Flavored Gin

The Origin

We all know about the rise of flavoured gins in recent years and their undeniable success, but... How did this concept come about?

Probably if you read or hear "flavoured gin" the first thing that comes to mind are fruity gins such as Beefeater Pink or Puerto de Indias Blackberry, but the truth is that this group also includes spicy, herbal, citrus and floral gins, such as some models by Martin Miller's or Tanqueray, among others.

It was the renowned Brockmans that first dared to opt for a recipe that broke with tradition, without forgetting the original recipe. It was with her that the extraordinary fashion for flavoured gin began.

The truth is that in Spain these gins settled in the majority of the population between 2016 and 2017, being Puerto de Indias one of the most successful and recognized, which managed to open the way to this type of liquor for which prestigious brands such as Martin Miller's and Whitley Neill are betting, reaching the market with new proposals such as the extraordinary Cannagin.

Elaboration

Despite the exotic flavours of this type of gin, the truth is that its production is identical to that of white gin, with the addition of the inclusion of the main flavours.

The process for making gin consists of four steps:

Fermentation

The fermentation of gin is usually carried out with cereal, so it goes through the malting process, in which it is germinated and toasted, later adding yeast, which is responsible for transforming the sugars into alcohol.

Distillation

The result of fermentation includes water and other substances, so the distillation process is carried out to separate them. The alcohol boils at a temperature of 78.2 degrees Celsius, and the vapour that is formed, when condensed, is transformed into high purity alcohol and separated from the water.

Maceration and infusion

Flavoured gins are normally distilled four times, the first three distillations being exclusively of alcohol. Before the fourth distillation, the magic happens.

It is at this point that the pure distilled alcohol is infused or macerated with the chosen flavourings, leaving them to settle for as long as the master blender deems fit. The difference between maceration and infusion is that the former is done at room temperature, while the latter takes place at room temperature.

Both techniques are often used, as in addition to flavour and aroma, we get a natural colouring of the gin. Once it has been macerated/ infused, another distillation takes place which settles the aromas and flavours, achieving a totally homogeneous mixture.

Alcohol content

In terms of alcohol content, according to the European Union, for a gin to be marketable under this name, it must have a minimum of 37.5% pure alcohol by volume. In other words, for 1 litre of gin, 375ml will be alcohol, the rest being water and substances obtained by maceration or infusion of the selected ingredients.

Types

Within the category of flavoured gin, there are four types. On the one hand, there are the fruity ones (strawberry, blackberry, melon...), the citrus ones (orange, lemon...), and on the other hand, the spicy or herbal ones and the floral ones.
The world of gin can sometimes be complicated, in fact, it is easy to get confused with the different types that exist (especially between the latter two), but we hope that after this brief explanation it will be a little clearer.

Fruity

When we talk about fruity gins, we refer to those gins that have been infused with fruit, such as strawberries or blackberries among others.

Citrus

What makes this type of gin special is that it has been made with citrus fruits, such as lemon, orange or lime, and is characterised by its refreshing character thanks to its acidity.

Spiced or Herbal

Spiced gins are those that have been infused or macerated with herbal aromas or spices, such as laurel, thyme or rosemary.

Floral

These are infused with flower petals and aromas, such as lavender, for example, allowing master blenders to create unimaginable recipes with unique aromas and nuances.

Cocktails

Flavoured gin is perfect for making exquisite cocktails thanks to its variety of different notes and nuances, which allow you to combine it in a thousand ways. For now, here are 4 suggestions for mixes that once you try them you will want to repeat ;)

Pink Daikiri

Ice, 60ml strawberry gin, 25ml fresh lime juice, 15ml sugar syrup and 5 fresh cut strawberries.

Spiced Gin Tonic

Ice, 50ml spiced gin (e.g. Cannagin), 200ml neutral tonic, allspice and 1 slice of lime.

Citrus Mix

Ice, 50ml of citrus gin (such as Alboran Citrus Naranja or Tanqueray Flor de Sevilla), 200ml of Tonic with a touch of lime and a slice of orange.

Floral Gin Tonic

Ice, 50ml floral gin, 200ml neutral tonic, 1 slice of cucumber and dried leaves of the main flower.

Brands

Here is a list of the most important brands in flavoured gins:

•        Puerto de Indias
•        Cannagin
•        Brockmans
•        Hendrick's
•        Martin Miller's
•        Bombay
•        Tanqueray
•        Whitley Neill
•        Rives
•        Larios
•        Beefeater
•        Obsession

Curiosities

It is no secret how popular pink drinks have become in recent years. Although the first gin to incorporate fruit flavours was Brockmans, Puerto de Indias has been the great promoter of pink gin in Spain.

Puerto de Indias Strawberry was born as the result of chance. The aim was to preserve some strawberries for confectionery in alcohol, and in doing so, they realised that there was something special there.The strawberries rested in the alcohol, which was then distilled with gin, and that is how the phenomenon came about.

The Sevillian company cultivated great results, managing to enter the Top 10 most consumed gins in the world, and in the period 2013-2018 it multiplied its sales by 2000, selling more than 15 million bottles in this time.

Thanks to its success, other major brands in the sector joined this phenomenon, such as Beefeater with its Beefeater Pink, Larios with Larios Rosé, Gordon's with Gordon’s Premium Pink and Rives with Rives Pink.