Gin is an alcoholic beverage made from juniper seeds and berries.
The term gin , from the English language, refers to gin : an alcoholic drink that is prepared from seeds and flavored using juniper berries. Its origins date back to the 17th century in the Netherlands .
History
Gin was born through the search for a medicinal substance to treat different conditions. It is believed that Italian monks were the first to flavor a drink obtained by the distillation of cereals with juniper, although the creation of gin is usually attributed to the Dutch physicist and doctor Franciscus Sylvius , who experimented with a drink of this type to find a solution to stones that arise in the kidneys.
When, in the so-called Thirty Years' War , British soldiers saw their Dutch counterparts drinking gin for stamina, they adopted the drink and brought it to Britain . Little by little, gin became associated with consumption for pleasure and not for medicinal purposes.
Elaboration
Gin is mainly obtained by infusing neutral alcohol with juniper berries and a combination of herbs, spices and other botanicals. Let's look at the basic process of making gin below:
- Preparation of ingredients : A variety of botanical ingredients are selected, such as juniper berries, coriander seeds, angelica root, lemon peel, bitter orange, licorice, cardamom, among others. These can be used in different proportions and combinations to create unique flavor profiles;
- maceration or distillation – In the maceration method, ingredients are placed in neutral alcohol and left to sit for a set period of time so that the flavors and aromas are infused into the liquid. In the distillation method, the ingredients are placed in an alembic, and a distillation is carried out to obtain the aromatic compounds of the gin;
- mixture of ingredients : a careful mixture of the botanical extracts obtained to achieve the desired combination of flavors and aromas;
- dilution and rectification : the gin obtained may have a high alcohol content, so it is usually diluted with water to reach the desired level. It is then rectified to ensure it has the proper purity and clarity;
- rest : in some cases, it is left to rest for a while so that the flavors settle and integrate better.
Cocktails
Gin is generally not drunk alone, but is combined with other products to create cocktails . There are numerous delicious recipes, many of them truly creative. Let's look at some of them below:
- Gin Tonic : it is a classic and consists of combining gin with tonic water and adding ice and a slice of lemon or lime;
- Martini : an elegant and sophisticated cocktail prepared by mixing gin with dry vermouth and served with an olive or lemon twist;
- Negroni : This cocktail has equal parts gin, Campari and red vermouth. Mix it in a glass with ice and garnish with a slice of orange;
- Gimlet : Gin is mixed with lime or lemon syrup and served in a glass with ice or can be strained into a cocktail glass;
- Tom Collins : It is a refreshing blend of gin, lemon juice, sugar syrup and sparkling water. It is served in a tall glass with ice and garnished with a slice of lemon;
- Aviation – a floral cocktail combining gin, lemon juice, cherry liqueur ( creme de violette ), and sugar syrup. Shake with ice and strain into a cocktail glass;
- Clover Club : This cocktail mixes gin, lemon juice, raspberry syrup and egg white. Shake vigorously with ice and serve in a cocktail glass.
Gin and tonic is a popular cocktail made with gin.