Why You Should Be Drinking It, and How To Do So Properly
Newer generations of drinkers have been gradually rediscovering gin in recent years, and it’s not hard to see why. This delicious spirit has a wide range of potential beyond the standards of Martini and Negroni. If you’re not yet convinced about the delights of gin, read this Gin Guide to learn more about this wonderful drink.
What is gin?
Gin is a distilled alcoholic beverage flavoured with juniper berries. Like all distillates, it is created by taking a substance and extracting the chemical compound of interest from it in a controlled way. Gin is not a fermented beverage, so it doesn’t involve any wild yeast fermentation like beer or wine. Gin is made in a still by heating up a mixture of ingredients like grains, herbs, and fruits. The intent is to evaporate the water in these ingredients, leaving behind a liquid that is mostly ethyl alcohol mixed with flavour compounds.
Gin’s history
The concept of flavoured spirits is ancient, but gin, as we know it today, was born in the Netherlands sometime in the early 1600s. The Dutch were the first to distil gin, which they made by distilling juniper berries (a common flavouring in many medicinal substances at the time). The Dutch called this juniper-flavoured spirit jenever, and it was a popular drink on the European continent for centuries. As trade routes opened up in the early modern period, people began to trade and drink jenever beyond Europe’s borders. The drink was especially popular in British colonies. In the 18th century, British distillers began making their own jenever-like spirit. They used a wide variety of ingredients, including coriander, nutmeg, and cinnamon. They also made their version by distilling grain, not juniper berries. This grain-based spirit was called gin, and it became immensely popular.
Gin production
The basic process of making gin is very simple. Distillers take a mixture of grains, herbs, and/or fruits, heat it up, and then run the vapour through a condenser. The end product is a clear liquid that is mostly ethyl alcohol with some flavour compounds thrown in. That’s it! The actual recipes for gin vary quite a bit. Distillers can use pretty much any ingredients they want in the mix. The only requirements are that it contains ethyl alcohol and is safe for human consumption. The only real requirement is that there be at least 10% juniper berries in the gin. This is because gin is a type of “distilled spirit”, and distilled spirits must, by definition, be at least 10% ethanol.
Types of gin
As you can imagine, there are many different types of gin. Here are some of the most common types of gin with a brief overview of their flavours and styles. – Dry gin: Dry gin is the type that probably comes to mind first when you think about gin. It is bold and herbaceous, often with a piney aroma and flavour. Dry gins are often thought to pair well with tonic water, and garnishes such as citrus and/or green olives, and are a common base spirit for Martinis. Dry gins are typically made with a high percentage of juniper. – London Dry gin: This is just a style of dry gin. It doesn’t have any special significance beyond that. London Dry has often been considered the “gold standard” for gin in the same way that Napa Valley is the gold standard for wine. –
Gin and Tonic: Yes, this is a specific type of gin. Gin and Tonics are made with a very dry London Dry gin and lots of carbonated water. The goal is to add as little flavour to the gin as possible so that the carbonation can flavour the gin. – Old Tom Gin: Old Tom is an old style of gin that is making a bit of a comeback. It is generally less bitter than the modern style of gin. Many old Tom gins use citrus peels to give the gin a little bit of a sweeter flavour. – Genever: Genever is a traditional Dutch style of gin that is very different from the modern style of gin. Genever is made with a high percentage of malt (i.e., barley). It is often aged in wooden barrels and has a very strong flavour. Genever is best enjoyed when mixed with water.
How to drink gin
Drinking gin is a far more involved affair than just pouring yourself a glass and adding an ice cube. Gin is a beautifully complex spirit that deserves your full attention. Here are some common gin-based drinks, and the best way to drink them: – Gin and Tonic: This classic gin drink is best served with lots of ice and a slice of citrus (usually lime). If you want to be fancy, you can also add a splash of soda water. A good rule of thumb is to put about a quarter as much soda as there is gin (e.g., if you have a 1:1 ratio of gin to soda, you have a good drink). –
Gin and Soda: If you don’t want as much flavour in your drink, you can go with a gin and soda. This drink can be served with ice, but it isn’t necessary. For a fancier presentation, you can serve it in a highball glass (i.e., a tall glass with a wide top). –
Gin and tonic water: If you want the flavour of gin, but you don’t want to drink alcohol, you can add gin flavour to water. You’ll need a bottle of plain water and a shot glass. Pour a shot of gin into the glass and drop in a few ice cubes. Let the mixture chill for a few minutes, then carefully pour the water into the shot glass. Enjoy! – Negroni: A Negroni (pronounced “n-EG-ron-ee”) is a classic Italian cocktail that is best made with gin. It is made by mixing gin with equal parts sweet vermouth and a dash of bitters. Garnishing the drink with an orange twist is optional, but recommended.
Mixing with other spirits
Gin pairs beautifully with many other spirits. Here are some of the most common gin cocktails, and the spirits you should use to make them: – Gin and tonic: This classic drink can be made with any brand of tonic water. Just add ice if you want to make it fancier. – Gin and tonic water: This is essentially a fancy gin and tonic. You can achieve the same flavour by adding any brand of tonic water to a tall glass.
Dry Martini: A classic Martini is made with gin, a dash of vermouth, and a garnish such as an olive or a twist of lemon or orange peel. The vermouth is there to add a little flavour, and to help prevent the gin from being too strong. Vermouth comes in many flavours, but the most common ones are sweet and dry (i.e., they are slightly sweet). Vermouth is a fortified wine, so it has a bit more body than plain water.
Serving on its own
This might sound like a strange way to drink gin, but it’s a great way to get to know the different flavours and tastes of different gins. Gin is a very versatile spirit, and different types can be used in a plethora of drinks, but it’s also very drinkable on its own. Some gins are even made with botanicals that are also used in tonic water, so they go particularly well with some lime and tonic.
One of the best ways to get to know the different types of gin and what you like about them is to serve them on their own. You can do this either by chilling a bottle and pouring yourself a glass or by making individual servings in shot glasses. There are a number of different serving methods that can be used to try out different gins.
Conclusion
Gin is a wonderful spirit with a lot of versatility and potential. It is made from a base of either grain or potatoes mixed with water and a number of other botanicals and can be served on its own or in a wide range of drinks with different garnishes, flavourings, and ratios. There are a large number of different types of gin, each made with different botanicals, flavourings, and ageing processes.