Gin

Gin is a flavoured eau de vie made from grain or molasses. The flavouring process can be natural, by infusion or maceration of the spirit with spices, aromatic plants and herbs, or artificial, by the addition of natural or artificial gin essences. The juniper berry, from which gin takes its name, is an essential ingredient. The minimum alcohol content of gin in Europe is 37.5%. Its flavour and appearance may be adjusted by the addition of sugar and colouring. There are various sub-categories of gin: ‘gin’, which can be flavoured; ‘distilled gin’, produced by the redistillation of a spirit in which natural flavourings have been macerated; ‘London dry din’, a distilled gin, to which no artificial ingredient (flavouring or colouring) may be added, except for sugar, in strict proportions.