Is gin a spirit? And everything else you need to know about gin… (2024)

FAQs

Is gin a spirit? And everything else you need to know about gin…? ›

Gin is a spirit, a type of alcoholic beverage. It is a distilled alcohol which gets its distinctive flavour from juniper berries - indeed to be classified as gin, by law the predominant flavour must come from juniper berries. Generally, gin has an ABV of between 35 percent and 55 percent.

Gin is a juniper-flavoured spirit made not via the redistillation of botanicals, but by simply adding approved natural flavouring substances to a neutral spirit of agricultural origin. The predominant flavour must be juniper. Minimum bottled strength is 37.5% ABV.

Each brand of gin has its own distinct taste. Most types of gin predominantly feature a pine flavor derived from juniper berry. Other popular botanicals used in gin include angelica root, orris root, licorice root, cassia bark, orange peel, grapefruit peel, and dried herbs like coriander and anise.

“Gin” is distilled spirits made by original distillation from mash, or by redistillation of distilled spirits, or by mixing neutral spirits, with or over juniper berries and, optionally, with or over other aromatics, or with or over extracts derived from infusions, percolations, or maceration of such materials, and ...

Gin contains botanicals such as liquorice, coriander, cassia, lemon peel and orris root apart from juniper berries. Even basil and peppercorns are used in some varieties. Gin can be used in innumerable combinations and co*cktails such as martini, negroni and G&T.

Myth 3: Drinking hard liquor is worse than drinking beer or wine. Contrary to popular belief, the type of alcohol you drink doesn't make a difference – what matters is how much you drink. "The safe limit is fixed at 14 units a week," explains Dr Lui. "Below this limit, alcoholic fatty liver is less likely to occur.

In terms of nutritional profile, carbs, and calorie count, there is very little difference between vodka and gin.

When drinking gin straight, it's best to serve it chilled or over ice to help mellow out the alcohol burn. If you want to add some extra flavor to your gin, try adding a citrus twist or a dash of bitters. While some gins are too harsh to drink straight, others are smooth enough to be enjoyed on their own.

The Gin Act 1736 taxed retail sales at a rate of 20 shillings a gallon on spirits and required licensees to take out a £50 annual licence to sell gin, a fee equivalent to about £10,000 today. The aim was to effectively prohibit the trade by making it economically unfeasible. Only two licences were ever taken out.

While gin and vodka are both crafted as neutral spirits, gin has additional ingredients—namely juniper berries—to give it its signature pine flavour. In fact, gin can only be called a gin if it has juniper in it. Without this, the spirit is technically vodka. The taste also hugely differs between the two spirits.

What is the difference between gin and distilled gin? ›

If a bottle is labelled with 'Distilled Gin', it means flavours have been added after re-distillation. That's the EU definition, anyway. The flavours can be natural or artificial, and additional colouring and sweeteners can also be added.

Juniper is the primary (and legally mandated) botanical with which gin is flavoured, but creative distillers can also add an array of herbs, spices, citrus, and other ingredients to build a custom flavour profile.

Gin has less sugar and fewer calories than some other liquors. If you already consume alcohol, gin may be a slightly healthier option. Be careful with mixers, however. They can make the sugar content of your drink skyrocket.

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'.

Zinfandel is a red wine produced from the grape variety of the same name. Because it reaches its peak of quality and expressiveness in the United States, it is almost always labeled with the name of that grape on the bottle.

Gin is a spirit typically made from a base of grain, such as wheat or barley, which is first fermented and then distilled. To be classified as gin, however, the predominant flavor must be of juniper berries, otherwise the drink cannot be called gin, by law. Most gins have anywhere from 35% to 55% ABV.

The definition of spirit drink includes all the typical spirits such as vodka, gin, rum, whisky, brandy, etc and anything else meeting the definition.

Spirits are the highest ABV products of the yeast-based fermentation of a liquid brewed to have fermentable sugars. Unlike beer or wine, however, spirits are the product of a second step called “distillation” that further fortifies them.