What is the main ingredient in gin?
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 Gin London Dry has nine traditional botanicals. As well as juniper berries these are:
lemon, coriander, Angelica root. coriander seeds, cardamom, cinnamon bark, dried lemon peel, orris root, black pepper and grains of paradise.
Among the hundreds or thousands of more modern botanicals used in contemporary gins are: coconut, frankincense and lotus leaves. York Gin's other gins have botanicals including cocoa, dried fruit and Star Anise.
Mixers for gin include:
- tonic (for the hugely popular G&T)
- soda (especially for those who don’t like tonic water)
- lemonade, ginger beer - and even cola
Gin is also the base spirit in many fabulous cocktails including:
- Martini (with dry vermouth). You decide whether you want it shaken or stirred!
- Negroni (with red vermouth and Campari)
- Tom Collins (with soda, lemon and sugar syrup)
Take a look at our Cocktails page for more great ways to serve gin
And browse the award-winning York Gin range (it includes some of the world's best gins).