Spirits

Need to know

Gin

Gin was originally invented as a remedy for kidney disorders in around 1650 by the Dutch doctor; Franciscus Sylvius. He used neutral grain spirits flavoured with the oil of juniper and called the medicine ‘genever’ after the French term genévrier meaning juniper. But its medical uses were soon over-shadowed as English soldiers serving in the Netherlands became particularly fond of the beverage and its intoxicating effects.

During the English reign of William and Mary 1 (around 1689) home production of gin gathered pace. Because landowners produced it as a by-product of grain, taxes were very low meaning gin was actually cheaper than beer. Because of this, abuse of the drink among the poor was rampant and in 1751 William Hogarth created the engraving ‘Gin Lane’  to display its effect on society. The Tippling Act (hence the term ‘tipple’) was passed in 1759, putting an end to ‘gin madness’. It eliminated small gin shops, leaving distribution to larger distillers.

Gin was on its way to becoming a classier ‘gentleman’s’ drink… It enjoyed a glamorous renaissance in the 20s as gin cocktails became a high-society staple. So next time you take a sip, spare a thought for gin’s journey from the medicine cabinet to the drinks cabinet.