What exactly is gin?

What exactly is gin?

Gin /ˈdʒɪn/ is a distilled alcoholic drink that derives its predominant flavour from juniper berries (Juniperus communis). After juniper, gin tends to be flavoured with botanical/herbal, spice, floral or fruit flavours or often a combination.

What is the story of gin?

Fast-forward to the 16th century, when the Dutch began producing a spirit called “genever.” It essentially consisted of a malt wine base and a healthy amount of juniper berries to mask its harsh flavor. It was, of course, a “medicinal” liquid like its predecessors. By the 1700s, it had taken on a new form: gin.

Where did gin get its name?

juniper berry
The name of the beverage comes from the French name for the juniper berry, genièvre, altered by the Dutch to genever and shortened by the English to gin.

Is gin a hard liquor?

Distilled alcoholic beverages, such as gin or whiskey. For example, We’re serving wine and beer but no hard liquor. The hard here refers to their high alcoholic content, which is also true for hard cider, although the latter is not distilled but has simply fermented.

Is gin a woman’s drink?

There was also a gender divide when it comes to gin consumption. More women prefer gin to men, and twice as many women choose gin as their favourite spirit (26%) to men (13%).

Is gin a vodka?

It is a common misconception that gin is flavored vodka. While the spirits are similar, the ingredients and distilling processes are different. Gin is (and must be by definition) a grain-based spirit (usually wheat or barley) distilled with juniper.

Is gin sweet or bitter?

Gin has a strong citrus scent and a pine-like taste, accompanied by a kick of mild bitterness. The pine-like taste comes from juniper berry, which is the signature ingredient of Gin. The sour taste is due to the usage of many herbs and lime peels throughout the process.

Is gin basically vodka?

It is a common misconception that gin is flavored vodka. While the spirits are similar, the ingredients and distilling processes are different. Gin is (and must be by definition) a grain-based spirit (usually wheat or barley) distilled with juniper. …

Why is gin a Mothers Ruin?

The gin obsession was blamed for misery, rising crime, madness, higher death rates and falling birth rates. Gin joints allowed women to drink alongside men for the first time and it is thought this led many women neglecting their children and turning to prostitution, hence gin becoming known as ‘Mother’s ruin’.