However, some modern, innovative gins no longer fall into any of these categories! More on this topic later! The variety of botanicals used to create unique flavour profiles are what makes gin such a versatile spirit. A gin liqueur will usually differ from gin in these ways: Has a high concentration of added sugar, leading to much sweeter, syrupy taste and texture than gin, Does not have juniper as its main flavour, Has not been produced according to the legal definition for gin. See what’s inside >>, What exactly is craft gin and how is different from other gin? If you're making vanilla-infused gin or vodka, add 1 medium-sized vanilla pod for every 500ml of spirit. The condensed alcohol is then diluted to the desired final ABV Gin after distillation using distilled water. Gin is any neutral base spirit (ie Vodka), that then has a number of “botanicals” added one of those must be, which one? Gin is produced mostly in United Kingdom, Holland and the United States. Popular in the 18th Century (when some producers added lots of sugar or honey to disguise poor quality, homemade gin! We all love it and we all worship it by consuming it, but what is it that goes into making it? Both vodka and gin are considered key ingredients in a martini, with drinkers often having a preferred base spirit between the two. The neutral base spirit is heated from all sides of the Still allowing evaporation to happen sooner. So if you want to try making your own gin, you’ll need distillation equipment. Grain- and potato-based vodkas tend to have a more neutral profile than fruit- and sugar-based vodkas and are the traditional way to produce the spirit. While vodka is made from by distillation of potatoes, rye or wheat, gin is made with the help of distillation of malt or grain and then mixed with the flavor of juniper berries. Smirnoff and Absolut are by far the best-selling Vodkas, but many bars feature a slew of other new entries in the market. Cocktails. It’s easy to make your own, delicious compound gin at home - here’s how! However, gin tastes great whether it’s served chilled or at room temperature. The base spirit and the chosen botanicals are combined in a large copper pot and heated from the bottom of the pot. Member discounts on most of our shop Gin is a distilled alcoholic drink that derives its predominant flavour from juniper berries (Juniperus communis). Where some confusion arises is around products appearing to present themselves as “flavoured gin”, when in fact, due to their high sugar content, (relatively) low alcoholic volume and lack of predominantly juniper flavour, they in fact qualify as gin liqueurs, or something else entirely! Ever wondered how the spirit now adored by the masses is made? To ensure that gunpowder would still burn when lit even if the gin leaked into the barrel by accident, the Navy demanded that the alcohol content of these rations had to be 100% proof - that’s 57.1% ABV in modern terms! It can then be diluted to a minimum strength of 37.5% in the EU (40% in the US) after re-distillation. A great place to start is by joining Craft Gin Club - we’ll send you a surprise, full-size bottle of beautiful quality, artisan gin each month, accompanied by complementary tonics, mixers and snacks, plus a glossy magazine packed full of gin information, stories, news, competitions, and of course, delicious cocktail recipes to try at home! Gin is made from distilled grain neutral spirits (which is equivalent to vodka), which is later flavored with botanicals, primarily juniper berries. Basically if it doesn’t have juniper in it, it is not considered Gin. There are various botanicals that can be used (some use haggis too), but the most commonly known ones are: So there are a few different processes in distilling Gin, which give you three types: Compound Gin, Pot Distilled Gin and Column Distilled Gin. Exclusive offers, amazing gin cocktails, and features about distillers - right to your inbox! We have three loyalty levels for our Here’s what the current legal definition of gin in the E.U. However, it will go through another distillation process in order to attain its distinctive flavour. Gold, Silver and Bronze! Brandy, gin, rum, tequila, vodka, and whiskey are each unique and have distinct styles within themselves. The only consistent flavour threading through all gins, regardless of brand or type, is juniper, a subtle piney scent. Vodka is nothing but alcohol that is distilled to the extent that it has lost almost all the flavor that it has got. Genever: This is the original gin that was made by distilling malt wine and then redistilling with botanicals. So we’ve put together a little summary of all the answers to the most frequently asked questions -and, armed with your new ginny expertise, your next gin and tonic will taste even better! Vodka in Russian means ‘little stream’. While most ‘proper’, commercial