Gin: The Full Story

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A Brief and Sordid History of Gin

In the days when spirits were used exclusively for their medicinal qualities, (wink, wink, nudge, nudge) herbs and spices were steeped in the elixir of choice to cure whatever ailed you. One of the most popular, and reputedly potent, of these spices was the juniper berry. Juniper tonics gained tremendous popularity in the 14th century when they were used to ward-off the plague and nearly any other discomfort. Juniper concoctions proved useful in treating bladder, and kidney aliments as well as strengthening the immune system. The first “official” record of Gin came in 1752 when Franciscus Sylvius cooked-up his eau de vie de genievre. Soon Genever, Dutch for juniper, was the common man’s drink of choice. Genever was also distributed to Dutch troops to promote heroism in battle, a technique now reserved exclusively for the contestants and judges on American Idol. It was in this way that the first Brits became enthralled with Gin as English mercenaries supporting the Dutch in the Thirty Years War came home with tales, and flasks, of “Dutch Courage.” The English became further convinced to partake in all things Dutch, with the exception of clogs which should never be worn while drinking Gin, when Dutch born William of Orange seized the English throne from James II (history Channel enthusiasts will recall this as the "Glorious Revolution" of 1688) and soon discouraged the import of brandy from Catholic wine producing nations. In 1690, the English Parliament determined that all one needed to become a distiller was to post a notice of intent ten days prior. Soon after the tax on Beer doubled, further promoting Gin as the English drink of choice. In 1730 11 million gallons of Gin were consumed annually rising to 20 million in 1750 (keep in mind that England’s population was just about 7 million!). Gin became synonymous with drunkenness, slums, and the impoverished working class. The tipple that was once seen as the answer to everything from Black Death to the common cold was now viewed as the root of all evil. Gin’s reputation took many decades to repair, but it did. By the mid 1800s Gin was the fashionable drink-of-choice in London and certainly the desired beverage among America’s elite during the dark days of prohibition.  

The Anatomy of Gin
Gin is typically made from neutral spirits that are steeped with botanicals starting with juniper and often including coriander and any number of herbs and spices such as: ginger, orange peel, cardamom, angelica root, nutmeg, clove, cassia bark, and nearly anything else one could imagine. The steeping process can last from one hour to a day followed by one last distillation that is said to “fix” the flavors to the spirit. Another approach involves suspending a basket of botanicals in the still allowing vapours to pass through extracting aroma and flavor in this way. Bargain “industrial” Gin is often made by simply adding flavor essences to the spirit; (this is known as cold compounding) the results are never as pleasing as the aforementioned methods. Today Gin is available in a wide range of styles and from an every growing number of nations. Gin sales have taken a beating in deference to Vodka that has nudged Gin out of its rightful place as the martini spirit. Always remember that Gin is essentially a flavored Vodka albeit the most noble and historically significant. Popularity contests aside, Gin will always have a place on my bar and mark my words; Gin will be fashionable in the near future.