{"id":12170,"date":"2021-05-10T19:23:39","date_gmt":"2021-05-10T23:23:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cocktailhammer.com\/?p=12170"},"modified":"2023-07-09T19:25:39","modified_gmt":"2023-07-09T23:25:39","slug":"what-is-gin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cocktailhammer.com\/general\/what-is-gin\/","title":{"rendered":"What is Gin? (The Weird History of This Spirit)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Gin is not the first spirit you think of ordering at a bar. Unless you do, and then know already much about it. Gin is less popular than whisky or vodka, but it wasn\u2019t always so, and surely it is getting more noticed and appreciated by the younger generations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Woman pouring gin.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Why? Well, it has a lot of distinct aromatics that play in its favor and has a particular, pungent taste profile that makes it immediately recognizable among all the clear spirits. Plenty of flavored gins exist, enlarging the pool of interested drinkers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For those who haven\u2019t grown to appreciate gin yet, we made this short and accessible guide on everything you should know about gin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

History<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s start with a brief introduction to the history of gin. The traditional origin of gin is linked to the 17th century dutch physician Franciscus Sylvius, but it is not exactly true. We know for certain that spirits made by distilling alcohol with juniper berries, which are at the core of the taste of all gins, had been existing for at least 4 centuries before, if not even earlier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Gin
Gin cocktail with lemon in wine glass<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Whoever was that actually invented gin, it surely became hugely popular in the Netherlands in the mid-17th century. From there it was exported to England, where it was supremely successful thanks to being an alternative to the brandy from France, at the time the enemy of England. Englishmen weren\u2019t keen on paying for a spirit produced by the enemy, and gin was a welcomed alternative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A period named as the \u201cGin Craze\u201d swept England at the beginning of the 18th century, when gin was reputed to be a healthy beverage for the poorest Englishmen and it is thought that up to 15000 drinking establishments offered gin throughout England. Successful indeed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thanks to its popularity in the UK, the colonies at the time imported gin and started to drink it locally, spreading the pungent spirit throughout the continents. It kept being a very much appreciated beverage until the beginning of the 20th century, when whisky took the lead and, later, vodka became the favorite among the youngsters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"The
The gin shop a satirical sketch on the dangers of drinking alcohol<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In recent times a lot of distilleries have turned to gin to experiment with different taste profiles, various herbs and fruits to flavor the classic gin, rendering the centuries-old spirit accessible and trendy again. Younger generations have been increasingly favoring the juniper-infused distillate, and nowadays gin can be ordered almost anywhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Many Styles of Gin<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Gin
Gin cocktail with lemon<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

For a spirit that is so old, you can expect that many styles have been developed out of the original recipe. And you\u2019d be right. To know how to drink gin you would need to at least know the fundamental differences between the most famous ones. These are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n