Gin - from its roots in the 17th century to today's world of craft distillates. Discover the mysterious combination of juniper and botanicals that give this classic spirit its unmistakable taste.
show moreGin - from its roots in the 17th century to today's world of craft distillates. Discover the mysterious combination of juniper and botanicals that give this classic spirit its unmistakable taste.
show moreIf you want to buy gin, you will certainly also be interested in the history behind the distillate. The history of gin is a fascinating journey through the centuries, full of stories of discovery, innovation and tradition. From its humble beginnings as a remedy to its current role as an iconic part of cocktail culture, gin has undergone a rich and complex evolution.
Juniper has been used since the 13th century for the treatment of metabolic diseases. In times of the plague, the herb was used to fumigate rooms. After the plague, alcohol was produced mainly for pleasure purposes. Since grain was more readily available than wine and could be distilled from the 16th century onward, a Europe-wide culture of brandy production developed. The subsequent addition of juniper to grain spirits laid the foundation for Dutch genever. The Spanish-Dutch War also brought gin to the English, who were fighting on the Dutch front. They copied it and developed it further.
But already in ancient times, scented water and medicinal potions were distilled and this knowledge has been developed in different ways over the centuries in different cultural areas. It is not for nothing that you can buy these many varieties of gin today. However, it was not until the early Middle Ages that important advances were made that allowed alcohol to be produced in the way we know it. This breakthrough occurred in the Persian-Oriental region. The first medical experiments combining alcohol with juniper can be traced back to the year 1000 AD. In the early modern period, thanks not least to the physician Francis de la Boë, also known as the "forefather of gin," alcoholic potions very similar to gin appeared on the market. Francis de la Boë developed these potions under the name Genever as a remedy for stomach ailments. Today, however, when you buy gin, you do so for the sake of enjoyment. This was also the case with his patients, who liked the liquor so much that they preferred to think of it as a stimulant rather than a remedy. This led to the fact that the Genever was officially offered in the Netherlands as Wacholderschnaps. As already mentioned, the English came into contact with jenever during the Spanish-Dutch War. However, it was not until 1689, when William of Orange-Nassau ascended the English throne, that juniper brandy gained great popularity in England, where it soon became known as gin and people could buy it as gin. Since then, it was impossible to imagine society without gin. You too can go on a discovery tour with our range of English gins.
Due to its high alcohol content and comparably low prices compared to wine and beer, it became the preferred drink, especially among the poorer classes. This resulted in the so-called gin craze: people wanted to buy gin, so numerous distilleries were founded all over London and the surrounding area to ensure high consumption. The quality of the gin was not particularly good, and at times the drink was also spiked with turpentine, causing mass alcoholism and a related rise in violent acts. However, it was not until 1751 that the English government felt obliged to tackle this and passed the Gin Act. The Act prohibited gin distilleries from selling their wares to unlicensed merchants. These licenses were given to a few merchants for a very high price and only from them could people legally buy gin. As a result, many distilleries had to close and the quality increased considerably. As compensation, the sale of tea was encouraged. To this day, it is not exactly clear how gin came to Germany. All that is known is that it only made it to post-war Germany, presumably through the German occupation, which came back from America and England. Meanwhile, many variations are also produced in Germany. Would you also like to buy the German gin? Feel free to look at our assortment in our online store. Here you can buy many varieties of alcohol!
Basic ingredients: Before you can buy gin at all, it must be made, of course. At the beginning of gin production is the distillation of neutral alcohol. Neutral alcohol is made from various carbohydrate-based basic ingredients such as grain or molasses. The initially neutral alcohol gets its typical flavor from the addition of juniper berries and other botanicals such as coriander seeds, lemon or orange peel. According to the EU spirits regulation, the neutral alcohol should come from agriculture. For the production of gin, for example, vodka or grain are used. Apart from grain and molasses, the alcohol can also be obtained from potatoes, grapes and from other types of fruit. Find out more about what gin is made of before you buy it next time.
When buying gin, you can observe that different gin varieties have the flavors added in different stages of production. Basically, a distinction is made between flavoring during and after distillation. Different methods such as cold extraction, hot extraction or multiple aromatization can be used. There are different ways in which a gin can be produced and also numerous ways to add the desired aroma to the neutral alcohol. Nevertheless, there are four phases into which the production steps can be roughly divided, although these steps and any intermediate steps may vary depending on the distiller. The first step towards buying gin begins with maceration. Here, the spices are added to the neutral alcohol. This is followed by distillation. For this, the spiced alcohol is put into a kettle. Then the alcohol boils and emits vapors before it cools down again. Next, the gin must be stored, this takes between one and four weeks, depending on the manufacturer and variety. After storage, the gin is diluted with water to drinking strength and delivered by the manufacturer to the various stores so that the customer can buy his gin. This can be done either through a local gin store or online. Besides gin, by the way, you can also buy rum from us. Our assortment is large!
