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Gin

Gin

Gin is a liquor that gets its main flavor from juniper berries. There are two types of gin, distilled gin and compound gin. Distilled gin is the traditional style, a neutral liquor re-distilled with juniper berries and other botanicals, like in the case of Hendricks Gin, cucumber. Compound gin is made by just adding the appropriate flavors without re-distillation. Distilled gin is the good stuff. In the U.S., the minimum ABV for gin is 40 percent, or 80 proof.

Top Questions Asked on ChaCha.com for Gin

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  1. Is gin gluten free?

    Yes, all distilled alcohols, including Gin, are gluten-free. ...

  2. What is the difference between dry gin and sloe gin?

    Sloe gin is a liqueur made from the sloe berry, while a dry g...

  3. What is a good dry gin martini recipe?

    The Classic Dry Gin Martini * Dry vermouth * 2 ounces dry gin...

  4. What is the name of the drink with gin and orange juice?

    The drink that is made with Gin and Orange juice is called Gi...

  5. How do you make gin taste a lot better?

    Dubonnet Cocktail: Born during prohibition to mask the taste ...

  1. Does any soda go well with gin?

    Club soda, ginger ale, or any fruity soda. My favorite is a g...

  2. Is gin gluten free?

    Yes, all distilled alcohols, including Gin, are gluten-free. ...

  3. What is the difference between dry gin and sloe gin?

    Sloe gin is a liqueur made from the sloe berry, while a dry g...

  4. What was the advantage of the cotton gin over cleaning cotton by hand?

    The Cotton gin was made by Eli whitney in 1793. the Advantage...

  5. What is the best cheap gin?

    Gordon's London Dry Gin is the best gin for under $10.

  1. What makes extra dry gin extra dry?

    The "extra dry" in extra dry gin is caused by a small amount ...

  2. What are three kinds of gin?

    Some kinds of gin are dry gin, London dry and Golden. ChaCha!

  3. What is a good dry gin martini recipe?

    The Classic Dry Gin Martini * Dry vermouth * 2 ounces dry gin...

  4. What is gin and orange juice called?

    "Gin and Juice" is the name given to the alcoholic drink that...

  5. What does extra dry gin mean?

    Dry gin-the preferred choice for most gin drinkers-is made pr...

About Gin

Gin has a long history as both a drink of ill repute, affectionately called Mother's Ruin or Dutch Courage, and a medicine. Juniper berries have medicinal properties, in the 11th century monks began distilling spirits with juniper berries as a flavoring. These drinks were used to treat bubonic plague, and of course, it did not work.

The Dutch are largely credited with the invention of Gin. By the 17th century, Dutch distilleries had popularized the re-distillation of malt spirits or wine with juniper, anise, caraway, and coriander. It was sold in pharmacies and used to treat everything from stomach problems to gout.

The British picked up gin from the Dutch during the Eighty Years War. A crude form of gin became popular among the poor and was flavored with turpentine. By 1740, gin was more popular than beer. Beer was generally considered safer than gin, and it was safer than plain old water. In fact, gin was credited with medical and social problems and many deaths, which probably stabilized London's exponentially growing population.

In tropical British colonies, they used gin to mask the flavor of quinine, which was the only working treatment for malaria. Quinine is the flavoring ingredient in tonic water. Modern tonic water has only a small amount of quinine.

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Gin