The popularity of alcoholic beverages has taken the world by storm. With the increasing number of individuals discovering the delights of these incredible drinks, gin seems to be in the top races in the market.
Have you thought of what makes this spirit drink such an excellent, versatile, and internationally known liquor? Undoubtedly, various botanicals and distillation methods are employed in the production, making it a truly fascinating spirit of the industry.
You might be surprised to discover that the drink tastes well despite strict manufacturing standards.
Before we get into the specific details of the numerous techniques for creating the beverage, it’s worth first defining it.
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Gin: What is It?
It’s a grain-distilling alcoholic drink derived primarily from wheat/barley. Following that, botanicals and water is added one by one until the desired flavour is attained. It usually has a strong Juniper berry flavour.
The drink is available in various styles, infused with different herbs. The spirit also uses botanicals and spices that enrich its tastes. Additionally, the beverage may contain citrus and seeds, with a few flavoured with rosemary. The pure ethanol goes by a distillation process, which boosts the taste.
It is interesting to know that multiple distillation methods are utilised to achieve those distinct flavours.
Different Distillation Procedures
There are four most often used methods for extracting flavours from botanicals.
1. Steep Method
In a pot distillery, the base liquor (which can be vodka) is blended with juniper berries and certain other botanicals. These botanicals then get steeped for 48 hours, and the liquid is thinned with water before bottling. However, some manufacturers distil the liquid instantly.
2. Vapour Immersion Method
The botanicals are never in contact with the neutral base drink in this approach. Instead, they’re cooked with the botanicals and stacked in containers layered above the base liquor. The infused vapour cools, condenses, and then water dilutes the alcohol.
3. Combination
You may also merge the two methods described above. The distillates from these two are then blended to create the final mix. While some makers utilise cucumber, others prefer to improve the flavour of the spirits with rose petal fragrance.
4. Vacuum Method
Vacuum distillation is a technique that involves redistilling botanicals in a vacuum. The suction lowers the ethanol’s boiling point, thus cooking the botanicals. As a result, a spirit with a more refreshing flavour is generated.
Each drink is brewed to a specific formula, with specific botanicals, and hence the infusion impacts the flavour.
The most common question that people have is whether the drink is gluten-free. Let’s get into the specifics.
Gluten-Free Gin: Does It Exist?
The answer is yes, it does. Even though the drink contains gluten-containing grains such as wheat or barley, it is gluten-free. Gluten is removed from the residual alcohol during the distillation process.
After the distilled alcohol is removed, the spirit is infused with herbs and botanicals. However, many gluten-intolerant people complain that some wheat-based spirits make them feel nauseated. The good part is that you may opt for non-wheat, potato, and grape infused spirits, often gluten-free.
Summing Up
If you haven’t tried this delight, it is suggested to experiment with many varieties and cocktails to discover your perfect one. However, you’ll quickly find that there is no “right” gin for various occasions, moods, and memories. Wishing you the best with your perfect one.
Here’s to your groove and celebration. Cheers!