< BACK TO JOURNAL

FROM THE JOURNAL - DISCOVER GIN

HOW IS GIN MADE?

One of the things that makes gin so fascinating is that there is no single way to make it.



At its heart, gin is a simple spirit — a neutral alcohol base, juniper and a selection

of botanicals - but the journey from those ingredients to the bottle is where the creativity begins. Every distiller has their own approach, choosing different botanicals, equipment and techniques to create a gin with its own personality and story.

Starting with the Botanicals


Every gin must have juniper at its heart, but it is the supporting cast of botanicals that makes each one unique.


Citrus peels can bring brightness and freshness, coriander adds gentle spice, angelica root brings earthy depth, while flowers, herbs, fruits and spices can completely change the character of the final spirit.


Some distillers look close to home for inspiration, using local ingredients that reflect their surroundings — from coastal botanicals and wild herbs to woodland flavours and seasonal fruits. In many ways, gin can capture a sense of place, with each bottle offering a little glimpse of the landscape that inspired it.


But once the botanicals have been chosen, the next question is: how do you capture those flavours?


Bringing the Botanicals to Life


There are several ways botanicals can be introduced during the distillation process, and many distillers use a combination of techniques.


Maceration is one of the oldest methods. The botanicals are steeped directly in the spirit before distillation, allowing their flavours to infuse into the liquid. This often creates deeper, richer flavours.


Another approach is vapour infusion, where delicate botanicals are placed in a basket above the spirit. As the alcohol vapour rises, it gently passes through the botanicals, capturing lighter, more delicate aromas. This is particularly useful for ingredients such as flowers, fresh herbs and citrus, where a softer touch can make all the difference.


Some distillers also create separate botanical distillates, blending them together afterwards to achieve the perfect balance — rather like a chef building a dish one ingredient at a time.


Not All Stills Are Created Equal


Walk into ten distilleries and you may well see ten different stills. Some are gleaming copper creations that look like they've been there for centuries, while others resemble something from a modern laboratory.


Traditional copper pot stills remain a favourite among many craft distillers. Copper plays an important role during distillation, helping to remove unwanted compounds and creating a cleaner, smoother spirit.

But it isn't just the material that matters — the design of the still can influence the character of the final gin too. The height of the still, the shape of the neck, and the curve of the swan neck and lyne arm (the route the vapour travels before reaching the condenser) all affect how the spirit develops.


These details influence reflux — the process where vapour condenses and falls back into the still before rising again. More reflux generally creates a lighter, cleaner spirit, while less reflux can allow more weight and character to remain. It is this careful balance that helps a distiller create the style of gin they are looking for.


You'll also find beautiful alembic stills, with their distinctive rounded shapes and traditional craftsmanship. Often associated with smaller producers, these stills offer a slower, more hands-on approach and are loved for the character they can bring to a spirit.


Modern distilleries may choose stainless steel stills, valued for their durability, precision and ease of control. Some also use iStill technology — computer-controlled distilling systems that allow the distiller to monitor and manage the process with incredible accuracy.


Unlike traditional stills that rely heavily on the skill and experience of the distiller to control each run, iStills can precisely manage elements such as temperature, timing, pressure and reflux. This gives producers remarkable consistency while still allowing plenty of room for experimentation, making it possible to create innovative gins while maintaining the same quality from batch to batch.

Vacuum Distillation – A Modern Twist


One of the most intriguing techniques in modern gin making is vacuum distillation.


By reducing the pressure inside the still, distillers can work at much lower temperatures. This helps preserve delicate flavours that might otherwise be lost through traditional heat-based distillation.


Often using glass equipment such as a rotary evaporator, distillers can carefully extract individual botanical flavours — perhaps the bright oils from citrus, the freshness of herbs or the delicate notes of flowers — before blending these separate distillates together to create the finished gin.


Rather than asking every botanical to behave in the same way in one still, this method allows each ingredient to shine individually before becoming part of the final recipe.


Tradition Meets Innovation


The beauty of gin is that there is no single "right" way to make it.


Some distillers follow centuries-old traditions, using copper stills and classic techniques passed down through generations. Others embrace technology and experimentation, finding new ways to capture flavour and challenge what gin can be.


Behind every bottle is a series of choices — the botanicals selected, the still used, the techniques chosen and the vision of the person making it.


And that is what makes discovering gin so fascinating. Every bottle has a story, and every sip is a chance to discover something new.