What is Gin?
Gin, the quintessential clear spirit, boasts a rich and intriguing history that dates back to the 16th century. Originally crafted as a medicinal concoction called "Geneve" by Dutch physicians, this juniper-infused spirit crossed the English Channel and captured the hearts of the British. From the "Gin Craze" of the 18th century to today's sophisticated cocktail culture, gin has seen it all. With a wide variety of botanicals and styles - from classic London Dry to innovative craft expressions - gin remains a beloved choice for many.
Gin characteristics
- Juniper Dominance: The primary aroma and flavour must highlight juniper.
- Balanced Flavours: The base spirit and botanicals should harmonise, complementing the juniper without overshadowing it.
- Clear Appearance: Traditional gins are clear, though modern variations like Pink or Lavender gin may exhibit distinct colours.
- Versatility in Cocktails: Gin's adaptability in cocktails is a key characteristic, often enjoyed in classics like martinis and gin and tonics.
What are the different ways of making gin?
Distilled gin
Distilled gins are produced by distilling botanicals along with a base spirit, condensing the vapours, and collecting the resulting spirit. The distillate, now containing botanical oils, may be reduced to bottling strength as is, or we can add additional neutral spirit prior to dilution with water, depending on your preferred flavour profile.
We tend to opt for vapour infusion, where alcohol vapour travels through a botanical basket, infusing the botanicals' flavour into the spirit. Vapour infusion produces a more delicate flavour compared to steeping or maceration and is ideal for botanicals sensitive to high heat. You can also try using abotanicals basket with maceration for more intense gin flavour.
Compound Gin
We can produce compound gin by adding concentrated essences or flavours to neutral spirit. This technique can make for a more consistent product, however, some producers forgo this technique, as it does not feel artisanal enough. But it can allow several different types of gin to be produced quickly with less equipment.
Maceration
Maceration involves a simple infusion of botanicals into neutral spirit usually without any future distillation. This process involves soaking botanicals in neutral spirit for hours, or even days. This not only imparts essential oils, but also colour, tannin, and bitter compounds. You can try crushing the botanicals with a mortar and pestle before adding them to your neutral spirit, or try warming the neutral spirit a little in the boiler before adding them. It's up to you to try different techniques to create a Gin that is uniquely yours. Don't be afraid to experiment!
How to make Gin from flavouring and vodka
Equipment: Spirit bottles
Ingredients: Neutral spirit (or vodka), gin flavouring
Process:
Simply add your chosen gin flavouring to the neutral spirit as per the instructions on the flavouring bottle, then bottle it and enjoy! Find out more on how to flavour neutral spirit in our article Flavouring and Ageing Your Spirit.
How to make Gin from Botanicals and vodka
Equipment: Spirit bottles
Ingredients: Neutral spirit (or vodka), selected botanicals
Process: Steep botanicals in your finished neutral spirit to infuse it with their flavour and aroma. Usually, this spirit is filtered through filter paper and is not redistilled. This method can add colour and cloudiness to your final product.
How to make Distilled Gin from a wash and flavourings.
Equipment: Reflux distilling system, distilling conditioner, ceramic boil enhancers, alcometer, collection vessel, fermenter, santiser, mixing spoon, carbon filter system, bottles
Ingredients: Ingredients pack, dextrose, gin flavouring
Process:
- Make a sugar wash and ferment. For instructions on making a wash, check out our article From Sugar to Spirit: Crafting the Ideal Wash.
- Once fermentation is complete, distill your sugar wash to produce a neutral spirit. For more information on this, check out our article Demystifying Distillation: Systems and Processes.
- Dilute & filter your neutral spirit using a carbon filter. Learn more this in our article Dilution & Filtering: Mastering the Art of Spirit Refinement.
- Add your gin flavouring as per the instructions.
- Bottle and enjoy!
How to make Distilled Gin from a wash using botanicals.
Equipment: Pot distilling system, botanical basket, distilling conditioner, ceramic boil enhancers, alcometer, collection vessel, fermenter, sanitiser, mixing spoon, carbon filter system, bottles
Ingredients: Ingredients pack, dextrose, selected botanicals
Process:
- Make a sugar wash and ferment.
- Once fermentation is complete, distill your sugar wash to produce a neutral spirit.
- Dilute & filter your neutral spirit using a carbon filter.
- Distill your gin using your preferred method, i.e., vapour infusion or maceration.
- Bottle and enjoy!
Experiment and Enjoy
The joy of gin-making lies in experimentation. Try different botanicals, infusion methods, and techniques to create a gin that is uniquely yours. Whether you prefer a classic profile or an adventurous twist, the possibilities are endless. Happy gin-making!
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Helping you to make your own Great Batch from Scratch.