GIN
DEFINITION
Gin is a flavored alcoholic beverage produced by redistilling high proof spirits with juniper
berries and other botanicals.
• Gin originated over three centuries ago in Holland when Franciscus ‘de la Boe’ Sylvius,
professor of medicine in Holland’s University of Leiden mixed juniper berries and alcohol
to cure kidney complaints.
• The word “Gin” is an abbreviation either derived from the French word ‘genievre’ or the
Dutch word ‘junever’ both meaning juniper berry.
• British soldiers took the drink before going into battle in the Netherlands which gave
them ‘Dutch Courage’.
• They developed liking for the taste and took the art of making this spirit to England.
• By 18th Century Gin became a cheap remedy for London’s poor and there was no control
over the production of Gin and was produced all over London.
• The famous phrase came about because of the cheapness of Gin. “Drunk for a penny
and dead drunk for two pence, clean straw or nothing”.
• Some employers even gave Gin to their employees as part payment of wages.
TWO TYPE OF GIN DISTILLATION IS
• Distilled Gin
• Compound Gin
Distilled Gin- The production of gin starts from a pure or neutral spirit distilled from any kind of
grains like malted barley, corn, rye or wheat. This is then rectified(redistilled) by the gin distiller
in a patent still with various botanicals and juniper berries. The recipe is a guarded secret. The
base spirit used in UK is slightly lower in alcoholic strength than the base spirit used in US.
Alternative method-
1. The botanicals are steeped in a portion of the neutral spirit and the mixture is distilled in a
pot still which result in the production of a highly flavorful and concentrated spirit
This is combined with the rest of the neutral spirit.
2. A basket of botanicals is hung near the mouth of the still and the alcoholic vapors are passed
through the basket of botanicals as well as the cracked juniper berries which helps the vapors
to carry the flavors along with it and the flavors remain in the final product.
Compound Gin
Compound gin is produced by mixing high proof neutral spirit with extracts of juniper berries
and other
botanicals and flavoring. This Gin is of a lower quality than the distilled Gin and therefore very
little gin is
produced using this method.
STYLES OF GIN
• Dutch Gin / Holland Gin / Schiedam Gin / Genevar Gin / Geneva Gin
• London Dry Gin / Dry Gin / English Gin
MANUFACTURING PROCESS OF DUTCH GIN
Equal quantities of malt, corn & rye are mashed and fermented
Distilled in Pot Still (2 or 3 times)
Redistilled with addition of Juniper berries and other aromatics
Stored in glass lined containers and then bottled
CHARACTERISTICS OF DUTCH GIN
• Full-bodied with clear and pronounced malty aroma and flavor
• Not ideal for mixed drinks/cocktails as its own taste is predominant
• Maturation is not required
• It is best enjoyed straight and chilled
• Bottled in stone crocks – excellent bar display
MANUFACTURING PROCESS OF LONDON DRY GIN
75% Corn + 15% malt + 10% others mashed and fermented
Distilled in Patent still (90% to 95% al v/v)
Dilution with distilled water (60% al v/v))
Distilled in Pot Still with juniper berries and other botanicals
(85% to 90% al v/v)
Dilution to marketing strength and bottled
CHARACTERISTICS OF LONDON DRY GIN
• Originally made in and around London (most English gins are still made there). Now it’s
a generic term.
• Dry means nothing as all gins are dry.
• It is colorless and light bodied.
• It is used mainly in the preparation of mixed drinks/cocktails.
BRAND NAMES
• Beefeater London Dry Gin, England
• Bombay Dry Gin, England
• Bombay Sapphire, England
• Broker’s London Dry Gin, England
• Citadelle Gin, France
• Damark Amsterdam Original Gin, Netherlands
• Hendrick’s Gin, Scotland
• Junipero Gin, USA
• Leyden Dry Gin, US
• Martin Miller’s London Dry Gin, England
• Martin Miller’s London Dry Gin Westbourne Strength, England
• Mercury Gin, England
• Plymouth Gin, England
• Regal Dry Gin, Estonia
• Tanqueray No.10 Gin, England (Considered to be the most perfect gin in the world)
• Tanqueray Gin, England
• Van Gogh Gin, Netherlands
