is thus sometimes called The Missing Link.The name Old Tom Gin purportedly came from wooden plaques...
).
Etymology
The name gin is derived from either the FrenchFrench language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
genièvre or the Dutch
Dutch language
Dutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second...
jenever
Jenever
Jenever , is the juniper-flavored and strongly alcoholic traditional liquor of the Netherlands and Belgium, from which gin evolved...
, which both mean "juniper". The 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica states that the word gin is an abbreviation of "Geneva", both words being derived from the French genièvre (juniper).
History
Juniper berries were recognized from ancient times as possessing medicinal properties. By the 11th century, Italian monks were flavoring crudely distilled spirits with juniper berries. During the Bubonic PlagueBubonic plague
Plague is a deadly infectious disease that is caused by the enterobacteria Yersinia pestis, named after the French-Swiss bacteriologist Alexandre Yersin. Primarily carried by rodents and spread to humans via fleas, the disease is notorious throughout history, due to the unrivaled scale of death...
, this drink was used, although ineffectively, as a remedy. As the science of distillation advanced from the Middle Ages into the Renaissance period, juniper was one of many botanicals employed by virtue of its perfume, flavor, and medicinal properties.
The Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
physician Franciscus Sylvius
Franciscus Sylvius
Franciscus Sylvius , born Franz de le Boë, was a Dutch physician and scientist who was an early champion of Descartes', Van Helmont's and William Harvey's work and theories...
is credited with the invention of gin. By the mid 17th century, numerous small Dutch and Belgian distillers (some 400 in Amsterdam alone by 1663) had popularized the redistillation of malt spirit or wine with juniper, anise
Anise
Anise , Pimpinella anisum, also called aniseed, is a flowering plant in the family Apiaceae native to the eastern Mediterranean region and Southwest Asia. Its flavor resembles that of liquorice, fennel, and tarragon.- Biology :...
, caraway
Caraway
Caraway also known as meridian fennel, or Persian cumin is a biennial plant in the family Apiaceae, native to western Asia, Europe and Northern Africa....
, coriander
Coriander
Coriander is an annual herb in the family Apiaceae. Coriander is native to southern Europe and North Africa to southwestern Asia. It is a soft, hairless plant growing to tall. The leaves are variable in shape, broadly lobed at the base of the plant, and slender and feathery higher on the...
, etc., which were sold in pharmacies
Pharmacy
Pharmacy is the health profession that links the health sciences with the chemical sciences and it is charged with ensuring the safe and effective use of pharmaceutical drugs...
and used to treat such medical problems as kidney
Kidney
The kidneys, organs with several functions, serve essential regulatory roles in most animals, including vertebrates and some invertebrates. They are essential in the urinary system and also serve homeostatic functions such as the regulation of electrolytes, maintenance of acid–base balance, and...
ailments, lumbago, stomach
Stomach
The stomach is a muscular, hollow, dilated part of the alimentary canal which functions as an important organ of the digestive tract in some animals, including vertebrates, echinoderms, insects , and molluscs. It is involved in the second phase of digestion, following mastication .The stomach is...
ailments, gallstone
Gallstone
A gallstone is a crystalline concretion formed within the gallbladder by accretion of bile components. These calculi are formed in the gallbladder, but may pass distally into other parts of the biliary tract such as the cystic duct, common bile duct, pancreatic duct, or the ampulla of...
s, and gout
Gout
Gout is a medical condition usually characterized by recurrent attacks of acute inflammatory arthritis—a red, tender, hot, swollen joint. The metatarsal-phalangeal joint at the base of the big toe is the most commonly affected . However, it may also present as tophi, kidney stones, or urate...
. It was found in Holland by English troops who were fighting against the Spanish in the Eighty Years War who noticed its calming effects before battle, which is the origin of the term Dutch courage
Dutch courage
Dutch courage or liquid courage refers to courage gained from intoxication by alcohol. Originally the phrase 'Dutch courage' referred to the courage that results from indulgence in Dutch gin , but 'Dutch courage' can also apply to the gin itself.In 1650 Franciscus Sylvius, a Dutch doctor, created...
. Gin emerged in England in varying forms as of the early 17th century, and at the time of the Restoration, enjoyed a brief resurgence. When William of Orange
William III of England
William III & II was a sovereign Prince of Orange of the House of Orange-Nassau by birth. From 1672 he governed as Stadtholder William III of Orange over Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Guelders, and Overijssel of the Dutch Republic. From 1689 he reigned as William III over England and Ireland...
