Gin is strong alcoholic drink which is drunk undiluted or add to cocktails, give as aperitif or a didzhestiv. Small portions stimulate appetite and improve digestion, but too frequent consumption of gin can negatively affect health.
Gin: history and features
Gin juniper is strong alcoholic drink with a smell of needles and recognizable spiciness. The violet root, a coriander, a lemon dried peel, almonds, an anise, other components with saturated aroma is a part. After tasting in a mouth there is a characteristic smack of a juniper. Originally the fortress of drink exceeded 40 degrees, but later producers made sure that in pure form nobody takes drink, and began to reduce percent of content of alcohol gradually. However it significantly worsened gustatory qualities, sales decreased.
In the sixties the last century the tough standard was established. From now on the fortress of gin of any brand was 37.5% that allowed to keep a peculiar taste and to use a product for mixing of cocktails.
Homeland of gin - Great Britain, originally it was drunk only by sailors. Later strong, fragrant and cheap drink was fallen in love also to other estates. Gin was appreciated fast effect and even attributed it medicinal properties. Doctors registered regularly to use small portions of strong drink as prevention of malaria, intestinal frustration and even plague. Was considered that gin well treats morbid depression and cold, saves from insomnia, stimulates immunity. In foggy England these properties were especially appreciated.
As remedy drink was taken glasses, but clean undiluted gin to very few people was pleasant: thanks to natural aromatic additives it had too strong taste and coniferous aroma. Gin began to be mixed with hot water and other alcoholic beverages: the first cocktails were so created.
Production and types of gin
Modern gin differs on structure, depending on the producer its formula can include up to 120 ingredients. However 2 components remain invariable: wheat or barley alcohol and juniper berries.
The real classics – the London dry gin made of wheat alcohol. These raw materials are applied by all producers in Great Britain. Barley alcohol is more popular in the Netherlands and Belgium.
Also the way of production differs. In the Dutch gin add a juniper, an anise, orris and other aromatic ingredients directly to a barley mash, mix, subject to a sbrazhivaniye and double distillation. The drink peeled from impurity gets divorced to the necessary fortress then it is matured in barrels. In process drink gains beautiful amber color, the intensity depends on endurance term. In Great Britain the flavor additives are entered into already purified wheat alcohol then the product undergoes redistillation, cleaning and dilution.
Modern gin differs on structure, depending on the producer its formula can include up to 120 ingredients. However 2 components remain invariable: wheat or barley alcohol and juniper berries.
Main brands of drink:
- "Beefeater". The English dry gin contains perfect wheat alcohol, juniper berries, a coriander, a bitter almond, a dried peel of a citrus. This gin should be drunk not crushed, as aperitif or a didzhestiv.
- "Гордонс". In structure wheat alcohol of double distillation, a juniper, дягиль, cinnamon, a lemon dried peel. Drink differs in boleemyagy, spicy, slightly sweetish taste
- "Bombay Sapphire". Blue English gin, favourite drink of bartenders, is irreplaceable for classical cocktails. In structure wheat alcohol, a juniper, a liquorice, juice of a dandelion and flowers of a cassia.
As well as with what to drink gin: councils of professional bartenders
Gin can be used in the clean or diluted look. It is better to serve undiluted drink cold as aperitif. It is spilled on small piles or glasses "Olt фэшн", in the latter case it is possible to add ice cubes. Strong fragrant gin well stimulates appetite, warms, invigorates. It is better to drink it in cold season, accompanying with the corresponding snack: smoked products, cold roast beef, pickled vegetables, olives. Gin can be served also to hot dishes, especially to a game or fried mutton with juniper berries.
It will be pleasant to those who prefers longdrinka classical gin combinations to tonic. The bitterish refreshing soft drink well is combined with spicy alcohol. Mix is given cold, it is possible to add chipped ice. It is better to pour gin with tonic in previously cooled wide glasses with a thick bottom. Instead of tonic often use Coca, soda, any sparkling water. As light meal serve the stuffed olives, crackers, strong cheese, air-dried meat.
Recipes of cocktails
Gin – one of the most popular components for cocktails. It gives to the mixed drinks the fortress, original resinous notes, brightness and an identity. Such mixes often order in bars, but it is simple to mix tasty cocktail also in house conditions. It is worth beginning with the simplest options, gradually entering new interesting components and trying new combinations. Bartenders claim that gin is especially successfully combined with sour components: lemon, cranberry, cowberry, lime juice.
"Martini"
The recipe of classical cocktail is very simple: blue English gin and dry white Vermouth are a part, and components mix up in equal shares. Mix moves in a special glass for Martini on a high leg, olive is surely added to cocktail. There is one more option which is often ordered in bar. He received the name "Dirty Martini": with ready cocktail joins a glass a little high-quality olive oil.
Bartenders can offer and special "Martini" for women with more interesting and unusual taste. A third of white dry Vermouth pours out in a shaker and mixes up with the same amount of gin and fresh lemon juice. After stirring, cocktail is poured in a glass for Martini and decorated with a curl of a lemon dried peel.
Jin & Cranberry
Elegant drink of reddish-pink color differs in the refreshing taste and it is pleasant both to men, and women. A highball glass half to fill the cooled glass with ice cubes, to atop pour out mix of 50 ml of gin and 150 ml of cranberry drink (preferably house). Decorate cocktail with a thin slice of a lemon or a lime, to add with a straw.
Bronx
One more popular cocktail of cheerful orange color. In a shaker to pour in 20 ml of gin and the same amount of fresh orange juice, to add 10 ml of red and dry white Vermouth. Carefully to mix everything. If there is no shaker, it is possible to use any capacious container with lid. Pour cocktail in the cooled glass, to separately give ice.
Bronx is usually poured in glasses for Martini or wide glasses on a thin long leg. Drink can be liquid and translucent and dense, rather turbid. In the first case use the filtered orange juice, in the second it is added together with pulp.
"Lady Chatterley
Festive cocktail which especially will be pleasant to women. It is served in high narrow glasses for champagne, drink of a noble dark garnet shade will decorate any table. Separately it is worth serving fruit and biscuits.
In a shaker to mix 30 ml of gin, on 10 ml of dry white Vermouth, the Curacao liqueur and fresh orange juice, to add a little small chipped ice. It is good to mix all components, to pour in the cooled glasses. At the edges foam can be formed, it isn't necessary to remove it. Every portion decorate with a curl of an orange dried peel.
Gin is the difficult drink demanding thoughtful tasting and the correct giving. It is used in the small portions and surely accompanied with the corresponding snack shading and supplementing spiciness and bright aroma.