Capn Jimbo's Rum Project Forum

[Capn Jimbo]

Welcome to the Gin section...


Gin (from the French term for juniper, "genievre") is considered the quintessential English spirit, despite the fact that it was first made in Holland as a medicinal spirit. Unlike rum, gin doesn't pretend to be pure, but rather promotes the sophisticated addition of various real botanicals straight from nature. Compare to the artificial dreck that rum distillers use to "tweak" their column-stilled product.

The primary botanical added is from the juniper berry, which adds the fresh, piney cedary aroma that gin lovers treasure. Additional possible botanical additions include angelica, orris root, ginger, caraway, aniseed and cardamom, orange and lime peel, cassia bark, cumin, nutmeg and rosemary, fennel, licorice, rose petals, almonds, grains of paradise, and even cucumber.

Roots, seeds and pods, fruit peels, barks, nuts, berries and vegetables. All natural.

Any or all of these may be used in various combinations in gin, in three basic styles: London Dry style, Plymouth style and Holland style. Additionally there are a few outliers: a sweet gin called Old Tom and a very strong German or Steinhager gin made in Westphalia (along with VW campers). These latter are near impossible to find.

All find favor in the original martini, the ubiquitous English "G&T" (gin and tonic) or on the rocks. World class, exquisite gins can be found in the $20's. We can assure you that these are worth their while...
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