11/07/2025
~GIN~
(History, Ingredients & Production Process)
History of Gin
Gin has its origins in 17th-century Holland, where a Dutch physician Franciscus Sylvius is credited with creating a medicinal spirit called jenever by infusing distilled grain spirits with juniper berries, believed to treat kidney and stomach ailments.
When English soldiers fought in the Netherlands during the Thirty Years’ War, they discovered this juniper-flavored spirit—calling it "Dutch Courage." They brought it back home, and it quickly became popular in England.
By the early 18th century, gin became widely produced in London and gained fame during the Gin Craze, a time of mass production and overconsumption. Later, quality regulations and distillation laws helped improve the spirit’s reputation.
Today, gin is a versatile and elegant base spirit for many classic and modern cocktails.
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Main Ingredients in Gin
Gin must be flavored predominantly with juniper berries, but can include many other botanicals. Key ingredients:
1. Neutral Grain Spirit (base alcohol – usually wheat, barley, or corn-based)
2. Juniper Berries (the dominant botanical)
3. Coriander Seeds
4. Angelica Root or Orris Root (used as fixatives to bind flavors)
5. Citrus Peel (lemon or orange)
6. Cardamom, Cinnamon, or Licorice Root (optional, depending on style)
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⚗️ Gin Production Methods
There are two main methods to produce gin:
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1. Distilled Gin Method
(Most common for premium gin)
Steps:
1. Create a Neutral Spirit:
A high-proof neutral alcohol is distilled from grains.
2. Add Botanicals to the Still:
Botanicals like juniper, coriander, citrus peels, and others are added directly into the still (macération method) or placed in a basket in the still head (v***r infusion).
3. Redistillation:
The spirit is redistilled. The alcohol v***rs pass through the botanicals, absorbing essential oils and flavors.
4. Dilution:
The distilled gin is diluted with water to bottling strength, usually 40-47% ABV.
5. Bottling:
The final product is filtered and bottled.
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2. Cold Compounding (Bathtub Gin)
(Faster and cheaper but less refined)
Steps:
1. Neutral spirit is created or bought.
2. Botanicals are steeped or infused in the alcohol without redistillation.
3. Filter the mixture.
4. Dilute and bottle.
This method is less controlled and often leads to cloudier or harsher gin, but some artisanal gins still use it.
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Types of Gin, First Gin, and Famous Brands
1:Types of Gin
There are several officially recognized types of gin, based on how they are made and flavored:
🟣 1. London Dry Gin
Most popular and widely used style
Must be redistilled with natural botanicals
No artificial flavoring or sweeteners allowed
Known for a crisp, dry, juniper-forward taste
Examples: Tanqueray, Beefeater, Bombay Sapphire
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🟡 2. Plymouth Gin
A geographically protected style: can only be made in Plymouth, England
Earthier and slightly less dry than London Dry
Richer and smoother in flavor
Example: Plymouth Gin (only one brand)
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đźź 3. Old Tom Gin
A slightly sweeter gin style
Popular in the 18th–19th century, now making a comeback
Used in vintage cocktails like the Tom Collins and Martinez
Examples: Hayman’s Old Tom, Ransom Old Tom
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🔵 4. Genever (or Jenever)
Original ancestor of modern gin from the Netherlands and Belgium
Made from malted grain spirit (more like whiskey) and flavored with juniper
Has a malty, herbal taste—less botanical, more earthy
Examples: Bols Genever, Diep 9
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🟢 5. Compound Gin (Cold-Compounded or Bathtub Gin)
Not distilled with botanicals—flavorings are infused directly into neutral spirit
May be cloudy or less refined
Lower quality, but some artisanal producers are reviving it
No major commercial brands, usually homemade or small-batch
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🟤 6. Contemporary or New Western Gin
Focuses on non-juniper botanicals
More floral, fruity, or herbal than classic gin
Great for modern cocktails
Examples: Hendrick’s (cucumber & rose), Aviation (lavender & cardamom)
Famous Gin Brands Around the World
Brand Name Country Style Notes
1.Tanqueray England London Dry Gin Crisp, dry, citrus-juniper
2.Bombay Sapphire England London Dry (v***r) Light, floral, stylish bottle
3.Beefeater England London Dry Gin Classic juniper-rich profile
4.Plymouth Gin England (Plymouth) Plymouth Gin Earthy, full-bodied
5.Hendrick’s Scotland Contemporary Gin Infused with cucumber & rose
6.Aviation USA New Western Balanced botanicals, lavender
7.Monkey 47 Germany Contemporary Dry Complex with 47 botanicals
8.Bols Genever Netherlands Genever Malty, traditional Dutch gin
Cocktails Magazine_
