Gin is made from a grain, starch or fermentable 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 the use of botanical ingredients in the distillation process. Gin is an alcoholic beverage that is obtained by distillation from a grain base (wheat or barley).
In an additional procedure, botanical ingredients are added together with water until the desired flavors are met. To be called gin, the spirit drink must have a predominant juniper berry flavor. Juniper is a type of aromatic “fruit” that grows along the branches of junipers. 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. Believe it or not, you can make a custom-made batch of aromatic gin at home, without any high-tech equipment or a degree in chemistry. Gin is made by distilling a neutral-grain alcohol with juniper berries and other botanical ingredients to create the fragrant liquor we all know and love. Botanical ingredients are infused into raw liquor to release their flavors.
You can also vary the recipe by adding different spices, fruits and floral elements. All good gins come from a good puree or cooking of the grains that will be used as the base of gin. Base alcohol can be obtained by distilling a variety of agricultural products, such as rye, barley, wheat, or corn. That said, rye is most popularly used for gin liqueurs, as it provides a strong white canvas for all of the great flavors that will be infused into it later.
Gin emerged in England in various forms in the early 17th century and, at the time of the Stuart Restoration, enjoyed a brief revival. To solve this problem, the Gin Act was introduced in 1736, making gin prohibitively expensive. Chemical research has begun to identify the various chemicals that are extracted in the distillation process and contribute to the flavor of gin. Navy Strength gin owes its name to its popularity in the British Royal Navy and its high alcohol content.
After the Glorious Revolution in England (168), which succeeded William of Orange and his wife Mary II, gin gained great popularity. So what does it take to make gin? From the farm to the bar and straight to your cocktail, here you'll find everything you need to make this versatile liquor. This method is said to give Spirit a milder flavor, and is used by producers such as Sibling Gin and the iconic Bombay Sapphire, who preferred this production method to create a lighter Spirit style. As the gin production process became more refined, this beverage evolved to become a more sophisticated balance of delicate flavors.
Either way, try some of the types and styles of gin and choose one or two bottles to include in your home bar essentials. Some legal classifications (protected designation of origin) define gin as originating only from specific geographical areas without any additional restrictions (for example, distilled gin is produced exclusively by redistilling ethanol of agricultural origin with an initial concentration of 96% ABV (the azeotrope of water and ethanol) in stills traditionally used for gin, in the presence of juniper berries and other natural botanical ingredients, provided that the juniper flavor predominates. Gin initially comes from a grain base, usually wheat or barley, before producers add botanicals and water. .
