The Basics of Gin

As gin continues to rise in popularity and presence in the United States, it’s no wonder there are so many questions surrounding the basics of gin. We asked our head scientist and owner/founder, Michael Stuckey, to shed some light on this spirit we love so dearly.

What is gin?

Gin is a distilled spirit that is flavored with botanicals.

Michael says:
Gin is a botanically flavored spirit we approach with a ton of playfulness and reverence. It’s delicate, herbaceous, and complex.

What is gin made from? 

Gin is made from a base that is first fermented and then distilled. The base spirit is often a grain, starch, or fruit, and is typically high proof. It is then flavored with botanicals, most notably juniper berries.

Michael says:
Distilling with botanicals is what gives gin its flavor and characteristics.

What is in gin? 

There are only a few ingredients in gin: its base spirit and the botanicals it’s flavored with. A variety of botanicals are used to flavor gin, with juniper as the foundation. Botanicals can be paired together to create a variety of flavor combinations.

Michael says:
The botanicals that gin is flavored with can be nearly endless! Juniper must be the primary contributor, but it plays well with others. By using various distillation techniques, there is an infinite wall of dials and knobs we can tweak to create flavors that are cohesive and a journey on the palate.

Check out our cocktail recipes page for gin cocktail inspiration!