Gin
Although gin has remerged in recent years as a fashionable and trendy drink, the spirit has a long history spanning over 350 years and originated as a medicinal liquor made by monks in Italy. The distilled alcoholic drink derives its predominant flavour from juniper berries and today is produced in different ways from a wide range of herbal ingredients, giving rise to a number of distinct styles and brands. After juniper, gin tends to be flavoured with botanical/herbal, spice, floral or fruit-flavours or often a combination.
Although most commonly consumed mixed with tonic water, its recent popularity and explosion of new producers have resulted in lots of exciting cocktails. Gin is also often used as a base spirit to produce flavoured gin-based liqueurs such as, for example, sloe gin, traditionally by the addition of fruit, flavourings and sugar.
Although most commonly consumed mixed with tonic water, its recent popularity and explosion of new producers have resulted in lots of exciting cocktails. Gin is also often used as a base spirit to produce flavoured gin-based liqueurs such as, for example, sloe gin, traditionally by the addition of fruit, flavourings and sugar.