What would a gin be without juniper and botanicals? Juniper and the added botanicals are the ingredients that make gin gin. Mainly used are various berries, fruits, herbs, spices, barks, seeds, peels of fruits and also roots. You will not be able to buy a gin without any botanicals. Both the exact quantities and the recipes are usually subject to strict secrecy and are often trade secrets of the manufacturers. Since creativity can be given free rein when adding botanicals, exotic spices such as cumin, anise, fennel seeds, ginger, cardamom or nutmeg are often used. If you are interested, pay attention when buying gin but times. Only juniper berries must be included in any gin. Despite the wide range of flavor possibilities and the many botanicals that come into question, the flavors of gins can be divided into five categories:
In order for people to buy the gins, many gins place great emphasis on combining many different botanicals that nevertheless match each other. This allows each distiller to give their gins a distinctive flavor and stand out from the competition. There is no specification as to how many botanicals must or may be included in a gin. It is therefore the free decision of the distiller and thus usually a closely guarded secret. Feel free to look through our gin top sellers to get an impression of the different gin varieties. Perhaps you will also find what you are looking for and would like to buy a tasty gin.
In the course of production, ethyl alcohol of agricultural origin is obtained and flavored. According to the regulation, there are the following three varieties of gin:
When buying gin, London Dry Gin, also known as London Gin, will be one of the first gins you will come across, as it is the best known variety in Europe. Contrary to its name, however, it does not have to be made in London, but must meet other requirements. These include that it must have a minimum alcohol content of 37.5% by volume, have a base of vegetable alcohol and be flavored only with natural ingredients, all of which must be added at the same time. If you buy Dry Gin it is similar to London Gin, but its production is not as regulated. It may only be distilled and only natural and nature-like ingredients and spices may be used. In addition, not all ingredients should be added at the same time. If you buy sloe gin, strictly speaking, according to the regulation, this is not a gin at all, but a liqueur. Nevertheless, you can buy it as a gin, although it rarely reaches the minimum alcohol content of 37.5% by volume, which is typical for gin. This variety is not distilled, but fortified. In the process, the berries of the sloe are put into distilled gin together with sugar. Gin can buy anyone in Germany who is at least 18 years old. Apart from these three official varieties, you can buy gin in ornate endless flavors. In our gin store we offer an impressive selection of different gin varieties such as Dry Gin, London Dry Gin, Old Tom Gin or Flavoured Gin or Gin Liqueur. For mixing cocktails like Gin Tonic you can buy not only gin from us. You can also find the appropriate fillers and accessories in our Gin Shop.
Gin is not just a spirit, but a versatile experience. Its rich history and variety of flavors make it an indispensable part of cocktail culture. From classic gin cocktails such as the gin and tonic to creative mixed drinks, gin offers endless possibilities for moments of pleasure. Gin is also increasingly being used as an ingredient in fine cuisine to add an aromatic note to dishes. In our online store, you will find a large selection of different gins as well as whiskies, rum and many other spirits.
Nach einer weiteren Destillation entsteht die Gin-typisch klare Spirituose, die wir vom Gin kaufen gewohnt sind. Um Nebenerzeugnisse wie Fuselöle, Methanol und Essigtrester heraus zu selektieren, wird nach dem Brennvorgang Vor- und Nachlauf getrennt. Der Mittellauf bzw. das Endprodukt wird durch die Zugabe von Wasser auf eine Trinkstärke von gesetzlich festgelegten 37,5% Vol. reduziert. Personen, die Gin kaufen, der einen höheren Alkoholgehalt aufweist, assoziieren mit diesem häufig mit einem runderen Geschmack. Das Wasser und der Alkohol werden voneinander getrennt. Beim Erhitzen steigen die Dämpfe des Alkohols in der Brennblase auf, wo sie in eine gekühlte Spirale geleitet werden. Anschließend kondensiert der Dampf und wird flüssig. Das Ergebnis ist ein sehr hochprozentiger Gin (ca. 96%). Bevor Sie den Gin kaufen können, muss dieser mit Wasser verdünnt werden, da er sonst nicht trinkbar wäre. Das Erhitzen der Brennblase kann durch unterschiedliche Methoden erfolgen. Es gibt die klassische Methode mit Feuer, diese wird jedoch nur noch selten angewandt, da das Risiko zu groß ist, dass der Gin anbrennen könnte. Sie möchten allerdings bestimmt keinen angebrannten Gin kaufen. Stattdessen wird am häufigsten durch Gas oder elektrisch erhitzt. Dies hat vor allem den Vorteil, dass die gewünschte Temperatur schnell erreicht und gut kontrolliert werden kann.
