Learn everything you need to know about how gin is made now! Vodka originated in Russia and the tradition of vodka has spread throughout Eastern Europe Gin can be broken down into five basic styles. The condensed alcohol is then diluted to the desired final ABV Gin after distillation using distilled water. Bean Buzz: Is Anaerobic Coffee the Next Big Trend in Coffee? Its recent popularity has led to increase in its consumption and diversity in production too. Then introduced two gins called Daalgaal and Boobialla made exclusively from the native Australian juniper. But the definition of “real” is subjective depending on your personal frame of reference. There are also cachaça, rum, soju, and others. This variation omits the heavy orange zest flavoring in the first recipe. It is one of the broadest categories of spirits, all of various origins, styles, and flavour profiles, that revolve around juniper as a common ingredient. There are actually two possible ways that gin can be produced. (Russians clock in at a whopping 17.28 vodka shots per month.). Over time, genever lost the wine base for a distilled neutral spirit base, but kept the juniper. Try our easy compound gin recipe and add a bottle to your drinks cabinet. The most important difference between gin and vodka is ingredients: vodka is made from distilled potatoes, rye or wheat. Sugar and molasses can also be used alone or added to other ingredients. The base spirit and the chosen botanicals are combined in a large copper pot and heated from the bottom of the pot. Gin, on the other hand, is a spirit that is 40 percent ABV or higher, with its main characteristic flavor derived from juniper berries. However, there are almost as many different ways of including these botanicals as there are different … The U.S. government defines vodka as “neutral spirits or alcohol” that is filtered or treated “so as to be without distinctive character, aroma, taste, or color.”, Yet Americans love it. Well, that was a joke. In the early 1700s, gin … Both gin and vodka can be made out of just about anything, but some common bases are corn, wheat, rye, potato, grapes, and sorghum. It’s easy to think of gin as essentially flavored vodka, and you … Regardless of the style, gin can be produced in three ways. Juniper. And yet, in much of the public space, the perceived difference between gin and vodka is as wide as the gulf between a lion and a common housecat. Well, we can say that gin is flavored vodka for instance. Any orders placed will unfortunately now not be delivered before Christmas and will be sent by mid-January 2021. gin. The spirit itself must use a neutral base spirit originally distilled to over 96% ABV, so that it can then be re-distilled to at least 70% ABV. While gin is technically the main spirit in a martini, many people enjoy their martinis with vodka instead. Gin, on the other hand, is made by distilling malt or grain and infusing it with juniper berries and other botanicals. Clean, dry and simple, yet an elegent and respected classic. No artificial ingredients are allowed and no additional flavour or colour can be added after re-distillation (although this is not a rule followed religiously, as seen from modern distilling phenomena). The main constituent of Vodka is water and ethanol while the central part of Gin is Juniper berries. Vodka has been the most consumed liquor by volume since 1970, and 32 percent of the liquor market is vodka. Both gin and vodka make good foundations for making cocktails. Reyka vodka; 0.5 oz. The neutral base spirit is heated from all sides of the Still allowing evaporation to happen sooner. Popular cocktails with gin include the Negroni, the classic Martini (which was originally always made with gin), and the Gin and Tonic. There are three primary ways to make the stuff: pot distilling, column distilling and the compound method. Vodka can also be made from fruit, like grapes, and sugar cane. Compounded: Made by mixing a neutral base spirit with juniper berries and other aromatics. 3. Gin’s dirty secret is that it’s essentially the original flavored vodka. Gin tends to be distilled twice. Even so, the great debate over whether they should be made with gin or vodka rages on. They are various roots, seeds, spices, herbs and fruits that a gin distiller will use in following their own precise recipe and combine with their base spirit to create their unique brand of Gin.There are various botanicals that can be used (some use haggis too), but the most commonly known ones are: 1. The English got a hold of genever during the 80 Years War and the 30 Years War in the 1600s, where it was referred to as “Dutch courage.”. Although vodka can be used as an ingredient to prepare gin, it’s not the main constituent that defines this spirit. Other possibilities include carrots, beets, and even milk. Gin is all about botanicals, and flavors added. It started with the Seacliff Vodka. Can you drink gin straight? Well, Belvedere Vodka crunched the numbers and found there were 9.6 quadrillion potential ways to make a martini, give or take. If you ever wondered what gin is made from, it usually starts as an unmalted cereal-based ethanol extracted via distillation similar to Russian vodka. Vodka is a neutral spirit so, yes, you could make gin from vodka. The botanicals are infused into the raw spirit to release their flavours. Gin then has a number of ‘botanicals’ (described in the next section) added and one of those botanicals MUST be juniper. Making gin is a really fun activity to do with some friends, and it also allows you to get as creative as you like with the ingredients. Gin is England’s national spirit and there are few things more English than … A skilled gin distiller knows how to balance the botanical flavors to make a quality