The differences between vodka and gin While gin and vodka are made as neutral liquors, gin has additional ingredients, such as juniper berries, to give it its characteristic pine flavor. In fact, gin can only be called gin if it contains juniper. Without this, liquor is technically vodka. Gin and vodka are some of the world's most popular liquors.
They are two very different spirits. Obviously, gin is associated with pine and herbal flavors, while vodka is often positioned as odorless and tasteless; however, the two liquors are still very similar. Legal and historical fuss aside, the main difference between vodka and gin are the botanical ingredients. This is what gives gin its distinctive, invigorating flavor that some people find delicious and others compare to paint thinner.
Vodka, on the other hand, is meant to be pure, the “water of life”, free of earthly adjectives such as color, smell and taste. In its Slavic countries of origin, vodka is traditionally served alone, straight from the freezer. BBC Good Food explains that the distillation of gin begins with a neutral grain alcohol, but the flavors are improved by the addition of juniper berries and other botanical ingredients. In fact, gin gets its name from genever, the Dutch word for juniper (via The Manual).
Smithsonian magazine explains that the flavor of juniper berries is reminiscent of pine, with hints of fruit and pepper. On the other hand, the word vodka comes from voda, the Russian word for water (via Britannica). Vodka tastes mild, clean and neutral, while gin has more complexity due to juniper and other botanical ingredients. By law, all gins must contain juniper, but the amount of juniper varies by brand, and London Dry gins have a pronounced juniper flavor.
Some American gins and many artisanal gins soften juniper with a more balanced botanical blend. No, gin and vodka are not the same thing. Gin is known for its pine and herbal flavors, while vodka is famous for its odourless and tasteless profile. Both are very different beverages, but they also share many similarities.
If you're not a big fan of juniper or are looking for a more fruity flavor, this may be the gin for you. And some of the best-known cocktails that include gin are gin tonic (duh), Negroni and martini (which was originally made with gin, not vodka, so saying gin martini is wrong and redundant). With roots dating back to the Middle Ages (and a history of use as herbal medicine), gin is one of the most popular spirits in the world (via Secret Gin Club). This liquor really grew in relevance in the early 18th century, when the British government relaxed restrictions on gin production and began to impose high taxes on all imported liquors.
Both gin and vodka can be made with just about anything, but some common bases include corn, wheat, rye, potatoes, grapes, and sorghum. The history of gin is a bit blurry, but the first records of the liquor date back to the mid-17th century. The popularity of gin and vodka may have started as an extra dose of medicine, but by the 18th century alcohol had entered the realm of recreation and, along with its growing popularity, the increase in government regulations that sought to profit and keep their citizens safe; gin badly Distilled was responsible for several deaths in England, and its extra flavor proved useful to cover up poor distillation methods. Gin comes from the English word genever, which is related to the French word genièvre and the Dutch word jenever, however, they all derive from the word Juniperus, the Latin word for juniper.
In any liquor store you go to, you're sure to find the shelves full of different variations of gin and vodka. Other popular cocktails that use gin include Ramos Gin Fizz, Martinez, Gin Rickey, Red Snapper, Tom Collins, White Lady, Hanky Panky, Clover Club and more. But gin, as we know it, actually took shape in England in the early 18th century, when the British government officially relaxed the rules on the production and creation of spirits, leading to what is historically known as the gin craze. .
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