Today is #WorldGinDay – much to my surprise Gin has become super popular. The closest I ever got to understanding Gin was from Snoop Dogg’s “Gin and Juice”. Was I ever gobsmacked when I learned that Gin is the up and coming drink of hipsters and luminaries everywhere!
What is Gin exactly?
Called “Vodka for grownups”, Gin is made from juniper berries, little dark purple berries with amazing superfood benefits. The name Gin comes from the dutch drink “genever” or “geneva” that came to England in the 1600’s.
Once called Mother’s Ruin, treated like an ancient old spirit, gin is fast becoming THE drink for hipsters all across the UK.
While most gins are made from juniper berries, there are actually loads of different gin varieties, exploding with natural botanicals like citrus peels, sage, basil, cinnamon, cardamom, almond, angelica root and cassia bark.
Health Benefits of Gin (yes I know! I was surprised too!)
- When drunk in moderation, Gin can help fight infection and prevent heart disease, improve blood circulation and even help fight kidney and liver disease. In the Middle Ages, gin was used as a form of herbal medicine.
- Gin is one of the least calorific spirits with 97 calories per shot. The juniper berries come into action by increasing the number of enzymes that break down your food and help your digestion. This also means less bloating. (Can I get an AMEN?)
- As one of the least calorific alcoholic drinks you can get your hands on, gin is as good as it’s going to get for watching your waistline and maintaining a healthy weight whilst partaking in partying with your friends.
- Juniper berries help stop water retention in your body, allowing you to pass more water than any other alcohol. This means that more of the harmful toxins and bacteria which you consume when you drink alcohol are flushed out your system.
- If you suffer from hay fever , Asthma UK suggests drinking clear spirits, like gin, can reduce your symptoms.
What caused the Gin revival?
Since Sipsmith launched in 2009, London has embraced the spirit with open arms— dozens and dozens of small distilleries opening their doors, selling to a drinking public ever-more interested in these craft operations.
According to The Guardian, nearly 50 distilleries opened last year alone; and, indeed, “The UK’s renewed passion for all things gin is fast creating a whole new industry.”
In an article in Stylist, Tony Conigliaro of 69 Colebrooke Row says bartenders are driving this trend:
“Gin is great to play with and manipulate. People are moving away from the anonymous tastes of the Eighties and Nineties.” Rich and diverse, it’s usually made from grain with complicated botanical flavours overlaying predominant juniper notes. Each distillery has its own secret recipe to bring out fruit or spice elements and because of this most bartenders love to use it.”
Gin recommendations
BURLEIGHS
A floral and delicately sweet gin, Burleighs Pink Edition Gin was inspired by a visit to Tokyo. With Japanese cherry blossom, hibiscus, rose and pink grapefruit added to the Burleighs London Dry recipe, PINK Edition is soft, smooth and very easy drinking. Perfectly served with Fever-Tree Aromatic Tonic and a slice of fresh pink grapefruit.
FOXDENTON
I was so thrilled to receive a bottle of Foxdenton’s London Dry Gin last week before #WorldGinDay – Foxdenton has won Best in Class, Outstanding and two separate Silver Medals at the International Wine and Spirits Competition held in London each year.
Foxdenton is a family run company specialising in the production of English Fruit Gin Liqueurs and London Dry Gin. Their aim is to make great seasonal drinks based on traditional recipes and using British fruit.
Based in the Home Counties they directly supply a large range of businesses across the UK, from small Farm Shops & Delis to specialist Wine & Spirits suppliers and Wholesalers.
