But what is gin and why is it so popular? Gin is made from a neutral alcohol. Its main ingredient, which gives it its characteristic taste, is juniper. The colorless spirit is distilled from grain or molasses; Only then is it flavored with juniper. Depending on which gin it is, other botanicals are added. The range is extremely diverse, so that everyone should find the right gin for themselves. No matter whether angelica, anise, citrus peel, cardamom or coriander: depending on which additional botanicals are used, the taste of the gin changes. There is now even gin with gingerbread, honey or vanilla flavor. It is precisely this diversity that defines gin and makes it the trendy drink par excellence. By the way: Gin can only be called a drink that has an alcohol content of at least 37.5 percent. Connoisseurs drink it neat; For most people, however, it serves as the main ingredient for the well-known gin and tonic .
What is gin? All information about the cult drink!
What is the difference?
As a gin lover, you may be interested in how different distillers make different gins and how different styles of gin lend themselves to different cocktails. Gin is defined in the most common categories as follows:
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Contemporary Style Gin: The juniper flavor is still noticeable here, but other flavors such as citrus, spices and floral notes are more prominent than in a classic gin.
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London Dry Gin: This gin has a juniper accent and is made using the traditional London Dry production technique. This means that all flavors may only be transferred through distillation, and only water and neutral alcohol may be added after distillation.
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Classic Gin: This is a gin with a clear, neutral base that brings out the distilled flavors of the botanicals. This gin is juniper-focused, and common botanicals include angelica root, coriander seeds, orris root, and citrus.
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Old Tom Gin: This gin is produced to replicate the historic style of Old Tom Gin, be it botanically intense, sugar or botanically sweetened.
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Flavored Gin: Here, fruits or other botanicals are added, usually through infusion or maceration, and they may also be sweetened. This category includes flavored versions of gins from other categories, such as Old Tom.
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Aged Gin: This gin must have been aged in or with wood, including the use of casks, chips or staves. Many competitions have a special category for barrel-aged gin.
Tasting tips
Do you want to get to know a gin like a pro? Then try it straight. Pour your chosen gin into a glass with curved sides as this best captures the aroma. After swirling the liquid in the glass to release more of its scent, it's time to "sniff" the gin by smelling it carefully - avoid inhaling too deeply, as this can be overwhelming. Take a sip and let the liquid rest on your tongue before moving it around your mouth - what flavors can you recognize? And what flavors remain after you swallow the gin?
You can take your tasting to the next level by placing your hand firmly over the rim of the glass and pouring some gin into your palm. Close your hands and smell the spirit from there. Plus, sniffing the back of your hand between sips will neutralize your senses.
What is gin made from?
In principle, gin can be made from any neutral alcohol. Pure alcohol with up to 96 percent alcohol is usually used. As a rule, grain or potatoes serve as the basis. Therefore, gin is basically nothing more than a type of vodka. Nowadays, some types of gin are also made from grapes or other types of fruit. In addition to the numerous botanicals such as fruits and herbs that are added to the high-proof alcohol, there is one ingredient that should not be missing: juniper definitely belongs in a classic gin, because the juniper berries give it its typical slightly bitter taste. The question “What is gin made of” cannot be answered in general terms, because each variety has its own special and mostly secret ingredients. Some well-known gins have no less than 120 botanicals added.
You have to differentiate between different types of gin. The most famous gin is certainly the London Dry Gin, which is dry. The dry gin is also dry, but it has less juniper emphasis. Do you prefer it sweeter and more aromatic? Then choose the Genever variant. This is a juniper schnapps that has an alcohol content of at least 35 percent. This juniper schnapps originally comes from France or the Netherlands. Today's gin owes its name to Jenever, which was created around the 17th century. The Plymouth Dry Gin and the Old Tom Gin are a little sweeter and spicier than the normal dry gin. So you see: Gin is a very versatile drink and is available in many variations.
What is the best gin?
