A Conversation About Flavours, Creativity, and Yes—Bathtubs
Let’s dig into gin. Not the stoic spirit or the old-school tonic with a medicinal vibe. This is about today’s gin. The kind crafted by small distilleries stuffed with local botanicals wild flavour experiments, and unusual mixers. The kind that brings life back to your Friday night cocktails.
From Cures to Cocktails
Gin has a fascinating history. People link its origins to jenever ,a juniper-based spirit from the Netherlands that was once believed to have healing properties. Back then, drinking booze to fight the plague might’ve seemed like a solid idea. The British later adopted it and created the infamous “Mother’s Ruin” during the chaotic Gin Craze in the 1700s. Then prohibition rolled around, and we had bathtub gin, a sketchy homemade version mixed in literal bathtubs.
That’s the past though.
Modern gin showcases creativity. Distillers now use it as their playground to create exciting flavours instead of sticking to a few traditional types.
Okay, But What Makes Something Gin?
Here’s the deal: gin earns its name if juniper berries give it most of its flavour.
That’s the main rule. As for everything else? That’s wide open.
Gin begins with a neutral spirit often called a new make and takes on its taste by being distilled with botanicals. These can include herbs, roots, spices, citrus peels, and other ingredients. The end product is a clear aromatic drink that might be bold or mild, spicy or floral, or somewhere in between.
There’s no strict rule about what the base has to be. It can come from just about anything.
- Grain like wheat, barley, or rye — often crisp or with a bready edge
- Grape as the base — clean, floral, and smooth
- Molasses as a base — can feel creamy, velvety, or richer overall
- Other bases like sugarcane or rice — each bring their own unique vibe
This means two gins can use the same botanicals but end up tasting different, all thanks to the base.
Where Botanicals Steal the Show
This is where gin gets its cool factor.
Botanicals bring out the gin’s core character. Think a coriander punch, a citrusy zing, a floral breeze, a spicy kick, or even a savory layer. You’ll often find these as go-to options:
- Coriander seed
- Angelica root
- Citrus peel (like lemon, orange, or even yuzu)
- Orris root
- Spices such as cinnamon, cardamom, and peppercorns
Now here’s where things get a little crazy: ingredients like truffle, saffron, lavender, native bush tomato, lemon myrtle, or even green ants (yes actual green ants — in Australia, of course).
Each distiller guards their unique recipe. This is why trying different craft gins feels like an adventure.
Must-Know Gin Styles
- London Dry – The original style. It is simple, crisp, and doesn’t have sugar added after distillation.
- Navy Strength – High in alcohol. bottled at a strong 57% ABV. It traces back to when sailors needed gunpowder to stay usable even if gin spilled on it.
- Bathtub Gin – Inspired by prohibition times, it uses cold-compounding, which means infusing botanicals after distillation. It's unpolished, bold, and sometimes a bit cloudy.
- New Western – A newer style where juniper steps back allowing flavours like citrus, herbs, and florals to stand out. It offers a fresh and creative twist.
- Old Tom – Sweeter and gentler, it's a style sitting between London Dry and Jenever, perfect for bridging the two.
