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Gin is not for the faint hearted. It's strong and straight to the point. The kick alone will have you forgetting the day's problems. But even if it's your usual, you may not know everything there is to know about the spirit. Expert Colin Asare-Appiah, Bacardi Training Manager, debunks a few myths and spills the ins and outs of gin with these are 10 Things Every Guy Should Know About Gin.
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What is the main ingredient of gin (...and what are botanicals)?
"For gin to be classified as gin, Juniper Berries need to be the main flavoring agent. It must taste predominantly of Juniper to be called a gin. Many other botanicals are used to fill out the flavor and round out the spirit. All gins will generally be flavored with 80% of the botanical count being Juniper berries and coriander seeds for the citrus notes most will always have Orris or Angelica used as a fixative for the volatile flavors. Once you open a bottle without these roots fixing and keeping the bright volatile Molecules, it would stop smelling like gin very quickly. Botanicals refer to Botany, basically anything that grows out of the ground."
Are more botanicals better?
"Not necessarily. Some popular gins are made with only four botanicals, but Bombay Sapphire, for example, contains ten. More botanicals generally mean more complexity and layers of flavor. However, if not made properly, the more botanicals means a myriad of bright rich colors in your painting set—when all mixed in quickly, it becomes boring brown!"
Is it true that gin makes you cry?
"Gin is no different from any other alcohol; they are all a depressant (although there are some that would profess tequila as a stimulant). Hogarth’s Iconic lithograph depicts Gin Lane in London in the 1700’s when gin was cheaper and safer to drink than water. Police officers were volunteers and alcoholism was your duty to the country. It was the only time in history when more people were dying than being born."
Is gin regulated?
"Gin is probably one of the least regulated spirits. One rule only for gin to be gin is it must have a predominate flavor of Juniper. However some gins on the current market don't seem to even achieve this."
How long has gin been around?
"Gin's heritage dates back to the Dutch and its mother genus Genivre, which is essentially a Juniper flavored spirit, but with a malted spirit base. In the 1600s, the Dutch taught the English to drink Genivre when fighting alongside each other in the trenches, hence the term Dutch courage. The English being the English shortened the strange word Genivre to gin."
What is the difference between London Dry, Distilled gin and gin?
"London Dry is what most people think of when they think of gin. London Dry gins have to have all natural ingredients, and most importantly can't have any flavorings or colorings added (except for a minuscule amount of sugar) after the distillation process. London Dry is really a showcase for the botanicals.
"Distilled gin is made essentially the same way as London Dry, with one big difference—flavoring can be added after distillation. In recent years, as the perception of what gin can be has expanded, more distilled gins have hit the market, and some of them have become quite popular.
"Compound gin, or just plain 'gin,' can mostly be found—when it's found at all—on the bottom shelves at your local liquor store, and for good reason. There are no real laws governing how compound gin must be made, or what can or can't be added after distillation. Most compound gins have juniper flavoring infused after distillation, which makes it essentially a glorified flavored vodka. They're cheap, but you get what you pay for."
Does London Dry Gin have to be made in London?
"No, it is simply a category of gin, set of rules. London gin is seen as the premium gin and sets the caliber high to avoid forgery. Contrary to it's name, London gin does not need to be produced in London. It is simply a form of processing the ethyl alcohol."
What makes Bombay Sapphire different from other gins?
"Unlike most gins, we don't cook the botanicals in the spirit, we turn the spirit to a vapor and allow it to pass through a special perforated copper basket which holds the botanicals. We gently extract the flavors in this way for a much more complex and balanced experience on the palette."
What is the best way to make a gin & tonic?
"Add as much ice as you can and I would recommend 1 part gin to 4 parts tonic with a healthy slice of your favorite citrus fruit."
What’s the best way to make a martini?
"Add a good splash of dry vermouth like Noilly Prat 5 to 1 parts gin to vermouth. Stir over ice until you’re bored or tired. Strain and add your choice of garnish. I prefer a lemon twist."
