GinO’clock

<p>“I’m on a Gin & Tonic diet. So far I’ve lost 2 days!”</p><p>It is believed that <em>Jenever</em> (or Gin) has been invented by a Dutch chemist and alchemist <em>Dr. Franciscus Sylvius</em> (1614-1672). As was with many other Spirits, Gin was originally intended to be used as a medicine. Although several different styles have evolved since the beginning, the main component still remains <em>Juniper berry</em>, obviously.</p><p><p>In the first half of the 18th century the consumption of Gin <em>increased rapidly</em> in Great Britain, especially in London. The city had a virtual epidemic of extreme drunkenness, this provoked legislative backlash and moral outrage which was also illustrated by <em>William Hogarth</em> in his famous engravings “Beer Street and Gin Lane” from 1751.</p></p><p>As time passed Gin slowly regained back its <em>reputation</em>. Today it is a popular base Spirit for many classic mixed drinks, including the Martini.</p><p><p>Smartass Corner:</p><p>1) There are<em> two primary</em> ways to flavor your Gin: You can either add flavors to a distilled Spirit and bottle it, or you can infuse botanicals into the Spirit by distilling them together. Depending on your chosen method, you get a different kind of Gin, and a different flavor profile. </p></p><p>2) Few Gin Distillers Make<em> Their Own Alcohol</em>. Gin usually starts with neutral Spirit: A commodity that in distillers buy in bulk. It’s what the distiller does with this commodity in the flavor-infusing process that makes each Gin different. </p><p><p>3) <em>Classifications of Gin</em>: London Dry Gin, Plymouth Gin, Old Tom Gin, Genever or Dutch, New Western or new American or International style.</p></p><p>4) As with many other Spirits, Gin was originally intended to be used as a<em> medicine </em>— to battle <em>malaria</em>.</p><p>5)<em> Hardcore Gin</em> lovers say the word <em>Martini</em> should never be preceded by Vodka, lobster or pomegranate. They say the original and only real Martini consists of <em>Gin, Vermouth & olives</em>, period! But Churchill went even further; here is his famous <em>Churchill’s Martini Recipe</em>: Shake gin in a cocktail shaker with cracked ice. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass and look at the Vermouth bottle on the other side of the room. Garnish with olive. </p><p><p>6) <em>Juniper berry</em> is the main ingredient of Gin. They are usually picked wild by independent workers throughout Europe, and sold via distributors to the Gin makers of the world. </p></p><p>7) There are more than <em>700 cocktails</em> made with Gin known to man. </p><p>8) A <em>wise man</em> once said, “A bar without Gin is like an Italian kitchen without pasta.”</p>