Whether you have tried it before or not, this article will give you everything you need to know about gin and its history, as well as some amazing recipes so you can enjoy it at home. Keep reading to discover more!
History of Gin
There are many different alcohols and spirits to enjoy, but gin has a long, complicated English history.
The core ingredient of gin is Juniper, a plant that has been used with alcohol for centuries and is believed to date as far back as 70 AD. Juniper berries were used for medicinal purposes. In the sixteenth century, a spirit called genever was produced by the Dutch, and it was malt wine with juniper berries and was also considered a medicinal liquid. As the years passed and the 1700s came, genever became gin.
England’s Obsession
In the late 1600s, gin became incredibly popular in England. William III of England became king of Ireland, England, and Scotland in 1689 and placed heavy taxes on French wine to weaken the French economy and instituted the Corn Laws in England, which gave tax breaks to those producing spirits and led to an increase in distillation.
Thus the gin craze was created, where gin was cheap, and the lower-class English people drank gin irresponsibly because of their lack of social mobility. After a few years, the government realized that the people’s heavy drinking was a problem.
In the 18th century, gin had a dark connotation and was vilified. To lower gin consumption, the Gin Act of 1751 was passed, raising retailers’ fees and taxes.
Redemption
In 1830, a new still was introduced, which produced a cleaner spirit with fewer pollutants, like sawdust. The image of gin was also boosted by the British Royal Navy, who brought dry gin with them on voyages. Mixing beer and other liquids, these voyagers help to form what are now classic gin cocktails.
Now, in the 21st century, gin is popularly used in craft cocktails.
Best Recipes with Gin
Gin is now widely used, and many pre-made gin cocktails are available for purchase. Many great cocktail recipes use gin; below, we have included the best.
Blackberry Bramble Cocktail
In the 1980s, the Bramble was first created in London, and it was made with a blackberry liqueur, lemon juice, dry gin, and simple syrup. This version of the Blackberry Bramble is similar, except it also incorporates fresh blackberries for a fresher taste.
Ingredients:
- ½ cup of fresh blackberries
- 2 oz dry gin
- ‘1 oz blackberry liqueur
- 1 oz simple syrup
- 1 ½ oz fresh lemon juice
- Soda water
- Fresh blackberries and mint for garnish
Muddle the blackberries with the liqueur, lemon juice, simple syrup, and gin. Double strain with a fine-mesh strainer and divide the mix amongst three to four rocks glasses with ice. Top off with soda water and garnish with mint and blackberry.
Eastside Cocktail
Delicious and refreshing, the Eastside cocktail features several ingredients that provide a fresh, crisp taste to the cocktail.
Ingredients:
- 2 cucumber slices
- 7 leaves of mint
- 2oz of gin
- ¾ oz of simple syrup
- 1 oz fresh lime juice
Start off by placing a coupe glass in the freezer to chill it. In a cocktail shaker, muddle the cucumber slices and add the lime juice, simple syrup, gin, and mint. Fill the shaker halfway with ice, seal it, and shake the beverage.
Taking the chilled coupe glass, double strain the mixture and garnish with a slice of cucumber and a fresh mint leaf.
Gin and Tonic
A gin and tonic is one of the classic gin cocktails, and it is simple yet satisfying. It was created when soldiers added gin, lime, sugar, and water to quinine, a medicine that could be used to prevent malaria. Eventually, the quinine was left out, and the gin and tonic was born.
The gin and tonic only needs a few ingredients:
- 2 oz Gin
- 5 oz tonic water
- lime wedges
- Ice
Into a highball glass, add in several ice cubes, and then pour in the gym. Top off with the tonic water and stir to combine. Garnish with the lime wedges and enjoy.
While gin has had a troubled past, it cemented its place in the cocktail scene.
