do you want to know what Gin is? Origin, history, types, alcohol content and how it is made. Gin is a very well known drink, its transparent color makes it a perfect base to elaborate delicious cocktails that manage to envelop the palate of those who seek to enjoy.
If you are a liqueur lover and you like Gin, here we will give you more details so that you can get to know a liqueur full of versatility and pleasant spirit.
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what is Gin?
Gin is a distilled alcoholic beverage with a predominant taste of juniper berries, it is colorless, transparent and one of the widest liqueurs we can find. It is produced in different regions with different flavors and styles but unified in the use of juniper berries.
The name of gin comes from the word geneva, a derivation of the French genièvre and the Dutch junever, and means juniper.
Origin and history of Gin
Surely you have ever had a sip of Gin without knowing the history behind this pleasant distilled beverage, so you may wonder where Gin comes from? This fascinating drink originated in the Netherlands.
It was in Holland in the 17th century, when looking for solutions to treat various problems, especially those related to the kidney.
A first distillation of alcohol was made with rye, barley and corn, and then juniper was introduced, the fruit that originated the Genever. By 1740, the production of gin increased six times more than that of beer, and thanks to its extremely cheap price, it became very popular among the lower classes, who began to purchase it more and more.
what are the types of gin?
There are currently 4 types of gin recognized by the European Union. However, we can also find different denominations of origin whose production is restricted to some particular distilleries. For example, Plymouth Gin in the United Kingdom. 
Gin
To be gin, it must be made with only common juniper berries and ethyl alcohol of agricultural origin. It must also have nebrin as its predominant flavor, although it is usually flavored in the re-distillation with other flavors to make it softer to the taste.
Distilled Gin
This type of gin is characterized by the fact that during its production process the alcohol of agricultural origin must first be flavored. Then the distillation is carried out, and it must have a minimum of 96% alcohol in its composition.
London Gin
This gin is the most commercialized and the best known worldwide and is also known as London Dry Gin, it is characterized for being dry and for the absence of colorants, sweeteners and other additives in its content.
It should be noted that Dutch gin, known as jenever or genever, is different from the English style, in which the drink is obtained from a barley distillate and is sometimes aged in wooden barrels.
The jenever generally has a lower alcohol content and a stronger flavor than its English sister. We can also find that gin is classified according to the botanicals that have been used during its elaboration, so we can find the following 6 types:
Classics
They are those in which the classic flavor reigns, that is to say, it has the juniper flavor as the protagonist, although it may be complemented with other ingredients.
Citrus
They are those in which citrus aromas prevail over other flavors, so it can be made with orange, lemon, tangerine, lime, lime, grapefruit, among other citrus fruits.
Herbal
These are known as botanical gins, and in them we can find notes of herbs such as mint, basil, rosemary, or thyme, which in turn makes their aroma intense.
Floral
They are those whose floral flavors and aromas of lilies, roses, violets, geranium and jasmine prevail, which usually gives more sweetness and makes the liqueur less dry.
Spicy
They have a wide range of aromas and flavors, since they use spices such as cinnamon, pepper, nutmeg, among others, which give it a unique and special touch.
Fruit
It is the gin that is made with red fruits or berries, thus highlighting its flavor, these can be grape, strawberry, apple, and have a softer and sweeter flavor than other gins.
what is the alcohol content of gin?
According to its country of elaboration, gin can have different degrees of alcohol, therefore it is usually between 40% and 60% alcohol content. 
Dutch gin is produced from a third of crushed malt which is also fermented, rectified and whose alcohols are of relatively low alcohol content which are distilled to obtain a final product.
Therefore, when mixed with aromatic and flavoring agents, the product distills again and generates a final product of between 43% and 44% alcoholic content.
British gin is produced by rectifying the high alcoholic strength mixture of whiskey or alcoholic blends so that they lose their aroma and flavor.
These are reduced with water and placed in containers with flavoring and flavoring agents, thus obtaining an alcohol content of between 40% and 47%.
how to make homemade gin?
From the comfort of home we can make gin, as we already know Dutch gin is made from malt, which is fermented, rectified and distilled. While London gin is made from a mixture of whiskey and other alcoholic mixtures.
This results in gin being nothing more than an alcoholic beverage flavored with juniper, so we can make our own recipe at home.
We can use vodka as a base, which is also a drink distilled from barley grain, which is colorless and tasteless and can be flavored with juniper berries and other spices and herbs that will provide a perfect bouquet.
what ingredients will we use?
To make our own gin we will need the following ingredients: Ingredients
- 50 ml of vodka
- 2 tablespoons juniper berries
- 1 teaspoon coriander seeds
- 3 black peppercorns
- 1 teaspoon fennel seeds
- 1 teaspoon green cardamom
- 1 bay leaf
- Grated zest of half a lemon
- Zest of half an orange
- 1 sprig of fresh rosemary
- 1 sprig of lavender
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
How to prepare Making homemade gin can be very easy to do, we just need to have the ingredients and get down to work.
- Place the vodka in a bottle that can be hermetically sealed, and add the dill berries and the rest of the previously washed ingredients.
- Once all the ingredients are placed inside the bottle, shake well, close and store in a dry, cool and protected from sunlight place for two to three weeks, which may vary according to how flavored you want it.
- Once the time has elapsed, we proceed to strain and filter the gin until no solid residue remains. To do this we start by using a normal strainer and then use a coffee filter to capture the finest particles.
- Finally we place the contents in a clean bottle with the help of a funnel and that’s it, we now have a gin to enjoy.
Gin is a very popular drink, its unique and special characteristics make it a delight that many seek to enjoy alone or with company, which has led to the creation of delicious cocktail recipes that are very popular.