, ruler of the Dutch Republic
Dutch Republic
The Dutch Republic — officially known as the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands , the Republic of the United Netherlands, or the Republic of the Seven United Provinces — was a republic in Europe existing from 1581 to 1795, preceding the Batavian Republic and ultimately...
, occupied the British throne with his wife Mary in what has become known as the Glorious Revolution
Glorious Revolution
The Glorious Revolution, also called the Revolution of 1688, is the overthrow of King James II of England by a union of English Parliamentarians with the Dutch stadtholder William III of Orange-Nassau...
, gin became vastly more popular, particularly in crude, inferior forms, where it was more likely to be flavored with turpentine
Turpentine
Turpentine is a fluid obtained by the distillation of resin obtained from trees, mainly pine trees. It is composed of terpenes, mainly the monoterpenes alpha-pinene and beta-pinene...
.
Duty (economics)
In economics, a duty is a kind of tax, often associated with customs, a payment due to the revenue of a state, levied by force of law. It is a tax on certain items purchased abroad...
on all imported spirits. This created a market for poor-quality grain that was unfit for brewing beer
Beer
Beer is the world's most widely consumed andprobably oldest alcoholic beverage; it is the third most popular drink overall, after water and tea. It is produced by the brewing and fermentation of sugars, mainly derived from malted cereal grains, most commonly malted barley and malted wheat...
, and thousands of gin-shops sprang up throughout England, a period known as the Gin Craze
Gin Craze
The Gin Craze was a period in the first half of the 18th century when the consumption of gin increased rapidly in Great Britain, especially in London...
. By 1740, the production of gin had increased to six times that of beer, and because of its price, it became popular with the poor. Of the 15,000 drinking establishments in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, over half were gin shops. Beer maintained a healthy reputation as it was often safer to drink the brewed ale than unclean plain water
Water
Water is a chemical substance with the chemical formula H2O. A water molecule contains one oxygen and two hydrogen atoms connected by covalent bonds. Water is a liquid at ambient conditions, but it often co-exists on Earth with its solid state, ice, and gaseous state . Water also exists in a...
. Gin, though, was blamed for various social and medical problems, and it may have been a factor in the higher death rates which stabilized London's previously growing population. The reputation of the two drinks was illustrated by William Hogarth
William Hogarth
William Hogarth was an English painter, printmaker, pictorial satirist, social critic and editorial cartoonist who has been credited with pioneering western sequential art. His work ranged from realistic portraiture to comic strip-like series of pictures called "modern moral subjects"...
in his engravings Beer Street and Gin Lane
Beer Street and Gin Lane
Beer Street and Gin Lane are two prints issued in 1751 by English artist William Hogarth in support of what would become the Gin Act. Designed to be viewed alongside each other, they depict the evils of the consumption of gin as a contrast to the merits of drinking beer...
(1751). This negative reputation survives today in the English language, in terms like "gin mills" or "gin joints" to describe disreputable bars or "gin-soaked" to refer to drunks, and in the phrase "mother's ruin," a common British name for gin.
Brief poem seen circa 1940, anonymous:
"The principal sin,
Of Gin,
Is, among others,
Ruining mothers".
The Gin Act 1736
Gin Craze
The Gin Craze was a period in the first half of the 18th century when the consumption of gin increased rapidly in Great Britain, especially in London...
imposed high taxes on retailers and led to riots in the streets. The prohibitive duty was gradually reduced and finally abolished in 1742. The Gin Act 1751
Gin Act 1751
The Sale of Spirits Act 1750 was an Act of the Parliament of Great Britain which was enacted in order to reduce the consumption of spirits, a popular pastime that was regarded as one of the primary causes of crime in London...
was more successful, however. It forced distillers to sell only to licensed retailers and brought gin shops under the jurisdiction of local magistrates. Gin in the 18th century was produced in pot still
Pot still
A pot still is a type of still used in distilling spirits such as whisky or brandy. Heat is applied directly to the pot containing the wash or wine . This is called a batch distillation ....
s, and was somewhat sweeter than the London gin known today.
