Learn to Speak the Language of Gin
There’s no doubt that gin is a fantastic spirit but choosing the right gin, whether it’s at a boutique gin shop or a cocktail bar in Richmond, is no easy task. Rather than wading through jargon and taking a wild guess (hands up everyone who just points at the prettiest bottle!), get to know what gin terminology means with this guide from our gin distillery in Richmond. You’ll not only impress your friends and earn the respect of every bartender; you’ll also get the best-tasting drink!
London dry – This is the most classic type of gin, where the dominant flavour is juniper. It’s made with the traditional one-shot method, where all the botanicals are added to the sill where distillation takes place, and then the final product is blended with water to get the right alcohol level – nothing else is added.
Craft gin – This is the name given to any gin manufactured in small batches by small distilleries and artisans, like our gin distillery in Richmond. It’s to differentiate it from gin produced in massive quantities by large commercial distillers.
Botanicals – These are organic, natural flavours added to the pure alcohol to flavour your gin. Gin is very versatile and you can find batches made with all kinds of botanicals, from fruits and flowers to spices, local plants and more. At our gin distillery in Richmond, we explore botanicals like strawberries, passionfruit, currents, citrus, Angelica root, cloves, cardamom, Australian native pepper berry, old man saltbush, wattle seed and much more.
Tonic – Tonic is a carbonated soda that is commonly added to gin cocktails. Traditionally, London dry gin was added to Indian tonic water (a bitter soda with quinine in it) to create a mosquito-repelling and refreshing drink. You can get tonic waters today in many different flavours to suit the different gins.
London dry – This is the most classic type of gin, where the dominant flavour is juniper. It’s made with the traditional one-shot method, where all the botanicals are added to the sill where distillation takes place, and then the final product is blended with water to get the right alcohol level – nothing else is added.
Craft gin – This is the name given to any gin manufactured in small batches by small distilleries and artisans, like our gin distillery in Richmond. It’s to differentiate it from gin produced in massive quantities by large commercial distillers.
Botanicals – These are organic, natural flavours added to the pure alcohol to flavour your gin. Gin is very versatile and you can find batches made with all kinds of botanicals, from fruits and flowers to spices, local plants and more. At our gin distillery in Richmond, we explore botanicals like strawberries, passionfruit, currents, citrus, Angelica root, cloves, cardamom, Australian native pepper berry, old man saltbush, wattle seed and much more.
Tonic – Tonic is a carbonated soda that is commonly added to gin cocktails. Traditionally, London dry gin was added to Indian tonic water (a bitter soda with quinine in it) to create a mosquito-repelling and refreshing drink. You can get tonic waters today in many different flavours to suit the different gins.
Navy strength – Traditionally, gin is about 38% - 43% alcohol, but it can get a lot stronger! 57% alcohol gin was very popular on naval ships back in ye olden days and the British navy actually used to keep it with the gunpowder so it would still light if the barrels spilled and got it wet. You can sample our navy strength gin at our cocktail bar in Richmond.
Genever – This is the Dutch word for juniper, and was the original gin although it’s quite distinct from our modern gins and tastes a lot more like whiskey. A spirit can only be called Genever if it is produced in the Netherlands or specific regions of France or Belgium.
Old Tom Gin – This is a style of gin that falls between Genever and our modern gins. It’s a bit sweeter (it often includes added sugar and sweet botanicals) and was very popular in the 18th century, and is slowly making a comeback in boutique gin shops and can may even be found in your local cocktail bar in Richmond.
Visit Our Gin Distillery in Richmond for an Education in Boutique Gin!
Want to find out more about gin? Visit our friendly gin distillery and cocktail bar in Richmond and sample some craft boutique gins. We’ll teach you all the lingo and help you find a tasty gin that’s the perfect cocktail for you!
Genever – This is the Dutch word for juniper, and was the original gin although it’s quite distinct from our modern gins and tastes a lot more like whiskey. A spirit can only be called Genever if it is produced in the Netherlands or specific regions of France or Belgium.
Old Tom Gin – This is a style of gin that falls between Genever and our modern gins. It’s a bit sweeter (it often includes added sugar and sweet botanicals) and was very popular in the 18th century, and is slowly making a comeback in boutique gin shops and can may even be found in your local cocktail bar in Richmond.
Visit Our Gin Distillery in Richmond for an Education in Boutique Gin!
Want to find out more about gin? Visit our friendly gin distillery and cocktail bar in Richmond and sample some craft boutique gins. We’ll teach you all the lingo and help you find a tasty gin that’s the perfect cocktail for you!
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