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York Gin’s distillery team have scored top marks in their summer spirits exams. Five of the team got Merits and five were awarded the highest Distinction award in the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) Level 2 exam.The team attended a three-day course with York-based Wine School of Excellence.The exam at the end of the course consisted of 50 questions about how spirits are made and marketed as well as their taste. It also demanded knowledge about cocktails and the hospitality industry.A …

We can think of three main reasons for gin’s popularity - taste, versatility and the sheer variety of gins.TasteGin is a really fabulous drink that reaches the parts other white spirits just cannot reach.The juniper that defines gin has a complex flavour profile - dry, piney, herby with a delicate freshness. Once other botanicals like lemon peel, coriander and pepper are added, you have a delightful drink that dances on your tongue.Once you've become a gin lover, there really is no going back!&n …

'Can you tell me about the top five gins?'This is a difficult question because high sales do not always equate to high quality.Everyone has a different way of saying what their top gin is.Is it the go-to gin for when you’ve come in after a hard day?Is it the special gin you have before eating at your favourite restaurant?Is it the one that’s on special offer at your local supermarket?Is it the one with the great bottle and label?Or is it the one that started your love affair with gin all those y …

The main ingredients in gin are the base alcohol and juniper. Other optional 'botanicals' (herbs, spices, fruit, etc) are almost always added.To be described as a ‘gin’, the drink must have a strength of at least 37.5% ABV (alcohol by volume) and it must taste predominantly of juniper (from juniper berries). Water is also used to dilute the spirit to the required strength.Beyond these ingredients, gin makers have a huge choice of botanicals they can add to the mandatory juniper berries.York …

There is a short answer to the question: 'Is gin bad for your liver?' 'Yes it can be.' As with any alcohol, you should drink gin in moderation.There are definitely serious dangers associated with excessive alcohol consumption.Follow the guidelinesThe World Health Organisation (WHO) advises people: to keep to strict daily limits (a maximum of two units for women and three for men)not to drink more than four units at any one time and to give yourself at least one day off the booze each week …