In London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in the early 18th century, gin sold on the black market was prepared in illicit stills (of which there were 1,500 in 1726), and was often adulterated with turpentine
Turpentine
Turpentine is a fluid obtained by the distillation of resin obtained from trees, mainly pine trees. It is composed of terpenes, mainly the monoterpenes alpha-pinene and beta-pinene...
and sulfuric acid
Sulfuric acid
Sulfuric acid is a strong mineral acid with the molecular formula . Its historical name is oil of vitriol. Pure sulfuric acid is a highly corrosive, colorless, viscous liquid. The salts of sulfuric acid are called sulfates...
. As late as 1913, Webster's Dictionary
Webster's Dictionary
Webster's Dictionary refers to the line of dictionaries first developed by Noah Webster in the early 19th century, and also to numerous unrelated dictionaries that added Webster's name just to share his prestige. The term is a genericized trademark in the U.S.A...
states without further comment, " 'common gin' is usually flavored with turpentine."
Dutch or Belgian gin, also known as jenever
Jenever
Jenever , is the juniper-flavored and strongly alcoholic traditional liquor of the Netherlands and Belgium, from which gin evolved...
or genever, evolved from malt wine spirits, and is a distinctly different drink from later styles of gin. Jenever is distilled
Distillation
Distillation is a method of separating mixtures based on differences in volatilities of components in a boiling liquid mixture. Distillation is a unit operation, or a physical separation process, and not a chemical reaction....
at least partially from barley
Barley
Barley is a major cereal grain, a member of the grass family. It serves as a major animal fodder, as a base malt for beer and certain distilled beverages, and as a component of various health foods...
malt (and/or other grain) using a pot still
Pot still
A pot still is a type of still used in distilling spirits such as whisky or brandy. Heat is applied directly to the pot containing the wash or wine . This is called a batch distillation ....
, and is sometimes aged in wood. This typically lends a slightly malty flavor and/or a resemblance to whisky
Whisky
Whisky or whiskey is a type of distilled alcoholic beverage made from fermented grain mash. Different grains are used for different varieties, including barley, malted barley, rye, malted rye, wheat, and corn...
. Schiedam
Schiedam
Schiedam is a city and municipality in the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. It is part of the Rotterdam metropolitan area. The city is located west of Rotterdam, east of Vlaardingen and south of Delft...
, a city in the province of South Holland
South Holland
South Holland is a province situated on the North Sea in the western part of the Netherlands. The provincial capital is The Hague and its largest city is Rotterdam.South Holland is one of the most densely populated and industrialised areas in the world...
, is famous for its jenever-producing history. It is typically lower in alcohol content and distinctly different from gins distilled strictly from neutral spirits (e.g. London dry gin). The oude (old) style of jenever remained very popular throughout the 19th century, where it was referred to as "Holland" or "Geneva" gin in popular pre-Prohibition bartender guides. The column still
Column still
A column still, also called a continuous still, patent still or Coffey still, is a variety of still consisting of two columns invented in 1826 by Robert Stein, a Clackmannanshire distiller, and it was first used at the Cameron Bridge Grain Distillery in Fife, Scotland. The design was enhanced and...
was invented in 1832, making the distillation of neutral spirits practical, and enabling the creation of the "London dry" style, which was developed later in the 19th century.
In tropical British colonies, gin was used to mask the bitter flavor of quinine
Quinine
Quinine is a natural white crystalline alkaloid having antipyretic , antimalarial, analgesic , anti-inflammatory properties and a bitter taste. It is a stereoisomer of quinidine which, unlike quinine, is an anti-arrhythmic...
, which was the only effective antimalarial compound. The quinine was dissolved in carbonated water to form tonic water
Tonic water
Tonic water is a carbonated soft drink in which quinine is dissolved. Originally used as a prophylactic against malaria, tonic water usually now has a significantly lower quinine content and is consumed for its distinctively bitter taste...
; the resulting mix became the origin of today's popular gin and tonic
Gin and tonic
A gin and tonic is a highball cocktail made with gin and tonic water poured over ice. It is usually garnished with a slice or wedge of lime, or lemon. The amount of gin varies according to taste...
combination, although modern tonic water contains only a trace of quinine as a flavoring.
Gin is a popular base spirit for many classic mixed drinks, including the martini. Secretly produced "bathtub gin" was commonly available in the speakeasies
Speakeasy
A speakeasy, also called a blind pig or blind tiger, is an establishment that illegally sells alcoholic beverages. Such establishments came into prominence in the United States during the period known as Prohibition...
and "blind pigs" of Prohibition
Prohibition
Prohibition of alcohol, often referred to simply as prohibition, is the practice of prohibiting the manufacture, transportation, import, export, sale, and consumption of alcohol and alcoholic beverages. The term can also apply to the periods in the histories of the countries during which the...