product. There are more classic cocktails made with gin than with any other spirit Negroni, Ramos Gin Fizz, ... Making gin is like flavoring vodka, except that botanicals are always natural. Many people consider gin as vodka but gin is not vodka. Smirnoff and Absolut are by far the best-selling Vodkas, but many bars feature a slew of other new entries in the market. Even Google agrees that gin belongs in a martini. Sam Carter, senior brand ambassador for gin distillery Bombay Sapphire, explained to Good Housekeeping that gin is made from and flavored by juniper. Our gin distilling guide breaks down the way that gin is made and what it's made from. Distilled: Juniper berries and other aromatics are added to a fermented mash and distilled all together. You can make your own gin at home, using vodka as a base and a few other ingredients. Nevertheless, vodka produced from other bases such as potatoes are completely gluten free and safe to drink. The Start of it All. One distiller even makes an innovative vodka from Pinot Noir red wine. Vodka is a neutral spirit made from fermentable ingredients such as grain or fruit that’s distilled or treated to make a spirit without character, aroma, taste or color. As the vodka is forming the base of your gin, it should be of a quality that you'd be willing to drink by itself. Create your own Tailored Vodka. Put the botanical blend in the jar. Both spirits are distilled liquors made from various grains and vegetables such as potatoes.. Vodka is primarily made from either rye, wheat or potato starch that has been fermented.Water is then added to the alcohol, producing a clear, tasteless drink Gin is distilled from any kind of grain mash, usually dependent on the dominant crop of the region in which it is being made. “The technical name for this is compound gin but it’s also sometimes called ‘bathtub gin’, in reference to the vessel in which batches were illegally made during American Prohibition in the 1920s. Popular vodka brands in the U.S. include Smirnoff, Absolut, Svedka, Skyy, and Grey Goose. Have whatever you want but to many of us a martini needs to be made with gin, that’s the original and classic 37 views View 2 Upvoters However, vodka is the go-to beverage for the majority of mixologists. In the early 1700s, gin became a … Make sure you don't spill any out the side; otherwise, the balance of flavor you picked out may be thrown off. The United States keeps its definition of gin fairly simple. How to Make? I presume that’s why you have probably seen Strawberry Vodka, Cherry Vodka, Lemon Vodka, but never Juniper Vodka. The drinks can be distilled from both potatoes and grains with the latter preferred more. Yeast eats sugars or starches and spits out alcohol and carbon dioxide. Vodka is a mixture of the normal, ‘unpretentious’ alcohol and water. Gin is made from the same base ingredient as vodka: neutral spirit. Gin is made with similarly anti-inflammatory and antioxidant-rich juniper berries, which is why it's the preferred booze to use. But, over the years, people have experimented and put their own unique twist on it. Yet, people with celiac disease can react poorly from consuming it. The name is actually to do with how it is made. Going further afield you get Ophier, a gin made with Indian spices such as cumin. Our gin distilling guide breaks down the way that gin is made and what it's made from. The Gin Kin promotes responsible drinking, led to increase in its consumption and diversity in production, Here's How Make Your Own Winter Gin From 'Christmas Trees', “Bath Tub” Gin, taken its name from an era when gin was made in bathtubs. Vodka is the chief ingredient of the alcoholic drinks in U.S. while it is a straight drink in other places. So what does this gin brewing kit actually come with? However, there are almost as many different ways of including these botanicals as there are different gins throughout the … Gin is made from the same base ingredient as vodka: neutral spirit. Then you can go to Hendricks which is a soft and subtle gin with the addition of rose petals and cucumber. The Story of Taylor California Cellars, Coca-Cola’s Forgotten Foray Into the Wine Industry, 10 Things You Should Know About Cointreau, The Differences Between Vodka and Gin, Explained | VinePair, https://vinepair.com/articles/differences-gin-vs-vodka/, wbs_cat Spirit, wbs_type Gin, wbs_type Vodka, wbs_brand Absolut Vodka, wbs_brand Aviation, wbs_brand Bombay Sapphire, wbs_brand Grey Goose, wbs_brand Skyy, wbs_brand Smirnoff, wbs_brand Svedka, wbs_brand Tanqueray, explainer, gin, Spirits, vodka, How to Celebrate the Holidays in Style With Mionetto Prosecco | VinePair, https://vinepair.com/articles/how-to-celebrate-the-holidays-in-style-with-mionetto-prosecco/, wbs_cat Wine, wbs_type Prosecco, wbs_brand Mionetto, holidays, Infographics, prosecco, wine pairing. Gin originated as a medicinal liquor made by monks and alchemists across Europe, particularly in Southern France, Flanders and the Netherlands, to provide aqua vita from distillates of grapes and grains. Vodka is defined by what it’s not. gin vodka whisky. How Is Gin Made? This is also known as “Bath Tub” Gin, taken its name from an era when gin was made in bathtubs due to a ban of alcohol. In its simplest form, it is a clear alcoholic spirit distilled from grain or malt and flavoured with juniper berries. Most gins start their life as a neutral grain spirit. Yet the two are frequent substitutes for each other in cocktails such as the Martini or Vodka/Gin and Tonic. The resulting vapour is then collected and condensed back to liquid form of about 60% ABV. Gin is nothing but flavored vodka, usually added with spice and herbal extracts. It can then be diluted to a minimum strength of 37.5% in the EU (40% in the US) after