Gin

Gin is essentially vodka with juniper and other botanicals used to flavor it. Synonymous with British culture, Gin is now enjoyed worldwide and is most commonly drunk in a Gin and Tonic or a Martini. In essence, gin is a spirit with a predominant flavor of juniper berries, which account for its tangy, crispness and refreshing attributes.

There are various styles of gin with London Dry Gin being the most popular - Tanqueray and Beefeater are both notable London Dry Gins. Whilst Juniper must be the dominant flavor, other botanicals can be used to make gin, and there is no limit to what can be used – these often include anise, licorice root, saffron, cinnamon, cassia bark and orris root. The term “gin” might derive from either the Dutch “jenever” or the French “genièvre” – both of which mean “juniper”.

Gin can be made with any neutral spirit, so production methods can vary greatly. It is how the spirit is flavored that marks the difference between the various styles.

The two principal styles are Distilled Gin and Compound Gin. Distilled Gin is made by re-distilling neutral with the botanicals, whereas compound gin is made by simply steeping spirit in botanicals without re-distillation.

Another variant involves distilling spirit through a tray, or basket of botanicals.