{"id":3816,"date":"2022-10-31T12:24:47","date_gmt":"2022-10-31T11:24:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/test.themixer.com\/en-uk\/?p=3816"},"modified":"2026-08-06T12:47:45","modified_gmt":"2026-08-06T11:47:45","slug":"what-is-gin-made-from","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/test.themixer.com\/en-uk\/learn\/what-is-gin-made-from\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is Gin Made From? Ingredients, Botanicals and Origins"},"content":{"rendered":"

What is gin made from?<\/span> Good question, drinks detective, and good job for seeking out the ultimate oriGIN story. Sorry, we had to, the pun is just too good! Now that we\u2019ve gotten that out of our system, let\u2019s get on with the good bit…<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Exceptionally popular in the 1950s, the clear, herbaceous spirit was relegated to the back of the counter for a time, before spilling back into fashion at the end of the 1980s. Since then, it has not left the cocktail scene at all, and remains a firm favourite with professional mixologists and DIY drink enthusiasts alike. But where exactly did it come from?<\/span><\/p>\n

What is gin made from?<\/h2>\n

\"Origins<\/p>\n

First things first, remember that every gin producer has its trade secrets, so specific recipes are unlikely to ever be revealed. However, by definition, gin is a neutral spirit flavoured primarily with juniper berries, along with other botanicals<\/strong>. These can vary widely from one recipe to another.<\/p>\n

What plant or berry is gin made from?<\/h3>\n

The quickest and most correct answer is juniper berries<\/strong>. Despite the name, they’re not the kind of sweet fruit you’d snack on. They grow on juniper shrubs and trees and give gin its unmistakable piney, fresh and slightly citrusy character. In fact, for a spirit to be called gin, juniper must be the dominant flavour.<\/p>\n

But, even if juniper is the defining botanical, it rarely works alone. Depending on the recipe, distillers also use herbs, spices, roots, flowers and citrus peel<\/strong> to create each gin’s unique flavour profile. Common ingredients include coriander seed, angelica root, cinnamon, cardamom, chamomile, geranium and lemon or orange peel, with every producer putting its own spin on the blend. So, if you’ve ever found yourself asking, “What fruit or tree is gin made from?” or “Can you make gin from flowers?”, you weren’t too far off.<\/p>\n

What alcohol or grain is gin made from?<\/h3>\n

Before it becomes gin, the spirit starts life as a neutral alcohol. But what grain is gin distilled from? Most common options are wheat, barley or rye<\/strong>. However, there are other fermentable ingredients that can be used<\/strong>, so gin can be made from potatoes, grapes or even sugar beet, depending on the producer and local regulations.<\/p>\n

One common misconception: is gin made from vodka? Certainly not. While both spirits can begin with the same type of neutral spirit, gin is created by redistilling or infusing that alcohol with juniper and other botanicals. In other words, gin isn’t made from vodka, even if they sometimes share the same starting point. After the botanicals have been infused or distilled, the spirit is balanced, filtered if needed, and bottled.<\/p>\n

How gin is made<\/span><\/h2>\n

\"Origins<\/p>\n

While every distillery has its own methods, the basic gin-making process follows the same key stages:<\/p>\n

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  • Make or source a neutral spirit:<\/strong> Gin starts with a neutral alcohol, distilled from grains or other fermentable ingredients. Some distillers produce this spirit themselves, while others source it from specialist producers.<\/li>\n
  • Add the botanicals:<\/strong> Juniper is always the star, but it is often joined by others. They can give flavour to the gin either through distilling or compounding\u2014more on these two production techniques below.<\/li>\n
  • Balance the flavour:<\/strong> The gin is adjusted to achieve a consistent taste, which may include filtration, reduction with water, or a small amount of sugar depending on the style.<\/li>\n
  • Dilute and bottle:<\/strong> Finally, the gin is brought to its desired bottling strength, blended if needed, and bottled, ready to enjoy.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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    Distilled gin<\/h3>\n

    Distilled gin is made by taking a neutral spirit and distilling it with juniper and other botanicals,<\/strong> allowing their flavours and aromas to become part of the spirit during the distillation process. Depending on the producer, the distilled gin ingredients may be steeped in the alcohol before distillation or placed in the still so their vapors gently infuse the spirit. This is one of the most common production methods and is widely associated with premium-quality gin.<\/p>\n

    Compound gin<\/h3>\n

    Compound gin also starts with a neutral spirit, but instead of being distilled with botanicals, its flavours are added afterwards. This can be done by macerating the ingredients in the spirit, or by blending in natural or nature-identical flavourings<\/strong>. As with distilled gin, the compound gin ingredients can vary widely depending on the desired flavour profile. The result is simply a different production method rather than a different category of spirit, making compound gin an approachable way to create a wide range of gin styles.<\/p>\n

    The history of gin: from cure to cocktail boom<\/h2>\n

    \"Two<\/p>\n

    In the 14th century, it was believed that juniper berries had the power to eradicate the plague<\/strong> that had spread through Europe. At the same time, modern distillation (with a brand-new cooling component) was dreamed into being in Italy. From here, a variety of steeped juniper tonics followed the spread of the epidemic to Holland. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    In the 17th century, British soldiers returned from Holland with a rudimentary type of gin in their luggage. Soon after that, William of Orange was crowned King of England and encouraged the production of gin in volumes<\/strong> to double that of cognac, produced by their sworn enemy, the French.\u00a0 <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Neither taxed nor supervised, making gin was easy and inexpensive. This state of affairs led to the era of the so-called ‘gin craze’, when British inhabitants were drinking on average one pint of gin per week! Realising that too much of a good thing is not a great idea, the government laid down the law, and by 1761 only recognised distillers were authorised to produce gin. This controlled production and boosted overall quality<\/strong>. <\/span><\/p>\n

    The next big era for gin came in the 1930s, when the cocktail boom swept through Europe. It was the spirit of choice for several decades, gave way to vodka in the 1960s, then made a comeback around 20 years later as a new generation fell in love with it all over again<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

    The different families of gin: a video overview<\/h2>\n