How Gin Is Made?

Gin is distilled alcoholic spirit and there is more than one way of making this type of spirit, however, there is one powerful rule that applies to all gins when they are made. This is that the flavors from the botanicals that flavor gin are transferred into the spirit that is used as the base of the gin. This can be done by placing a “gin basket’ with the botanicals in the head of the pot still, where the alcohol vapor passes through, or the botanicals can be added directly the the spirit in the still. The main point is that these flavors make their way into the spirit.

When it comes to gins and their colors, the majority of them are clear like water. However, some are slightly yellow and you will understand that this is due to maturation process. When it comes to adding flavors to a spirit that will become gin, the most common flavors are juniper, citrus, and particular spices. The two most common examples of citrus flavors that you can expect to find in gin are lemon and bitter orange peel, while the more common spices include anise, angelica root, cinnamon, and saffron.

The Steps Of How Gin Is Made:

1. Selecting Botanicals: The journey of gin-making starts with the selection of botanicals. Juniper berries take center stage, providing the quintessential piney flavor. Other botanicals such as coriander, citrus peels, and herbs contribute to the medley of flavors that define each gin.
2. Maceration or Vapor Infusion: Once the botanicals are chosen, they undergo a process known as maceration or vapor infusion. In maceration, the botanicals are steeped in a neutral spirit base, allowing their flavors to infuse gradually. Alternatively, in vapor infusion, the botanicals are suspended above the spirit, letting the rising vapors extract their essential oils.
3. Distillation: The infused spirit undergoes distillation, a very important step in how gin is made. Distillation separates the alcohol from the botanicals, resulting in a concentrated liquid rich in flavor. Traditional pot stills or modern column stills are employed for this process, each offering unique characteristics to the final product.
4. Blending: After distillation, master distillers engage in the art of blending. They meticulously combine various distillates, adjusting proportions to achieve the desired flavor profile. This step allows for the creation of complex gins with a harmonious balance of botanicals.
5. Dilution and Bottling: The final step involves diluting the gin to the desired alcohol content and bottling it. Pure water is added to adjust the proof, ensuring consistency across batches. Once the gin is bottled, it is ready to be enjoyed by enthusiasts around the world.

Now that you know and have a better of how gin is made, let’s have a look into the most popular brands of gin.

Popular Brands Of Gin:

1. Hendrick’s Gin

Hendrick’s gin is made in Scotland and was first released in 1999. Along with the traditional juniper flavors found in all gins, Hendrick’s also uses Bulgarian roses and Romanian cucumbers to flavor their gins. Hendrick’s gin It is distilled in two types of stills: a Carter-Head still, traditionally used for producing lighter, floral spirits, and a copper pot still, which imparts more traditional gin flavors. This combination of distillation methods helps to create a complex and balanced gin with a smooth texture.

2. Tanqueray Gin

Tanqueray is a brand of gin that originated in England in 1830 when it was first distilled in London. Today is distilled in Scotland and sold all over the world. When it comes to the ingredients in Tanqueray, are used 4 botanicals such as the main juniper, coriander, angelica root and liquorice, together with bittersweet Seville oranges and orange blossom flavours.

3. Bombay Sapphire

Bombay Sapphire is a gin first distilled in 1987 and gets its name from the gin’s popularity in India during the British reign in India. The recipe includes ten different ingredients and they are almond, lemon peel, liquorice, juniper berries, orris root, angelica, coriander, cassia, cubeb, and grains of paradise. The production process involves vapor infusion, where the botanicals are placed in perforated copper baskets and suspended in the vapor path of the still. This method is said to produce a lighter, more aromatic gin.

4. Beefeater Gin

This is the most popular of all the London dry gins and was first produced in 1769. Today it is produced in Scotland, where only 12 people in the world know the full recipe for it. In fact, the recipe has been kept secret for over 250 years. The brand has expanded over the years and offers variations such as Beefeater 24, which includes additional botanicals like Japanese sencha tea and Chinese green tea, and Beefeater Pink.

5. Gordon’s Gin

This brand of gin is bottled and distributed in the United Kingdom. The name “Beefeater” refers to Yeoman warders who are the ceremonial guards of the Tower of London. It was developed by James Burrough in 1820, who started to produce this unique style of gin with the 9 botanicals that are essential to the recipe. The botanicals are juniper, angelica root, angelica seeds, coriander seeds, liquorice, almond, orris root, seville oranges, and lemon peel.

At the end of this article, you might have a better understanding of how gin is made and have some basic information about the most popular gin brands that you will find in most of the bars.

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