If you're also a fan of the spirit, you might want to learn more about the origin of gin. Here you'll get an overview of the history of gin!
Where does gin come from?
Most people, when they hear about the spirit, think that gin originated in England, Scotland, or even Ireland. But that's not right. Gin was first distilled in the 17th century in the Netherlands.
Gin only came to England through William of Orange-Nassau. He was the III King of England and brought the delicious spirit with him from his travels.
The name Gin ultimately developed in England. Originally, the drink was called Genever. It was distilled at that time in Schiedam and other cities in Holland. The spirit Flanders Genever was, so to speak, the forerunner of gin.
The precise origin of gin in the Netherlands
The origin of gin thus lies in the 17th century. The Dutch were already a people who were actively involved in the production of spirits in the 16th century.
Furthermore, trade with the East Indies also started at that time. As a result, the Dutch experimented with various fruits and spices and infused various spirits with these ingredients.
This is how Genever ultimately came into being. Grain spirit was infused with herbs and spices, with juniper being the most important component.
The drink got its name from the juniper. Juniper is called Juniperus in Latin. In Dutch, it became Jenever. This is where the name came from.
Due to the various trade relations of the Dutch with other countries, the juniper spirit became known and popular in various countries.
England and the origin of gin: How did it get its name?
The origin of gin is now clear. Such a spirit comes from the Netherlands. The juniper drink was then called Genever.
Even the English soldiers discovered the drink for themselves. They referred to the juniper spirit as "Dutch Courage". This was because the drink had a mood-lifting and encouraging effect.
However, the drink owes its name Gin to the English. The Dutch Genever was simply abbreviated to Gin around 1700.
Alcohol became a luxury good: learning about spirits and the origin of gin
Did you know that? It was only from the 16th century onwards that alcohol increasingly moved into the foreground as a luxury item. Before that, it was only relevant and permitted in the medical field. But with the transformation into a luxury item, an alcoholic base was produced from grain. This led to the creation of various spirits in different countries. Fine whisky came from Scotland. Russia was involved in the production of vodka, and France produced cognac. The Dutch dedicated themselves to Genever.
Thus, the different countries developed their special alcoholic beverages, so that each spirit could be identified by its origin.
Dutch gin origin: Impact on the English
The origin of gin is undeniable. It clearly lies with the Dutch. In England, the spirit was very well received by the people.
At that time, the King of England promoted gin production, even though gin originated in the Netherlands. However, this was a mistake in retrospect, because everyone was allowed to distill the spirit without a permit.
In addition, import duties were imposed on delicacies such as wine and brandy. High taxes also followed on these foreign beverages.
As spirits and beer became increasingly expensive, gin production in the country exploded. Everyone tried to distill gin, drink it themselves, or sell it at a low price.
The excessive gin production ultimately also led to people drinking enormous quantities of the spirit. They became increasingly negligent and no longer thought about their duties.
In addition, health problems arose due to excessive alcohol consumption. This ultimately led to excess mortality. The brandy was consumed in masses until 1760.
Birth of new gin varieties: Origin of Dry Gin in England
The authorities in England wanted to put a stop to excessive gin consumption. Laws and regulations were created to get rid of private gin distilleries.
In addition to government regulations, there were poor harvests. This led to a lower production volume, which resulted in less drinking. By now, there were only a few manufacturers with a corresponding license, who were obliged to produce better quality. This is how London Dry Gin came about. The origin of London Dry Gin is therefore in England. Dry Gin was among the cleanly distilled spirits that were unsweetened. No ingredients were allowed to be added after distillation. The English elite discovered London Dry Gin for themselves, so the drink became a spirit for the well-to-do and rich.
More varieties from Scotland: Consider the origin of gin
Dry gin was known worldwide and dominated for many years. Gin lovers had hardly any other choice. They either drank beverages from the London Dry Gin category or they didn't. It wasn't that long ago, precisely in 1999. Suddenly, the Hendrick's Gin category became the talk of the town, its gin origin being in Scotland. There was a completely new approach to gin production. From that moment on, juniper was no longer the only interesting ingredient for the spirit. Instead, many other ingredients for greater flavor diversity moved into the foreground. Cucumbers, algae, roses, and even Japanese yuzus were suddenly in demand. A multitude of gins were created that belonged to the group of new gins and are still popular today.
Gin Origin Mixed: A Short Summary
The origin of gin is therefore quite mixed. The first spirit of this kind originated in the Netherlands. However, it was known as Genever.
The spirit only received its name later, in England. The name Gin was later chosen as an abbreviation.
Later, London Dry Gin was created, so its gin origin is clearly in England. After many years of dry gin, a new category was created in Scotland, which became known as Hendrick's Gin. Juniper was no longer the focus here.
Instead, various ingredients were used. Thus, the gin origin of the varieties with cucumber and rose leaf essences lies in Scotland.
From Gin Origin to Gin and Tonic
Gin and Tonic is now a popular drink. However, this wasn't always the case. Initially, gin was only drunk neat.
At the beginning of the 19th century, a malaria preventative was sought for the British company in India. Soldiers were supposed to take quinine. However, quinine was not very palatable, so the daily dose was refined with lime, sugar, and water. Someone had the idea to add a splash of gin. This is how Gin and Tonic came about.
Tonic was launched by Erasmus Brand, a British merchant, in 1858. He enriched liquid tonic with carbonation. Add a splash of gin, and Gin and Tonic was ready.
Gin origin and development: Today a popular spirit
Gin has been one of the most popular spirits in various countries for several years now. The drink also holds a high status in Germany.
There are over 180 different types of gin, so there's a suitable spirit for almost every taste. Some people also offer gin tasting at home, allowing friends and acquaintances to participate in a tasting of the fine spirits.
At a gin tasting, the different nuances of each delicacy can be filtered out. A favorite gin variety can quickly be identified. If you also participate, you will quickly notice that countless nuances can be filtered out.
There are many gin producers now. Some of the producers are Monkey47, Skin Gin, and Spirits of Old Gin. There is even an alcohol-free distillate to discover from various manufacturers.
The manufacturers have thus thought of everyone and produced a wide variety of exquisite drops. As you can see, a lot has happened with the drink since its origin in the Netherlands.
