Gin is made from a base of fermented and distilled alcohol, typically derived from grains such as barley, wheat, corn, or rye, although it can also be made from other sources like potatoes, sugar beets, grapes, or even apples. The base alcohol is neutral and distilled to a high purity. The defining ingredient of gin is juniper berries, which provide its characteristic piney flavor. To create gin, the distilled neutral spirit is redistilled or infused with juniper berries and a selection of other botanicals—these may include coriander, angelica, citrus peel, herbs, spices, flowers, seeds, and roots. The botanicals are steeped or exposed to the spirit in a way similar to making tea, to impart their flavors. Distillation methods vary, including pot still distillation and column distillation, where the botanicals may be suspended in the still to allow the alcohol vapors to extract their aromas. Essentially, gin is made from three key ingredients:
- Alcohol base (usually grain-based neutral spirit)
- Juniper berries (mandatory for it to be considered gin)
- A blend of other botanicals for flavoring
Water is also used to dilute the spirit to the desired drinking strength. In summary, gin is a juniper-flavored spirit made by distilling or infusing botanicals into a neutral grain spirit.
