GIN

At its simplest, gin is a spirit flavoured with juniper. That distinctive piney, fragrant note must be at its heart, but from there almost anything can happen. Coriander, citrus peel, angelica, orris, cardamom, herbs, flowers and countless other botanicals can all join the party, which is why one gin can taste completely different from the next.

Here you’ll find everything from the crisp, juniper-forward character associated with London Dry to softer contemporary gins, sweeter Old Tom styles and bottles that make a particular local botanical or sense of place their calling card.

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A SHORT HISTORY OF GIN

Gin’s story begins long before the Gin & Tonic. Juniper-flavoured spirits were being made in Europe centuries ago. Genever, the Dutch juniper spirit that helped give rise to modern gin, became a major industry in the Netherlands, particularly around Schiedam.

By the early 18th century, England was in the grip of the infamous Gin Craze. Cheap gin flooded London, consumption soared and Parliament responded with a succession of Gin Acts intended to control its sale.

By the 19th century. gin was becoming considerably more respectable. Improved distillation and the rise of London Dry created a cleaner, drier style. The development of continuous distillation in the 1830s made it possible to produce a much purer base spirit.

Then came cocktails. Gin became one of the great building blocks of the cocktail world, from the Martini and Negroni to the Tom Collins. Its popularity has waxed and waned, but today’s craft distillers have gin enjoying a golden