-era America due to the relative simplicity of the production method. Gin remained popular as the basis of many cocktail
Cocktail
A cocktail is an alcoholic mixed drink that contains two or more ingredients—at least one of the ingredients must be a spirit.Cocktails were originally a mixture of spirits, sugar, water, and bitters. The word has come to mean almost any mixed drink that contains alcohol...
s after the repeal of Prohibition.
Sloe gin
Sloe gin
Sloe gin is a red liqueur flavoured with sloe berries, which are a small fruit relative of the plum. Sloe gin has an alcohol content between 15 and 30 percent by volume. The traditional way of making sloe gin is to infuse gin with the berries. Sugar is required to ensure the sloe juices are...
is traditionally described as a liqueur made by infusing sloe
Blackthorn
Prunus spinosa is a species of Prunus native to Europe, western Asia, and locally in northwest Africa. It is also locally naturalised in New Zealand and eastern North America....
s (the fruit of the blackthorn) in gin, although modern versions are almost always compounded from neutral spirits and flavorings. Similar infusions are possible with other fruits, such as damson
Damson
The damson or damson plum is an edible drupaceous fruit, a subspecies of the plum tree. Sometimes called the Damask plum, damsons are commonly used in the preparation of jams and jellies...
s (damson gin
Damson gin
Damson gin is a liqueur, usually homemade, made from damson plums macerated in a sugar and gin syrup for eight weeks or more. Vodka is sometimes used in place of the gin. The proof will vary somewhat but generally is around 44....
).
The National Gin Museum is in Hasselt
Hasselt
Hasselt is a Belgian city and municipality, and capital of the Flemish province of Limburg...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
.
Classic gin cocktails
Perhaps the best-known gin cocktail is the martiniMartini (cocktail)
The martini is a cocktail made with gin and vermouth, and garnished with an olive or a lemon twist. Over the years, the martini has become one of the best-known mixed alcoholic beverages. H. L. Mencken called the martini "the only American invention as perfect as the sonnet" and E. B...
, traditionally made with gin and dry vermouth
Vermouth
Vermouth is a fortified wine flavored with various dry ingredients. The modern versions of the beverage were first produced around the late 18th and early 19th centuries in Italy and France...
. Several other notable gin-based drinks include:
- 20th Century20th Century (cocktail)A cocktail created in 1939 in connection with the introduction of the new streamlined Dreyfus Hudson Engine which began pulling the Twentieth Century Limited train between New York City and Chicago in 1938...
- GimletGimlet (cocktail)The gimlet is a cocktail made of gin and lime juice. A 1928 description of the drink was: "gin, a spot of lime, and soda" . A 1953 description was: "a real gimlet is half gin and half Rose's lime juice and nothing else" .For the vodka gimlet, replace gin with vodka...
- Gin and TonicGin and tonicA gin and tonic is a highball cocktail made with gin and tonic water poured over ice. It is usually garnished with a slice or wedge of lime, or lemon. The amount of gin varies according to taste...
- Gin Fizz
- Gin Rickey
- The Last WordThe Last Word (cocktail)The Last Word is a prohibition-era cocktail originally developed at the Detroit Athletic Club. While the drink eventually fell out of use, it has recently enjoyed renewed popularity after being rediscovered as a cult hit in the Seattle area by Murray Stenson, a bartender at the Zig Zag Café....
- NegroniNegroniThe Negroni cocktail is made of one part gin, one part sweet vermouth, and one part bitters, traditionally Campari. It is considered an apéritif.-History:...
- Old EtonianOld Etonian (cocktail)An Old Etonian is a gin cocktail which enjoyed great popularity in London, circa 1925. The cocktail takes its name from Eton College and from the college's alumni, who are often referred to as Old Etonians...
- Pimm's CupPimm'sPimm's is a brand of fruit cups, but may also be considered a liqueur. It was first produced in 1823 by James Pimm and owned by Diageo since 2006. Its most popular product is Pimm's No. 1 Cup.-History:...
- Pink GinPink GinPink Gin is a cocktail made fashionable in the United Kingdom in the mid-19th century, consisting of Plymouth gin and a dash of 'pink' Angostura bitters, a dark red extract of gentian and spices, known from the 1820s at Angostura, Venezuela but now made in Trinidad and Tobago...
