Gin
Gin is thought to be a British adaptation of the Dutch spirit genever, though the origins of both gin and genever are subject to debate. Gin is, in essence, a flavored vodka as it is in fact a neutral spirit with certain flavorings added to it, though gin distillers won’t thank you for saying that. The key, characteristic flavor of gin must be of juniper, and historically juniper has been an overwhelming component of the spirit. In recent years, distillers have moved to tempering the impact of juniper and pumping up other flavors in the bottle, sometimes resulting in a spirit that’s closer to a flavored vodka. In the European Union and some other places gin must be at least 75 proof, while in the U.S. it must be at least 80 proof. “Navy Strength” gins are often bottled at 114 proof. Today, numerous sub-styles of gin have emerged out of the classic London Dry, including a resurgence of the archaic Old Tom gin style, Plymouth gin (which is also a famous brand), and New Western (or New American) gin, which tends to push the flavor boundaries of the spirit. Aside from Plymouth gin, which must be produced in a specific town in England, these gins have no formal, legal definitions or requirements.
Top Gin Posts:
The Botanist Gin
Tanqueray No. Ten Gin
Recipes for National Gin and Tonic Day
Gin hasn’t been spared from the growing terroir trend, which is fine by me since I have an easier time grasping a “sense of place” in a spirit that can essentially be flavored with local botanicals. A few coastal distilleries have even gone so far as to incorporate unique aquatic elements – things like kelp…
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“Molecular” always scares me when I see it on a spirits product, as it usually implies “chemicals” instead of actual craftsmanship. With Linden Leaf, “molecular” appears to mean something a bit different, as the company was founded by three Cambridge, UK-based scientists who are creating “spirits on a molecular level, actually using their science background…
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I can tell you precious little about Kuiper Belt Dry Gin; although it notes having 8 botanicals on the label, I don’t know anything about them. It’s made by a rapper named E-40, and it’s billed as “atmospheric” — though its celebration of the icy Kuiper Belt in the outer solar system is well outside…
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Three guesses to figure out where Wilde Irish Gin hails from — and, no, the spirit isn’t purple, only the bottle is. Made in West Cork from 100% Irish grain, the pot-distilled gin’s botanicals aren’t specified save for a couple: wild mountain purple heather and bitter orange peel. Quite aromatic, there’s a strong floral thread…
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Spring is nearly here, and gin is in. Whether it’s gin and tonic, a stiff martini, or a fancier cocktail that’s on your mind, we’ve got you covered with a look at our 10 favorite gins to hit shelves in the last year. Need more picks? Check our top gin lists from 2019, 2020, and…
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We took our first look at Oxley Gin back in 2011 when it was subtitled Classic English Dry Gin. More than a decade later, the overall packaging has been tweaked quite a bit with the most obvious label change being a new focus on Cold Distilled, this gin’s unique method of production, instead of the…
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How’s your French? Citadelle‘s new special edition is clearly inspired by just one of its 21 ingredients: cornichon pickles, which stretches the definition of a “botanical” considerably. There are 20 other ingredients in this oddball creation, but let’s focus on the namesake here: “The cornichons infused in Citadelle Original’s aromatic base come from Maison Marc,…
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Now here’s an eye-catching gin. Stoli Group’s Tulchan Gin hit shelves last summer and while the gin may be London dry, the bottle is all Scotland. Made from a royal blue glass, a la Bombay Saphire, it’s stamped along the side with the official Tulchan tartan in tribute to the Speyside estate for which it’s…
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What do you get when you cross a creator of Sailor Jerry rum with “Queen of Burlesque” Dita Von Teese? Why, a new gin, made in the south of France! Sweet Gwendoline is the brainchild of Larry McGearty, featuing a dominatrix-like character, complete with whip, on the front label. She’ll have you sipping this gin…
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Last year, former Jack Daniel’s master distiller Jeff Arnett became one of the founders of Company Distilling and joined a growing list of “retired” distillery captains who have used their decades of whiskey knowhow to start their own smaller distilleries. Clearly, the man was passionate about his trade. Answering to the C-suite at Brown-Forman and…
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