Beginners Guide to Gin

Hattiesburg, MS

Gin is one of the oldest and arguably most underrated liquors. While perhaps not the first spirit you’d pick off the shelf, gin has recently been enjoying a resurgence in popularity due to a growing interest in craft cocktails. Because of its light, botanical, fruity or floral notes, gin is a go-to spirit for warm weather, especially when mixed in a refreshing cocktail like a martini, Tom Collins or Gin and Tonic. People drinking the botanical booze for the first time may be a bit surprised by its evergreen notes — some people say it tastes like pine trees. We have some basic information  to get you started on your gin-enjoying journey:

What is gin?

Like other spirits, most gins start as a clear, flavorless liquid, distilled from fermented grain. But gin has special rules: once distilled, it has to be redistilled with juniper berries. The berries — long known for their medicinal properties — are responsible for gin’s very distinctive flavor. Other ingredients, such as botanicals and citrus, can be added, leading to a wide variety of notes and undertones depending on the brand. Some people say that without the addition of juniper berries, gin would simply be vodka.

History

Gin has been around, in some form, since the Middle Ages. By the 11th century, people were fermenting medicinal juniper berries, using the byproduct to ward-off illness and disease. By the 17th century, the Dutch began redistilling malt or wine with juniper and herbs, selling it as a medicine called genever. In England, low-quality grain not fit for beer or ale was used to make a simpler form of genever. The name was shortened to “gin,” and It became wildly popular due to the ease of making it — and getting drunk from it. From there, British soldiers took gin to the tropics, where it was used to help mask the bitter flavor of quinine, a medicine used to fight malaria. At the time, quinine was dissolved in carbonated water, which is now known as “tonic water.” Sailors also used gin with various citrus to ward off scurvy, a disease caused by a lack of vitamin C. These were the beginnings of many modern-day cocktails.

5 Types of Gin

1. London Dry Gin — When most people think of gin, this is the kind they think about. Usually very dry with a distinctive aroma and juniper flavor, it works well in classic martinis and gin and tonics.
2. Plymouth Gin — Plymouth gin is a close relative to London dry gin, but it is less dry, offering an earthy flavor and softer juniper tones than other types of gin. First distilled in 1793, is only produced in one place in the world: Plymouth, England.
3. Genever/Dutch Gin — This is the original gin, created for medicinal purposes. It’s made with malt grains which make it far darker in color than other gins. Dutch gin is usually sipped straight or chilled instead of mixed into drinks.
4. Old Tom Gin — Another close relative of London dry gin, Old Tom is a much sweeter gin. It’s often described as being somewhere between a London dry and Genever because of its sweeter flavor but dry body. Old Tom gin — which had once almost disappeared from shelves but is making a comeback — is most famously used in a Tom Collins, Gin Rickey, and Martinez cocktail.
5. International Style — These types of gins are relatively new. They use the same base process for distilling as other gins, but they use flavors other than juniper berries. These gins focus more on botanical flavors and fragrances.

Have any other questions about gin? We’re here to answer them! Call us at (601) 268-3677 or send an e-mail to jamiefarris@gmail.com.

Lincoln Road Package Store is here to serve the adult beverage needs of Hattiesburg, MS.