What do you know about gin? Is it true that it used to be used as a medicine? That it is really the UK that is the country of origin of gin or that it has an effect that can easily induce tears?Well, as you might imagine, there are many myths and stories circulating about this tasty drink, but what is really true?
1. What is the country of origin of gin?
A common misconception is that gin originated in the UK. It's true that the British have a strong connection to the drink, their shared history going back as far as the late 16th century, but it's not actually the British who are the father of the drink. Gin was a Dutch juniper-spiced spirit - genever - discovered by the English during a campaign in Holland in the 1580s. They loved the drink and brought it back to England, which was the start of what we drink today.
2. What are the characteristics of gin?
Juniper is the main spice used in its production. If the drink is not sufficiently spiced with juniper for the flavour to be there, it cannot be classified as gin. However, other spices are often used to round out the flavour. It is said that all gins are 80% flavoured with botanicals. These are mainly juniper berries, but coriander seeds, iris root, angelica root, citrus fruits and cinnamon can also be used for flavouring. Most gins use iris root or angelica root as a fixative for the volatile flavours. If you open a bottle of gin that does not have one of the two root varieties to fix and retain the volatile flavours, the aroma of the gin will quickly dissipate.
3.Does gin work as a medicine?
When gin is made - especially when it is home-brewed, as it used to be - there is often a subtle flavour that is not very appealing. So they used to add various spices and sugars to mask the taste. As juniper berries were considered to have a good healing effect, but also masked the finch taste, these ingredients were used.
In the mid-17th century, gin was documented as a medicine. Dr. Franciscus Sylvius, a Dutch physician, claimed that gin was good medicine for stomach problems, gout and kidney problems.
In the 18th century, when gin production was banned and taxes on imported spirits were raised, people started to make home-made spirits, giving rise to "new medicines", such as Cuckold's Comfort and My Lady's Eye Water. It was, of course, plain, home-brewed gin, which contributed to people starting to drink rather than recovering from their illnesses. This problem lasted well into the 19th century, when gin was cheap compared to imported spirits.
However, whether gin really cures illnesses such as stomach and kidney problems is open to question.
4. Is it true that gin can make you cry?
Like any other alcoholic beverage, gin can have a depressing effect, triggering depressed feelings and increasing the risk of depression.
In the 18th century, gin was practically cheaper than water, and far more popular than other alcohol. This was the only documented century when more people died than were born. It is said that it was not only alcoholism itself that killed people, but also the depression that could lead to suicide.
Yes, as you can see, there is a lot of fascinating and mythical history. If you want more in-depth information on the origins and development of gin, you can read it here.