- Fallen AngelFallen Angel (cocktail)The Fallen Angel is a gin cocktail.The ingredients include gin, green creme de menthe, Angostura bitters and lemon or lime juice...
- Ramos Gin Fizz
- Satan's Whiskers
- Singapore SlingSingapore SlingThe Singapore Sling is a cocktail that was developed sometime before 1915 by Ngiam Tong Boon , a bartender working at the Long Bar in Raffles Hotel Singapore...
- Tom CollinsTom CollinsThe Tom Collins is a type of Collins cocktail made from gin, lemon juice, sugar and carbonated water. First memorialized in writing in 1876 by "the father of American mixology" Jerry Thomas, this "Gin and Sparkling Lemonade" drink typically is served in a Collins glass over ice.-History:In 1874,...
- VesperVesper (cocktail)The Vesper or Vesper Martini is a cocktail that was originally made of gin, vodka, and Kina Lillet.-Origin:The drink was invented and named by fictional secret agent James Bond in the 1953 novel Casino Royale....
- White Lady
- Ethan Allen ExpressEthan Allen ExpressThe Ethan Allen Express is a 241-mile passenger train operated by Amtrak between New York City and Rutland, Vermont, via Albany. The total trip is scheduled to be completed in 5.5 hours. Its operations are subsidized by the State of Vermont, and the train is popular among vacationers travelling...
Notable brands
- BeefeaterBeefeater GinBeefeater Gin is a brand of gin bottled, and distributed in the United Kingdom, by the company of James Burrough. It is a 47% alcohol product in the US and New Zealand, and a 40% alcohol product elsewhere in the world . 40% alcohol is 80 proof in the US...
- first produced in 1820 - BOLS Damrak Amsterdam - Dutch jeneverJeneverJenever , is the juniper-flavored and strongly alcoholic traditional liquor of the Netherlands and Belgium, from which gin evolved...
- Blackwood'sBlackwood (whisky distillery)Blackwood is a Scottish distiller founded in July 2002 with the aim of building Shetland's first Scotch whisky distillery. In May 2008, the company went into administration, but a new company, Catfirth Ltd, was established to continue the business....
- Bombay SapphireBombay SapphireBombay Sapphire is a brand of gin distributed by Bacardi that was launched in 1987. Its name originates from the gin's popularity in India in of the days of the British Raj and the sapphire in question is the Star of Bombay on display at the Smithsonian Institution...
- distilled with ten botanicals - Boodles British GinBoodles British GinBoodles British Gin is a brand of gin bottled and distributed in the United Kingdom by the company of James Burrough. It is a 45.2% alcohol product . It is imported to the United States from London, England and bottled for American consumption by Boodles British Gin Co. in Fort Smith,...
- Catoctin CreekCatoctin Creek Distilling CompanyThe Catoctin Creek Distilling Company is the first legal distillery in Loudoun County, Virginia since prohibition...
- organic gin produced in Virginia - CitadelleCitadelle (gin)Citadelle is a French brand of gin that was first released in 1998. It is produced in Cognac by Gabriel & Andreu and supplied by Cognac-Ferrand. It was named after an 18th century distillery in Dunkirk....
- DamrakDamrakThe Damrak is a partially filled in canal at the centre of Amsterdam, between Amsterdam Centraal railway station and Dam Square, running north-south. It is the main street where people arriving at the station enter the centre of Amsterdam. Also it is one of the two GVB tram routes from the station...
- sweet candied citrus aromas with a spicy licorice and a juniper edge - GilbeyWalter GilbeySir Walter Gilbey, 1st Baronet DL was an English wine-merchant and philanthropist.He was born at Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire to parents Henry and Elizabeth Gilbey...
's - Gilpin's Westmorland Extra Dry GinGilpin's Westmorland Extra Dry GinGilpin's Westmorland Extra Dry Gin is a super-premium London Dry Gin distilled in London in small batches using the traditional pot still method with spring water from Cartmel in the English Lake District. Botanicals include juniper, sage, borage, lime and bitter orange...
- Ginebra San MiguelGinebra San MiguelGinebra San Miguel, Inc. is a Philippines-based diversified alcoholic beverage company owned by San Miguel Corporation, then called La Tondeña Distillers, Inc. from 1987 to 2003. Founded originally by the late Carlos Palanca, Sr. as La Tondeña, Inc...
