What Is Gin Made From?
-by Abhrajita Mondal
–Reading Time – 7 min Approx
–Edited by – Srishti Bhattacharyya
If you are a lover of liquor, this will interest you. If you have ever had gin, you might wonder what is gin made from? That is a good question and an interesting one too. There has been a speedy influx of Gin in the market currently. More and more people are discovering the power of Gin, which tastes delicious and versatile. However, the sheer variety of it can confuse many of you. Some of the new-age drinkers even think that it is the same as Vodka.
You will be a bit surprised to know, that there are a few laws that govern its production. Gin is an alcoholic beverage and is obtained by distillation. The base is wheat or sometimes barley. Moreover, certain botanical extracts are added to the liquor until the desired flavors come up. You must know an important fact – liquor should be infused with Juniper, to qualify as a Gin. The key ingredients of Gin are Juniper and a type of grain. So, you might get acquainted with what is gin made from today. Gins come in several flavors. Furthermore, you can find botanicals like citrus, seeds, and rosemary.
Guide to what is Gin Made From:
Gin is a grain-based spirit. It is pure ethanol. The flavors are added through re-distillation. Numerous distillation processes facilitate Gin production. The most common methods are the steep method of gin distillation and the vapor infusion method of gin distillation. Additionally, a combination of the two is also used. The fourth one is the vacuum distillation method.
Gin is made from a base grain like wheat or barley. The grains are first fermented and then distilled. Juniper berries happen to be the main ingredient. Moreover, herbs, plants, and several spices form a part of the concoction. The mixture of aromatics and botanicals is added to the fermented grain mixture. Water is another necessary ingredient. There is something called Compound Gin, i.e. illegally made Gin. It is a much simpler process. Fruits, vegetables, and various herbs are left to infuse in a neutral base. Now, you are getting a few of your answers related to what is gin made from.
Gin is versatile liquor. That is one reason so many liquor connoisseurs are attracted to it. Every single brand and edition you taste will be different. The only common thread is the scent of Juniper. Numerous botanicals go into Gin preparation. Coriander, orange, angelica root, and lemon scents are quite common. However, all these flavors are subtle. You will not feel as if your gin has been artificially flavored.
Various Types of Gin:
You ought to know about the varieties of Gin that are available today.
The first one that comes to mind is the London Gin. All the botanicals are added at the time of distillation itself. Moreover, the ingredients must be natural. Only water and a tad bit of sweetener are added afterward.
Second, comes the Plymouth Gin. It is a lot sweeter than London Gin. The Juniper flavor is also subtle. Roots like licorice and orris are added to Plymouth Gin. The Gin comes from Plymouth, hence the name.
Old Tom Gin is the third variety commonly found today. You will be surprised to know, that it is sweeter than the previous two. It was very popular in the 18th century.
Genever is another variety worth mention. It comes from England. However, the English probably made it with inspiration from the Dutch. It makes use of fennel, and either malted rye, barley, or corn. Sometimes, the three go in together.
If you are looking for a distinct floral favor, go for Sloe Gin. It has a red hue. Blackthorn is one of the key ingredients.
Barrel-aged Gin is another specialty. As the name implies, it’s steeped in a barrel with the key ingredients.
Contemporary Gins have made headway into the market. They have several other floral, citrusy, and earthy notes. Moreover, some are rhubarb-infused. The list can go on and on, with new-age producers experimenting more. But, is Gin Gluten-free? Let us find out.
If you have Celiac disease, it can’t stop you from trying Gin. It is Gluten-free. The distillation process makes it safer. However, there could be some hidden ingredients having gluten which are generally added after distillation. However, you cannot rule out cross-contamination at the production facilities. Some of the common brands of Gin are Beefeater, Gordon’s, and Larios. Which one would you prefer?
Is Gin Made from Potatoes?
Is Gin made of Vodka? This is a question some of you might have. Many people get confused over Gin and Vodka. Well, the truth is that Vodka is made from potatoes whereas Gin is a distilled and more complex beverage. However, you can indeed make Gin from Vodka. You can steep the plants, herbs, and spices in a base spirit, and, Vodka qualifies due to its neutrality. So, indirectly, of course, you can use Vodka to make Gin.
This is what people do at home. However, it is illegal. Commercial producers do not practice this process. However, as a natural item, potatoes can be distilled for making Gin. Therefore, you can conclude that Gin is made from potatoes.
How is Flavored Gin Made?
The term ‘flavored gin’ has come up very recently. New-age producers add aromatics and flavors into the distilled liquid, giving rise to flavored gin. The production and distillation processes are similar – stronger flavors are added. They include spices, fruits, and several berries.
Guide to How is Gin Made Step by Step:
Did you ever wonder how is gin made? Gin is the same as Vodka to a certain extent. The ultimate product is ethanol. It is produced from grains. However, some Gin producers also use molasses and grapes. Grain spirits are a lot crispier in texture whereas, molasses-based spirits have a certain softness and are sweeter. The ethanol undergoes distillation several times, ultimately resulting in the final product.
Firstly, you need to create a blend of botanical extracts. You can start with a combination of juniper berries, coriander seeds, and angelica root. You can make the blend as creatively as you want. There is simply no limit to your imagination. Fruit peels also are a fantastic addition. Lemons, oranges, and grapefruits make it to this list. Most gin distillery owners would not reveal the proportions. If you know them, you can play around with the flavors. We know distillers who have also used green tea and jasmine flowers.
No matter what you add, the main flavor comes from juniper berries. Some of the more common spice notes are that of cardamom, and peppercorns. Distillers sterilize the glass jar before starting the process. Vodka can work as the base ingredient as it is a nice neutral base. The steeping process starts now. You will see the blends being added slowly. The distillers will leave the jar closed for about 24 hours. This is the bare minimum. After a day, the remaining notes are added. The liquor is left in that state for another 12 hours. After 12 hours, you need to strain the liquid and separate the solids. This is how is gin made step by step.
At this stage, you might get a yellow distillate. You can leave it as it is. Store the gin for up to a year. Your gin is now ready. You can enjoy your fill with friends and family.
How is Vodka Made?
Vodka is a clear, alcoholic liquor that originated in Russia. It follows the same steps, through which other liquors are prepared. Fruits, ryes, molasses, and wheat are made to ferment. Water, malt meal, and yeast are the other ingredients. Malt is the active ingredient that turns grains into sugar and yeast extracts the oxygen from the grains to produce alcohol. Isn’t that interesting?
The grains are first heated with water and malt. The heat helps in the process of fermentation. Later on, the solids are strained off to produce the wash. The wash is stocked in a vat with yeast and is allowed to rest for a few days. After that, you get ethyl alcohol. The remaining liquid is heated again and what you get is 40 percent alcohol by volume or ABV.
Vodka undergoes distillation many times to get rid of the impurities. The contemporary vodkas are flavored today. You will find fruity flavors used quite often. Pomegranates and watermelons are a great addition to your vodka.
Conclusion:
Therefore you can say that Gin and Vodka are both prepared more or less from the same ingredients. You will be simply amazed to know that Gin and Vodka are two of the world’s favorite drinks, too, and both are colorless. However, when it comes to taste, they are different. Moreover, you will see that Vodka is served chilled most of the time. However, Gin is served without being chilled many times. Some of the most popular Gin-based cocktails are Ramos Gin Fizz, Gin Rickey, and Red Snapper to name a few. Now, that you know about these two liquors, you can make your choice more confidently!
-by Abhrajita Mondal
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