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What is Ginuary?
Put simply, a month-long celebration in the month of January of all things gin. There is no known origin or governing body of the month, but it has been embraced by gin brands & marketers worldwide. There is a hashtag #ginuary and you will be hard pushed to get through January without seeing at least one promotion for gin in your inbox or social media feed. Although gin is usually associated with a summer drink, It makes a good alternative if you don’t feel like participating in dry January and although there is a specific National Gin & Tonic Day in April (9th), this month-long celebration, gives us a chance to embrace all the qualities of gin, be it a new craft gin or a favourite established brand, what’s not to celebrate.
What is Gin Made of?
Gin is a distilled alcoholic drink made from the combination of grain alcohol (wheat or barley), juniper, specifically the berries and other botanicals (herbs, berries, and fruits).
The legal definition of gin is and yes there are tight laws around this fabulous aromatic spirit;
in must be a neutral spirit distilled from something natural like wheat, barley, potatoes, or grapes
The predominant flavour should come from juniper berries and the flavour from the added botanicals.
The alcohol content must be at least 37.5% of pure alcohol in the total volume of liquid
What is the Best Gin?
This one is totally down to personal preference, there are various types of gin dry gin, old tom gin, plymouth gin, navy strength gin all with distinct characteristics. So maybe we take a look at the worlds biggest selling gin brands by volume in 2020/21;
Gordons Gin = 6.7M sales in 2020
Bombay Sapphire = 4.3M sales in 2020
Tanqueray = 4.1M sales in 2020
All of the top 3 have significant marketing budget and are widely available in most restuarants and pubs, which no doubt gives them an edge in terms of sales and recognition by consumers.
Cost maybe your gauge of greatness? Then Morus LXIV Gin by Jamjar Gin holds the current title at a staggering £4000 a bottle (£3000 in the sale if you are lucky).
If the Alcohol Emporium team were to choose, based on what we have consumed over the last few years, our favourite brands would be Monkey 47, Silent Pool & Bathtub gin. We have plenty more to try and we suggest you do the same to find your favourite.
Can I Drink Gin Straight?
Of course, you can, if that is your preference it makes a great sipping spirit to drink neat, however it is advised to invest in a quality gin to get maximum enjoyment and a single shot in volume, poured into a larger glass. To be drunk correctly accompanies by some ice and a wedge or lime, grapefruit or lemon.
What Mixes well with Gin?
If you are not keen on drinking your gin neat, then you are not alone. And probably asking what mixes well with gin? The most common way to consume gin is with a tonic, there are a large range of tonics on the market and just as many ways a gin connoisseur will mix a certain gin with a certain tonic, but we won’t get into that for now. Soda water is also a good alternative to tonic. Vermouth is the one, if you are mixing up a martini and classic fruit juices, such as pineapple juice pair really well to dry gins.
The team has been scouring the internet for those common questions on where to buy certain gins.