As already mentioned, there is now such an inexhaustible variety of gin varieties on the market that you can quickly lose track. There are top gins from Germany, Scotland and the Scandinavian countries. But real classics that should not be missing from any well-stocked home bar include :
- Gin Mare
- Elephant Gin
- Nobody Gin
- Tanqueray Gin
- Monkey 47 Gin
There is no general answer to what is the best gin, as everyone's tastes are different. In fact, gin is probably the most diverse drink in the world. Reliable sources say that there are currently almost 5,500 different types of gin. New ones are added almost every day. There are around 700 different gins in Germany alone. Well-known include the Berlin Spree Gin, the Knuth Hansen Gin from the Hanseatic city of Hamburg and of course the Windspiel Gin, which is made from potatoes. The Monkey 47, on the other hand, is probably the best-known gin from the Black Forest, which impresses with aromas of cranberries, spruce and elderflower. But the gins from France, England and Italy don't have to hide from the German gins either. Be sure to try Gin Mare, one of the most famous gins from the Mediterranean. The gin, which comes from Spain, scores with Mediterranean ingredients such as rosemary, citrus fruits, thyme and basil. But Tanqueray Gin is also one of the most popular gin varieties and is available in many variations. This gin has been voted the best in the world several times and impresses with its clear taste, liveliness and spice.
How do you drink gin?
The classic way to serve gin is with a gin and tonic . What is Gin and Tonic? With a gin and tonic, the gin is topped up with tonic water and served with either a slice of lemon, a slice of cucumber or a sprig of rosemary. You can vary your gin garnish to your heart's content, because whatever you like is allowed. Gin and tonic is a classic aperitif that goes well with many occasions. Its characteristic feature is its slightly tart yet refreshing note, making it the perfect summer drink . The mixing ratio for the gin and tonic is up to your own preferences. Variants from 1:1 to 1:4 are possible. However, we do not recommend a 1:1 mixture because then the alcohol is too dominant. A mixing ratio of 1:3 is common, because then the gin and tonic harmonize perfectly. By the way, real connoisseurs don't use just any tonic water, but also choose it to match the gin. Tonic water is sparkling water that gets its refreshing note from citric acid. Numerous other natural flavors, water, sugar and quinine are other components of a good tonic water. In fact, not all tonic water is the same. Here too, a distinction is made between different taste nuances such as:
- bitter
- lemony and fresh
- fruity and sweet
- spicy and tart
- floral
The amount of carbon dioxide that gives the gin and tonic its fizz also varies. A good tonic water is characterized by a finely sparkling and long-lasting carbonic acid. If you prefer a classic dry gin with a clear juniper note, it is best to combine it with a dry or bitter-tart tonic water. If, on the other hand, you like very spicy, floral or herbal gins, it is best to combine them with a tonic water that has a very similar taste. Basically, the same applies here: Trying is more important than studying and it's best for you to find out for yourself which combination you like best.
What is Gin Tonic is now answered. But there are numerous other interesting cocktail creations that can be made from gin. The most well-known include:
The Gin Fizz in particular is a real alternative if you want to try something other than Gin and Tonic. Similar to the Gin Tonic, the Gin Fizz is also very refreshing. In addition to gin and soda water as the two main ingredients, a classic gin fizz definitely includes some lemon juice and sugar beet syrup. It gives the Gin Fizz its pleasant sweetness. You should also definitely try a Clover Club: the combination of gin and raspberries is simply irresistible. For this drink with protein you need a shaker because this is the only way to create the delicious foam. Even James Bond's favorite drink, the Dry Martini, doesn't work without a good gin. In combination with vermouth and served with lemon and olives, the taste of the gin comes into its own particularly well.
What is Gin Tonic is now answered. But there are numerous other interesting cocktail creations that can be made from gin. The most well-known include:
- Gin Basil Smash
- Dry Martini
- Gin Fizz
The Gin Fizz in particular is a real alternative if you want to try something other than Gin and Tonic. Similar to the Gin Tonic, the Gin Fizz is also very refreshing. In addition to gin and soda water as the two main ingredients, a classic gin fizz definitely includes some lemon juice and sugar beet syrup. It gives the Gin Fizz its pleasant sweetness. You should also definitely try a Clover Club: the combination of gin and raspberries is simply irresistible. For this drink with protein you need a shaker because this is the only way to create the delicious foam. Even James Bond's favorite drink, the Dry Martini, doesn't work without a good gin. In combination with vermouth and served with lemon and olives, the taste of the gin comes into its own particularly well.
You should now have answers to questions like “What is gin made of?” and “What is gin anyway?” have received and are now probably curious to try out one or two gins. By the way: Numerous manufacturers now also offer alcohol-free gins. So if you're invited and still have to drive, you don't have to miss out on enjoying a gin and tonic.