- produced in the PhilippinesPhilippinesThe Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam... - Gordon'sGordon's GinGordon's is a brand of London Dry gin produced in the United Kingdom and under licence in New Zealand, Canada and several other former British territories. The top markets for Gordon's are the UK, US, Greece and Africa...
- Greenall's
- Hayman's Old TomOld Tom GinOld Tom Gin is a lightly sweetened Gin popular in 18th-century England that now is rarely available. It is slightly sweeter than London Dry, but slightly drier than Dutch/Holland Gin/Jenever, and is thus sometimes called The Missing Link.The name Old Tom Gin purportedly came from wooden plaques...
- Hendrick's GinHendrick's GinHendrick's Gin is a brand of gin produced by William Grant & Sons in Girvan, Scotland. In addition to the traditional juniper infusion, Hendrick's uses Bulgarian rose and cucumber to add flavor...
- made in Scotland, infused with cucumber and rose petals - Nicholson'sJ&W Nicholson & CoJ&W Nicholson & Co was a London-based gin maker. Founded in 1730s during the Gin Craze, the company stopped making gin in England 1941, and closed its premises Three Mills in 1966....
- made in London from 1730, now a Diageo brand
- MagellanMagellanMagellan may refer to:*Ferdinand Magellan, a Portuguese explorer who led part of the first expedition around the world*Magellan , a progressive rock band*Magellan , a forerunner of the Excite web portal...
- made with 11 botanicals featuring cloves, Magellan'sFerdinand MagellanFerdinand Magellan was a Portuguese explorer. He was born in Sabrosa, in northern Portugal, and served King Charles I of Spain in search of a westward route to the "Spice Islands" ....
discovery, and an infusion of iris petals - New Amsterdam GinNew Amsterdam GinNew Amsterdam Gin is a product of the New Amsterdam Spirits Company, from Modesto, California, a subsidiarity of E. & J. Gallo Winery. New Amsterdam Gin is produced as a contemporary take on classic gin-making standards...
- PlymouthPlymouth GinPlymouth Gin is a style of gin that by law can only be produced in Plymouth, England, it being a Protected Geographical Indication within the European Union. The Plymouth Gin Distillery is the only gin distillery located in Plymouth in what was once a Dominican Order monastery built in 1431 and...
- first distilled in 1793 - Sacred MicrodistillerySacred MicrodistillerySacred Microdistillery is a microdistillery located in Highgate, London. It is unusual in that it distils its spirits under a vacuum in glassware, and thus at a lower temperature than traditional pot stills, which operate at atmospheric pressure...
distilled in one of London's two new microdistilleries - SeagramSeagramThe Seagram Company Ltd. was a large corporation headquartered in Montreal, Quebec, Canada that was the largest distiller of alcoholic beverages in the world. Toward the end of its independent existence it also controlled various entertainment and other business ventures...
's - SipsmithSipsmithSipsmith is a microdistillery located in London. It is the first copper-pot distillery to open within London's city limits in nearly two centuries.- History :...
- launched in 2009, the first copper distillery in London since 1820 - SteinhägerSteinhägerSteinhäger is a type of German gin, a spirit flavoured with juniper berries. The name is derived from the village of Steinhagen in North Rhine-Westphalia, which is the only place where it is permitted to be produced....
- TaakaTaakaTaaka is a value brand distillery. The brand is owned by of New Orleans, Louisiana and distilled in Frankfort, Kentucky at Buffalo Trace Distillery....
- TanquerayTanquerayTanqueray is a brand of British gin produced in Scotland by Diageo Plc and marketed world-wide.-History:Tanqueray Gin was initially distilled in 1830 by Charles Tanqueray in the Bloomsbury district of London. When Charles died in 1868, his son Charles Waugh Tanqueray inherited the distillery, which...
- first distilled in 1830 - Uganda Waragi - triple distilled Ugandan WaragiWaragiWaragi is a generic term in Uganda for domestic distilled beverages. Waragi is also given different names, depending on region of origin, the distillation process, or both. It is commonly called Waragi in the central area of Uganda but in the West it is sometimes called "Kasese". In northern Uganda...
External links
- Gin news page - Alcohol and Drugs History SocietyAlcohol and Drugs History SocietyThe Alcohol and Drugs History Society is a scholarly organization whose members study the history of a variety of illegal, regulated, and unregulated drugs such as opium, alcohol, and coffee. Organized in 2004, the ADHS is the successor to a society with a more limited scope, the Alcohol and...
- Gin in Victorian London