Gin fuses modern and classic as a cocktail staple
Gin
A LOOK AT GIN IN 2023 by JAMIE STAFFORD
O ver the centuries since its inception , gin has experienced a meteoric rise and fall . In the eighteenth century , it was branded “ mother ’ s ruin ” and “ opium of the people ,” and comprised the majority of the spirits black market in Europe and the UK . By the twentieth century , it had fallen almost completely out of favor , seen as a relic of a past era . That all changed as gin was tentatively “ rediscovered ” by curious consumers and distilleries looking to offer a unique twist on a spirit with hundreds of years of history . Gin made its modern comeback in the midst of the pandemic when people started experimenting with at-home mixology and seeking out both new and classic cocktails .
“ From what we ’ ve experienced , the popularity of gin has continued to grow ,” says Lance Winters , Master Distiller of St . George Spirits . “ Consumers are looking for complex bases for both spirit forward cocktails and lighter drinks .”
“ Gin has become cool again ,” says Phil Lecours , Master Distiller of Empress Gin , an indigo Phil Lescours
gin that remains a favorite of many mixologists . “ More and more people are trying it out , liking it , and continuing on with it . The ultra-premium segment , especially , has grown in the double digits for the past few years . Customers are still really supporting our brand and our gin . I would say we ’ re getting a lot of carryover from other spirits as well . People who typically drink vodka , wines and such are gravitating towards gins now .”
JUNIPER ROOTS Gin starts with a neutral grain base , like vodka . Unlike vodka , however , gin has a very specific flavor profile due to the use of botanicals ( prominently juniper ) infused during the distilling process . While there are still historic expressions of gin that remain today ( namely , Old Tom and Plymouth gin ), the most iconic remains the London Dry style that features a prominent juniper palate that has come to be indicative of the genre .
Popular examples of the style include Beefeater and Tanqueray London Dry ( not to be confused with Tanqueray No . 10 , another option that remains a fa-
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