It’s no secret that we love gin. It’s refreshing on a hot summer afternoon and easy drinking on a cool autumn’s day. If we’re really honest, our favourite time to enjoy a BFUK craft gin is whenever we’re in good company. We decided to find some interesting, lesser-known facts about gin.
1. Gin is meant for cocktails
You can happily drink tequila as a shot and whisky on the rocks, but gin is meant to be mixed. As soon as you add a mixer to gin the botanicals – fynbos, herbs or spices – come to life and add complexity to the drink. Now you know why so many classic cocktails call for gin!
2. Gin was medicinal long before it was recreational
Juniper-based alcoholic tonics have been traced to 1269. Back then, these “gin tonics” were used mainly as medicinal aids, which were often prescribed by local chemists and apothecaries as it was believed to cure ailments like gout and indigestion. And the Royal Navy was known to mix gin with lime cordial to stop scurvy and mixed it with Angostura bitters to help with sea sickness. Gin would only become a recreational drink in the late 17th century.
3. Juniper is actually a pinecone
A juniper berry might look like a berry but it’s actually a pinecone – it’s fleshy scales make it look more like a berry. This important gin ingredient is foraged in the wild and hand-picked in North America, Europe and parts of Asia.
4. London Dry Gin doesn’t mean it’s made in London
London Dry, while one of the most popular types of gins, isn’t made in. A gin is called a London Dry when the flavours are distilled from natural ingredients. No flavourings can be added after the distillation process.
5. The bigger the glass, the better the taste
A simple way to enhance the flavours of a gin is to use a large glass (with a long stem) instead of a tumbler. The reason is fairly simple: it ‘opens up’ the gin allowing you to enjoy the full aromas of all the botanicals as you sip. Choosing a long stem stops your hand from warming the glass and melting the ice.
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