FROM THE JOURNAL - DISCOVER GIN
WHAT IS GIN?
At its simplest, gin is a distilled spirit flavoured with botanicals, with juniper taking the starring role. Everything else is up to the distiller. From fragrant flowers and fresh citrus to warming spices, earthy roots and wild herbs, it's the carefully chosen botanicals that give every gin its own personality.
One of the things I love most about gin is just how much it can reflect the place it comes from. Distillers often look to the landscape around them for inspiration, using local botanicals to create a true sense of terroir. A Scottish gin might capture the wildness of heather and pine, while a coastal gin could bring hints of sea herbs or samphire. Every bottle tells a slightly different story.
And then there are the styles.
London Dry is probably the gin most of us know best – crisp, clean and unmistakably juniper-led. It's the benchmark for a classic G&T and the backbone of countless cocktails.
Classic gins stay true to those traditional botanical profiles, while contemporary gins like to bend the rules a little, allowing flavours such as citrus, lavender, rosemary or even olive to share the spotlight with juniper.
If you've ever wondered what gin tasted like before London Dry took over, meet Old Tom. Slightly sweeter and wonderfully smooth, it's a style that was hugely popular in the 18th and 19th centuries and has enjoyed a well-deserved revival.
For those who like their gin with a little more punch, there's Navy Strength. Bottled at 57% ABV or above, it dates back to the days when the Royal Navy insisted their gin was strong enough to ignite gunpowder if it was accidentally spilled. Thankfully, these days it's more likely to find its way into a Martini than onto the deck of a ship.
At the other end of the spectrum is Aged Gin, which spends time resting in wooden casks. The result is something altogether different, with gentle notes of vanilla, spice and oak adding another layer to the botanicals.
Then there's Genever, gin's Dutch ancestor. Richer, maltier and wonderfully smooth, it's a fascinating reminder of where the story of gin really began.
Finally, there are flavoured gins. Whether you love them or think they're not quite "proper" gin, there's no denying they've introduced a whole new generation to the category. From rhubarb and raspberry to blood orange and pink grapefruit, they prove that gin continues to evolve – and that's part of its charm.
The wonderful thing about gin is that there's no single right answer. Whether you're a die-hard London Dry fan or someone who loves discovering unusual botanical combinations, there's always another bottle, another distillery and another story waiting to be discovered.