Gin is one of the strongest spirits in the world. This is just like those who consume it. Gin is everywhere in England today. Gin is now more popular than vodka and we like the idea of the current Gin Boom as a renaissance, or ‘ginaissance, if you will, in modern times, the Second Golden Age.
What made gin our favorite drink? Why is gin so much in England, in particular?
We must go back in history to answer these questions.
This is a brief history about the gin craze that swept England.
Look back at history and you will see that Gin is an integral part of the history medicine, alchemy, politics and the birth of national identity. Gin is simply woven in to the fabric of the country.
While much has been written about Gin’s birth, the truth is that it was first mentioned in Sir Hugh Plat’s Delightes for Women. In London, there were 200 registered distillers by 1621.
Gin’s origin story is tied to the Dutch influx into England. The Dutch illegally imported genever to Britain. British distillers used this spirit to measure their gins. In 1688, Britain had a Dutch King William III. The gentry were already avid gin-drinkers, but his accession caused more Englishmen to begin drinking gin out of patriotism.
In 1690 Parliament passed an act to lower the duty on spirits made from English Corn and ban French brandy. This was because farmers had a surplus of corn. Due to cheap corn and the deregulation of distillation, gin prices plummeted. England was swept by the Gin Craze in 1720.
Eighteenth-century London had been a chaos, and many suffered. Gin was given the nickname ‘Mother’s ruin’. Gin was easy to find, cheap and strong. Gin consumption reached 13,638,276 L in 1730. However, drinking gin became a civil disobedience act. Numerous acts were passed, and the grain price soared.
At the turn of the 19th century, only the middle class was able to afford spirits such as genever. To boost domestic spirits’ sales, legislators made Gin less expensive than beer to increase their sales. The gin market exploded from 3.7 to 7.4 millions gallons in a single year as gin palaces opened all around London. The government reversed its position, raised prices, and gin palaces became empty by the 1830s.
The modern gin boom
Fast forward to 2008 and only twelve distilleries of gin were operating in Britain. How then did gin become so popular?
Craft beer and spirit movements
American people became fascinated by stories about small breweries and their owners. The craft beer movement exploded in the UK around 2005. The new interest in the locality and family business spilled over to spirits and craft distillers soon began popping up all across the country.
Tastier tonics
Gin has become more popular due to the availability of better quality tonics. Fever-Tree Mixers has created delicious accompaniments to gin. This makes it more accessible for people who don’t like traditional tonic water.
Versatility
Gin enthusiasts have a wide range of flavors to choose from, and there are many types of the gin. Gin makers use different botanicals in order to influence the final product’s taste and texture. Also, the method of making gin can affect the spirit.
Cocktail culture
Cocktails, once reserved for the wealthy, have experienced a revival in recent years. This bodes well gin as it is versatile spirit that works well in cocktails.
Health trends
Despite its delicious flavor, gin is very low in calories, especially when compared to other alcohol drinks. Did you know that an average shot of Filey Gin contains 72 calories?
Customization
Gin is now served with a theatrical flair. Long-stemmed goldfish bowl glasses made in Spain are now available in bars across England. The glassware and garnish that goes with gin are an important part in the gin-and-tonic experience.
You know the right way to mix gin with tonic.
In the United States, sophisticated drinkers pour the gin over ice and add a slice (or any of the many other fun gin garnishes) to make a gin-and-tonic at home. Bartenders serve perfect amounts in local bars, while mixologists in trendy bars such as London, Leeds, or elsewhere, meticulously combine the botanical spirit into cocktails.
Gin’s popularity has not diminished in England. The number of English distilleries almost tripled in 2016 after the modern gin boom, which saw English distilleries surpass Scotland for the first-time. The UK saw a record number registered distilleries in 2020. This was a record, with over 100 new distilleries being added in just 12 months.
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