re-distillation. Learn everything you need to know about how gin is made now! We all love it and we all worship it by consuming it, but what is it that goes into making it? Gin is actually just a flavoured vodka Vodka is just alcohol that’s distilled to 97/98% You can make London Dry gin anywhere, but it can only be flavoured through distillation It’s official: the best single malt comes from Japan *ducks and runs for cover* However, your homemade gin won’t look or taste exactly like the store-bought version. this is the point where I … Milk whey can even be used for the mash, like the English brand Black Cow does. Often, vodka is served chilled. Most obviously, one is associated with pine and herbal flavors, while the other is often positioned as an odorless, tasteless entity. Gin is made from neutral grain, fruit or molasses spirit (vodka-like) using juniper berries as the dominant flavour, with herbs & spices called botanicals to add fragrance. If you look at it technically gin is simply flavoured vodka, that doesn’t change. It’s designed to be flavorless (well, other than flavored vodka), clear, and in all ways indistinct. Conclusion. All the way from Munich, Germany, comes The Duke Munich Dry Gin. Vodka cocktails most commonly take on the characteristics and flavors of whatever else is mixed in the drink. Then, water is added to bring the spirit down to 40 percent alcohol by volume, and in the case of gin, it is mixed with juniper and other herbs and spices. Whether you’re a lover of a good ol’ London Dry or you like to spice things up with a flavoured Pink or Blood Orange gin, the ample variety of this tipple is endless. The Difference between Vodka and Gin. Not Martha takes another stab at making homemade, "bathtub" gin (see previous). Moscow Mule. © 2014 - 2020 VinePair Inc. — Made In NYC, Next Round Live: What's Happening in the Drinks Industry Now, Everyone Who Loves Negronis Needs These Glasses, An Illustrated Guide to Grenache from France, 12 Things You Should Know About Dom Pérignon. The formula was made in collaboration with Tom Nichol, one of the foremost Master Gin Distillers in the world who worked at Tanqueray for 40 years. It’s easy to think of gin as essentially a flavored vodka, but several intricacies distinguish the two. While there is what is called a vodka martini a real martini contains gin, dry vermouth, and an olive and may be shaken, stirred, or frozen. "When you soak the golden raisins in the juniper berry gin, the gin extracts many of the compounds in the raisins, making them more readily absorbed when you consume the raisins," Kilham added. “The technical name for this is compound gin but it’s also sometimes called ‘bathtub gin’, in reference to the vessel in which batches were illegally made during American Prohibition in the 1920s. What became known as vodka dates back to the Middle Ages while gin is a somewhat more recent invention, and “by many, gin is understood as the original flavored vodka… 9. This process also results in a higher alcohol content of the liquid, amounting up to 95% ABV. Like gin, vodka is often said to be gluten-free even if it’s distilled from grain. I’ve answered this before in other questions here on Quora. 3. Vodka and gin are two of the most popular alcoholic drinks worldwide. This is a more modern version of Pot Distillation mainly due to the “Coffey Still” which is used instead of the “Copper Pot” mentioned earlier. The spirit isn’t supposed to take on much of the flavor of its alcohol source, unlike the way gin gets flavor from juniper berries or tequila does from blue agave. The U.S. government defines gin as a liquid “produced by distillation or mixing of spirits with juniper berries and other aromatics or extracts.”, Juniper, gin’s defining characteristic, tastes primarily like pine, but is also herbaceous and floral. Basically if it doesn’t have juniper in it, it is not considered Gin. now pour in your spirit and the tails (the end part of a run) from any previous runs of gin or vodka, don’t use the tails from anything else as it could taint the flavour. All gin is actually re-distilled and it may even undergo this process twice or three times on some occasions. What Is Gin Made Of? How to make gin Easy compound gin recipe. So let’s start with the two biggest and most argued points then: shaken vs. stirred, and gin vs. vodka. Take Tanqueray for example, this uber classic London dry gin is only made with 4 botanicals. However, gin tastes great whether it’s served chilled or at room temperature. There’s London Dry, which is devoid of all sweetness; Plymouth Gin, which must be made in Plymouth, England; Old Tom gin, which is a little sweeter; Navy Strength, which is 57 percent alcohol by volume or higher; and American or West Coast gin, which is usually more herbal. Gin is a delicious spirit enjoyed by many all around the world! Fittingly, the word “vodka” comes from the Russian word for water, “voda.” Vodka isn’t the only clear spirit, of course. What sets vodka apart is that it can be made anywhere, and from many things. Whatever the primary ingredient, it is first fermented and then distilled. Holland made gin first. In more basic terms, vodka is water mixed with ethanol until it reaches a proof of 80, and no less. Starting with vodka. Other possibilities include carrots, beets, and … Gin production dates back to the Dutch genever, a wine-based medicinal spirit. In the U.S., gin — or something resembling gin — was popular during the 1910s and Prohibition. While vodka is made from by distillation of potatoes, rye or wheat, gin is made with the help of distillation of malt or grain and then mixed with the flavor of juniper berries. Dan Murphy's supports the Responsible Service of Alcohol. 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