Gin and Genever Flashcards
At the crossroads of history, distillation, and flavored spirits, Gin has a unique place in the spirits world. This deck helps to understand the history of Gin and Genever, as well as the various production techniques and recognized styels.
Distilled Gin, as defined in the EU?
- A gin made by re-distilling a neutral spirit with juniper berries
- Other flavorings may be added after the re-distillation
- Must have a min. bottling strength of 35° abv
Distilled Gin as defined in the US?
- The term used for gins where all of the flavors are added through re-distillation
- Flavors may not be added after re-distillation
What is Graanjenever?
- Denotes the neutral spirit and the moutwijn are both made from grain
- Can be used in conjunction with jonge genever or oude genever
How does Genever differ from Gin?
- Genever is made from moutwijn (grain distillate)
- The much lower level of botanical use in Genever
- Genever is often oak aged
How is gin defined in the EU?
- Juniper forward spirit, but botanicals and other flavorings may be used
- Minimum of 37.5% abv
- Made from a neutral spirit
How long are most wood-aged gins in the barrels?
Typically only weeks to months.
How will a smaller distiller often make its cuts (as opposed to a larger distiller)?
- Smaller distiller is typically based on both time and taste of the run
- Large distillers will make cuts based on time
How much juniper is regulated for gin in the EU and US?
It is purposely vague
- neither defines how much
- just states that it should be the “main character” (US)
- or the “predominant character” (EU)
What is Jonge Genever?
Genever made using…
- less than 15% moutwijn
- no more than 10g/L of sugar
- must be bottled at 35% abv
- colorless
What is London Dry Gin?
A type of gin with no sweeteners or flavors added after re-distillation.
Minimum bottling abv for gin in the US?
40% abv, or 80º proof.
Name the two principle ways to infuse flavor into gin in the US:
- Re-distillation of botanicals using a base spirit of choice
- Maceration or percolation of botanicals in a spirit
What is Oude Genever?
Made using…
- at least 15% moutwijn
- a maximum of 20g/L of sugar
- bottled at 35% abv
- be lightly colored, which is achieved by adding caramel coloring
- if aging is on the label, must be a min of 1 year, in barrels less than 700 L
What is a Rotary Evaporator?
- A specialized type of vacuum distillation used for gin
- The benefit is lower temps will not over-cook delicate botanicals
What is the technique for adding non-botanical flavor to gin?
Compounding / Cold-Compounding
The type of vessel used for storing gin after re-distillation?
Inert vessels, such as stainless steel.
True / False:
Oak can be used for the maturation of gin?
True
But usually only for short periods of time so as not to over-power the delicate botanical aromas.
True / False:
Gin distillers typically recycle their heads and tails into the next batch run?
False
This would create too many unwanted highly volatile congeners in the run.
True / False:
London Dry Gin can only be made in London?
False
London Dry Gin can be made anywhere.
What are the four categories of juniper-flavored spirit in the EU legislation?
- Juniper-flavored spirit drink
- Gin
- Distilled Gin
- London Gin / London Dry Gin
What are the limits on the use of botanicals for gin producers?
Other than the use of juniper, there are none (except to use things safe for human consumption).
What are the two broad camps of gin styles?
- Classic juniper-forward dry gins
- Contemporary gins
What base spirit in the EU is required to make gin?
A neutral spirit.
What botanical has a distinct violet flavor?
Orris Root
What is a potential disadvantage of distilling botanicals individually?
May create a slightly disjointed spirit, as all of the flavors and aromas may not be as fully integrated as when distilling together.
What is the advantage of distilling botanicals separately?
- Can use limited supply botanicals that may not always be available throughout the year, and thus create seasonal products
- Can create unique customized botanical blends to order
- Can result in a very pure individual distillate
What is the appeal of a grain-based neutral spirit for gin producers?
- A very clean canvas to build upon
- Is often derived from grain spirit, which adds some flavor
What is the base spirit made from, for most high-priced gins?
Grain-based spirit.
What types of stills are most gins made in?
Pot stills or Hybrid stills, because of the need to add botanicals to the redistillation point of production.
What will angelica root contribute to the flavor profile of gin?
A musky, earthy, woody aroma that will off-set the brighter aromas in the mix, similar to how a bitter component will balance against a sweet component in wine.
What will coriander seeds add to the flavor profile of gin?
A Spicy, aromatic lift.
What would be considered a classic botanical recipe for gin?
- Juniper
- Citrus peel
- Coriander seeds
- Angelica root
- Orris root
Where are the most volatile congeners going to be concentrated in the distillation run?
At the beginning of the run, while the least volatile will be at the end.
Where is Genever made?
By EU regulations, can only be made in:
- Netherlands
- Belgium
- as well as parts of northern France and Germany
Why are distillers very careful about the exact measurements of their botanical mix?
Consistency in style from batch to batch, as well as controlling the interaction of the congeners produced during distillation.
Why is it difficult for a distillery to move from a one-shot to a multi-shot gin production?
- Because the recipes often cannot simply be multiplied from one to multiple shots, as the botanical mix will not always result in similar flavor profiles.
- Often recipe adjustments are needed to increase production sizes.
Why would some US gins have a sharper more mouth-filling texture than EU gins?
US gin producers are not required to use a neutral spirit as the base of their gins - therefore some of the character of the spirit may come through.
