Although the British are the number one fans of gin, the juniper-led spirit originated from Holland. It was discovered by English soldiers and brought to England in the early 1600s.
Gin was originally used for medicinal purposes before it became the spirit we enjoy. In India, Gin was used to make tonic water and cinchona mixture, a more palatable taste to combat malaria.
Popular gin botanicals include coriander, orris root, liquorice, cassia and lemon peel! Many other herbs and spices like peppercorn and basil also make an appearances.
Gin is not designed to be drank on it’s own. The pairing of gin and tonic works well to mask their bitter tastes.
For a spirit to be considered ‘gin’ it must be flavoured with juniper berries. Having said that, there are other botanicals in gin that give each bottle their amazing flavours we all love!
There are more gin based cocktails than any other spirit. Most popular ones are negroni, martini and of course the humble G&T!
Thanks to the James Bond film, the martini has became the most sought after cocktail, made from a mixture of gin and dry vermouth, shaken not stirred.
Gin and curry are a perfectly paired. The marriage of flavour works well because neither overpowers the other.
Traditionally, a gin and tonic cocktail is garnished with a wedge of lime, but there are many unique garnishes you can use for a G&T.
There’s a whole day dedicated to celebrating the amazing goodness of gin! The next one is on June 8th 2019!
The earliest known food pairing occurred in 1731: gingerbread. This became quite common and is still traditional in parts of England.
London’s most popular drink in the winter of 1823 was the Hot Gin Twist.
Gin and tomato juice was all the rage as a hangover cure in New York City in 1928, years before the vodka-based Bloody.
Nearly all juniper used in gin is picked wild. Almost none is cultivated.
The best way to taste gins for comparison is at room temperature, diluted with an equal measure of water. This reveals both qualities and flaws.
The country with the world’s highest per-capita gin consumption is the Philippines, with an estimated 25 million cases consumed annually.
The juniper berry is actually not a berry at all. It is a female seed cone, a highly evolved pinecone with fleshy and merged scales that give it the appearance of a berry.
In 1721, Britain consumed 3.5 million gallons of gin.
Gin must legally have a “predominant juniper flavour,” but there are no specifications or limits to how many other botanicals may be used, or the quantity of juniper berries that need to be added during the distilling process.
Gin is essentially a flavored vodka. No need to it up to the pros, when you can make your perfect gin in your own home? Making your own gin is as simple as taking vodka and infusing it with juniper berries and other spices and botanicals.