Medicine - mass drug - fashionable spirit
Gin has an exciting and chequered past - from its origins as a remedy to its current role as a trendy spirit. Originally developed as genever in the Netherlands, the juniper-flavoured spirit was primarily used for medicinal purposes in the 17th century. Genever began its triumphal march via England, where it became "gin" and soon not only inspired pharmacists but also the general public.
The remedy eventually developed into a stimulant, which at times even led to a social crisis, before becoming a popular trend spirit in the 21st century. Today, we are experiencing a renaissance of gin: high-quality premium varieties, creative botanicals and innovative distilleries make it one of the most popular spirits in the world.
Medicine: Juniper miracle cure
Juniper has always been considered a medicinal plant: in the Middle Ages, entire villages were fumigated with it to drive away the plague. The berries were said to have digestive and cleansing properties - they were even said to have a "healing effect" on kidney problems. As early as the 13th century, monks and apothecaries used distilled juniper extracts as a medicine.
In the 17th century, the Dutch doctor Franciscus Sylvius developed "jenever". This forerunner of gin was originally a medicine for diseases such as tuberculosis and kidney problems. However, the fact that the high-proof drink was not only medicinal but also intoxicating did not remain hidden from the population for long - jenever quickly spread throughout Europe.
It received a decisive boost when William III of Orange ascended the English throne in 1689. In order to make French cognac and brandy unattractive, he imposed high punitive tariffs on them. Genever, on the other hand, remained cheap and gained enormous popularity. The population soon began to distil the drink themselves - in the early 18th century, it is said that every fourth household in England was producing jenever. Queen Anne drove this development forward by allowing production without a licence. This laid the foundation for the later triumph of gin.
Mass drug: the gin crisis
This marked the beginning of a dark chapter in the history of gin - the infamous "gin crisis" in the 18th century. After production was permitted without a licence, production in England took on unprecedented proportions. Gin was cheap, available everywhere and could be bought for a penny in some London pubs. The poorer population in particular took advantage - gin was often cheaper than beer!
However, the quality of the spirit deteriorated dramatically. Dangerous additives such as sulphuric acid, turpentine, sugar or potassium carbonate were added to imitate juniper flavours or to make poor distillates more palatable. The result was a unhealthy drink that increasingly plunged the population into misery. Contemporary reports and caricatures such as William Hogarth's Gin Lane show the excesses of this time: alcohol addiction, crime and impoverishment characterised the cityscape. The figures are frightening - in 1723, the death rate in London exceeded the birth rate, and in 1751, 9,000 children died of alcohol poisoning alone.
The state finally responded with stricter laws. The Gin Act of 1751 increased taxes and introduced stricter controls. New definitions such as "dry gin" (= unsweetened gin) were also established. This marked the end of the phase of uncontrolled mass production.
At the same time, many distilleries that are still well-known today were established during this era: The Black Friars Distillery in Plymouth (1697) still produces Plymouth Gin with a protected designation of origin. The Finsbury distillery (1740) as well as Gordon's and Bloomsbury (later Tanqueray) were also founded during this period - favoured by the good water quality in the London district of Finsbury.
At the beginning of the 19th century, production was also modernised. Thanks to the Carter Head stills developed by the Carter brothers, which were based on Aeneas Coffey's continuous distillation process, clean base alcohol could be produced on a larger scale and in better quality. Industrialisation thus also laid the foundations for the high-quality gin we know today in the spirits sector.
Fashionable spirit: gin is in
As the quality of gin increased, its image also changed. The former "people's drug" became a respected spirit that finally arrived in international bar culture after the Second World War at the latest. Even the Queen Mum confessed to being a gin lover - a symbol of the social rise of juniper brandy.
One of the most important trends was set by the British military in the colonies: soldiers drank tonic water containing quinine to prevent malaria. To make the bitter flavour more bearable, they mixed it with gin from their homeland - this is how the legendary gin & tonic was created, which is still one of the most popular long drinks in the world today.
In the early 20th century, bars in Europe experienced a boom. Bartenders experimented with Dutch jenever and English gin and created cocktail classics such as the Dry Martini and the Gin Fizz. Even Prohibition in the USA (1919-1933) only had a temporary impact on the triumph of gin. Soon after its repeal, gin once again became the number one mixed spirit.
At the beginning of the 21st century, gin seemed to be briefly displaced by vodka, tequila and rum. Since the 2010s, however, it has experienced an unprecedented renaissance: new brands, innovative distilleries and a wide variety of tonic waters have revolutionised the market. Craft and New Western Dry Gins in particular, which work with unusual botanicals such as cucumber, rose petals or exotic spices, have made gin an expression of creativity and a modern lifestyle.
Today, gin is more popular than ever before - in cocktails, neat or as a gin & tonic. Hardly any other spirit epitomises the balance between tradition and innovation to such an extent. Gin is in - and will remain so.
Conclusion
The history of gin shows impressively how a remedy has developed into a mass drink and finally into a trendy spirit. From monastic healing recipes to the social crisis in London and modern bar culture - gin is a mirror of social developments. Today, beginners and connoisseurs alike appreciate the versatility and quality of this spirit. Anyone who wants to try gin will discover a world full of flavours - from classic London Dry to innovative craft gin. Discover the diversity of gin now and find your personal favourite!
To comment, you must be logged in