Gin is made from a fermentable grain, starch or fruit, juniper berries, and other botanical ingredients. To be classified as gin, brandy must contain juniper and have at least 40% alcohol by volume. Gin differs from other liquors by using botanical ingredients in the distillation process. Gin is generally made from a grain base, such as wheat or barley, which is first fermented and then distilled.
Gin is produced in different ways from herbal cocktail ingredients, representing a wide range of different styles and brands. The only ingredient that all gins have in common is juniper berries. The only ingredient that all gins have in common is juniper, a characteristic botanical used to flavor this liquor. Since it is a main ingredient that defines gin, distillers use juniper berries in their puree, helping to highlight the traditional pine notes often found inside.
While many distillers like to combine juniper with a variety of other spices to help achieve more complex and sophisticated flavors, juniper is the star of the show that brings it all together. Gin is generally made with grains such as wheat, barley, corn, or rye. However, Sing Gin is not your typical gin. Derived from the iris flower, orris root adds a clean, spring sweetness to gin, something similar to angelica root, but is much rarer because the roots must first be dried for five years.
The alcohol content and production process are similar to those of traditional gin, but common and long-established botanical ingredients are taking a backseat to stronger fruit, spice and berry flavors, such as clementine, plum, strawberry and blood orange. This favorite sparkling gin is similar to Tom Collins (1 ounce of gin, ½ ounce of lemon juice, ½ ounce of simple syrup), but is topped with champagne or sparkling wine for a festive touch. When it comes to spirits, gin has always been a favorite for cocktail lovers and mixologists alike. Much sweeter than the Plymouth or London Dry styles, Old Tom is the “missing link” between dry and modern gin styles and Genever, the Dutch distillate that preceded them.
Sometimes known as Chinese parsley, coriander became an essential for gin because of its spicy nut essence that gives more body to the spirit. There has been a gin revolution in recent times, with a real explosion of new gins entering the market and every year more people discover the delights of this delicious and versatile liqueur. By then, gin had exploded all over England, thanks in large part to the government allowing the artisanal manufacture of gin. It can be difficult to give a definitive answer to how gin is made, just because of the great diversity of the gin industry.
In addition to juniper and other botanical products, the distillers themselves are the most integral part of making each batch of gin. That said, beginners and amateurs alike would do well to know the difference between gin distillation methods so they can learn what they like and what they prefer to avoid. Gin is made with a clear, neutral liquor made from the distillation of grains such as rye, barley, wheat or corn. There are sweeter variations of gin, such as Plymouth gin, but gin is not considered a sweet-tasting alcohol.
After the Glorious Revolution in England (168), which succeeded William of Orange and his wife Mary II, gin gained great popularity.