Actually, gin does not need to be stored. Theoretically, it could be bottled and sold immediately. Nevertheless, most distillers allow their gins a rest period of one to four weeks. This makes the taste rounder and more intense. It is important for the storage of most varieties that the containers themselves do not have their own aroma, so that the taste is not distorted. When buying gin, you would otherwise quickly notice the difference. Most often, gin is stored in glass balloons or in steel tanks. However, there are also varieties where storage in wooden barrels, which give off their own aroma, is deliberately chosen. Since in most wooden barrels previously something else was stored, which also gave its aroma to the wood, each variety, sometimes even each bottle, gets a very special and distinctive note. Browse through our newly arrived gins and be inspired by the different varieties and flavors when buying gin.
The final step is to bottle the finished gin, which must then be labeled before you can buy it in stores. As mentioned, the gin is diluted with water beforehand. However, not every water is suitable for this purpose and a lot can be done wrong in the selection. It is important that the water does not contain too much lime or other minerals, because that would have a negative effect on the taste. After all, you want to buy a gin that also has a special taste. Even before the gin is diluted, the distiller must determine with what alcohol content he wants to sell his gin and for this he must know the composition between water and his distillate very well. This is because experienced drinkers who regularly buy and taste gin can taste exactly whether the stated alcohol content is true. This can be seen above all in the aromas, because these differ depending on the alcohol content. In addition, the drinking strength can be recognized by the price, because the alcohol tax is not based on the sales price, but on the alcohol content of the gin. The more alcohol a gin contains, the higher the alcohol tax and ultimately the price for which you end up buying the gin. However, the alcohol content may not be less than 37% vol. This is regulated by the EU spirits regulation. Upwards, however, there is no legal limit and there are varieties where the alcohol content is 57% vol. in total. These varieties are called "Overproof Gin". Who after this interesting story about the past and the production of gin now wants to buy a gin itself, is guaranteed to find in our Gin Shop. We offer on a total of 19 pages many different varieties and accessories at different prices. So for every palate and every budget is definitely the right bottle and the right gin accessories.
With us you can buy not only tasty gin, but also gin gift sets, gin glasses and bar mats. Our offer also includes good wines, liqueurs and vodka. The entire range is for connoisseurs for after work or for the next celebration. Our friendly customer service is happy to advise interested parties - just contact us! No matter whether the customer wants to buy a particular gin for the first time, is looking for the right accessories or is looking for the perfect gift for special occasions. Also feel free to take a look at our whisky store. Here you are sure to find a suitable gift for every whiskey lover. We are with a lot of experience and great passion, so that every connoisseur finds the right distillate for himself. Rum, vodka, tequila or gin - you can buy all this and much more with us!
In cold extraction, various ground or squeezed botanicals are added to the neutral alcohol. Since the ingredients have been ground or pressed, they can develop their full flavor variety. You will notice this when you buy and taste such a gin. After a few weeks, the distillate is filtered, slightly diluted and bottled. With multiple maceration, the gin gains depth and acquires more flavor nuances. However, this may then no longer be marketed as "London Dry Gin". When you buy this gin, this represents a single maceration. By macerating the spices in the alcohol, the color and aroma compounds are removed from the botanicals and passed on to the alcohol. In the process, the botanicals do not sink, but float on the surface of the alcohol. The difference to brandy is that the individual ingredients of gin do not contain enough sugar and therefore no alcohol can be extracted from them. Therefore, the ingredients must be steeped in neutral alcohol. However, there are also some producers where the gin does not gain flavor during maceration, but during distillation. In these cases, the distilleries put their botanicals in an aroma basket so that the vapors pass by the botanicals in the basket, absorbing its aromas. When buying gin, you have the choice - according to your personal taste!
When buying gin, there is another method of production - the hot extract. In this process, various botanicals are crushed and inserted or "bathed" in the 70-degree alcohol. This allows the spices and herbs to gently release their ingredients into the alcohol. In contrast to the maceration process, this method pulls the color and aroma substances out of the cell walls of the spices more quickly and releases them better into the alcohol. However, this process is more complicated and requires a lot of care, because the distiller must be careful not to heat the alcohol too quickly or too slowly. Otherwise, there is a risk that the botanicals will release bitter substances into the alcohol - and very few people want to buy a gin that tastes bitter.
You can also buy a gin made with the method of multiple aromatization, also called steam infusion, among others. In this process, botanicals are placed in large sieves above the still. The gaseous alcohol is passed through these sieves with steam. In this way, the diverse flavor aromas are released and gently passed on to the spirit. The great advantage of this method is that the alcohol vapor only absorbs flavors and not bitter substances, which are less popular when buying gin. Because the flavors are not as pronounced as in maceration, this method usually uses those botancials that would be too filtered in the maceration process. On the other hand, percolation requires the use of many more herbs, spices and fruits in order to extract enough flavor for a good gin. This process entails much higher production costs, but has the selling advantage that gin made this way can be sold as "distilled gin." Buying distilled gin therefore costs the end consumer more money, but many gin connoisseurs particularly enjoy drinking these varieties.