gin makers extract the flavours from botanicals through distillation, it is possible to make gin simply by ‘steeping’ the plants, herbs or spices you want to use in the base spirit. There you have it, (what is hopefully) a comprehensive breakdown. Nothing but water and a very small amount of sweetener can be added post-distillation. Milk whey can even be used for the mash, like the English brand Black Cow does. Confusingly, sloe gin is actually a gin liqueur, despite its name! This is also known as “Bath Tub” Gin, taken its name from an era when gin was made in bathtubs due to a ban of alcohol. Its recent popularity has led to increase in its consumption and diversity in production too. However, these flavours are very subtle and your gin is not ‘flavoured’ in the modern sense of artificial added flavours; it’s more like the different notes of citrus or spice you might detect in your wine. There must be at least 37.5% of pure alcohol in the total volume of liquid (that’s the ‘A.B.V’ you can see on the label). Within the overarching category, there are three traditional types of gin: London Dry, Plymouth Gin, and Old Tom gin - see below for the differences between each of these. The spirit itself must use a neutral base spirit originally distilled to over 96% ABV, so that it can then be re-distilled to at least 70% ABV. What are botanicals you may ask? Both gin and vodka can be made out of just anything, but some common bases are corn, wheat, rye, potato, grapes, and sugar beets. Flavored vodka is an easy target for ridicule (hello, salmon vodka), but as well-made gins show, the right mix of ingredients can make a quality flavored spirit. The alcohol content and production process are similar to those of traditional gin, but the long-established, common botanicals are taking more of a back seat to stronger flavours of fruits, spices and berries such as clementine, plum, strawberry and blood orange. Essentially Gin in its most simplest form is the combination of a neutral base spirit (e.g. Much sweeter than Plymouth or London Dry styles, Old Tom is the ‘missing link’ between dry, modern styles of gin and Genever, the Dutch distillate that came before them. This term encompasses anything that doesn’t fit into other neatly outlined categories and gives distillers lots of room to manoeuvre. Like gin, vodka is also the base of many drinks, such as the vodka martini, bloody Mary, Moscow mule, white Russian and the screwdriver. Considered by many distillers to be the most sophisticated type of gin. They are various roots, seeds, spices, herbs and fruits that a gin distiller will use in following their own precise recipe and combine with their base spirit to create their unique brand of Gin.There are various botanicals that can be used (some use haggis too), but the most commonly known ones are: 1. This process also results in a higher alcohol content of the liquid, amounting up to 95% ABV. They can both be made from grains, potatoes, or really anything. Vodka), which is then combined with Juniper berries, and has a minimum Alcohol by Volume requirement. is made from a simpler process: fruits, herbs, vegetables or spices (including juniper) are added to a neutral base spirit and left to infuse with the flavours. Get 25% off membership when you sign up to our newsletter! The flavours of a gin come from its botanicals (that’s the herbs, seeds, flowers, plants or spices added during production), and, crucially, all gins must contain juniper; in fact, the predominant flavour must be of juniper, otherwise the drink can’t be defined as gin, by law. #1 Gin is Essentially Flavored Vodka. “Flavoured gin” is a term that has sprung up in recent years thanks to the unprecedented boom in modern spirits that are pushing the boundaries of the traditional definition of gin, by adding new aromatics and flavours to the distilled liquid. Many of these delicious new styles of gin, such as Whitley Neil’s Rhubarb and Ginger Gin (which we featured in our Gin of the Month box when it was first released back in July 2017), Manchester Raspberry Gin (featured in our Gin of the Month box in April 2018) and Warner Edwards’ Honeybee Gin (as sent to Craft Gin Club Members in June 2017) have drawn high acclaim from the industry and public alike, and are helping to change the ginny landscape across the UK for the future! So now all that’s left to do is go forth and explore all the different kinds of gin there are on offer and see which is your favourite! You're now subscribed to our newsletter! Compound gin (also sometimes called ‘bathtub gin’, in reference to the batches that were illegally made at home during American Prohibition in the 1920s!) Which in fact means it is very possible to make your own gin at home, using vodka. However, vodka is the go-to beverage for the majority of mixologists. 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