These days, gin is often sipped with tonic water as an aperitif or enjoyed in a trendy cocktail. However, despite this refined modern image, gin has some skeletons in the cupboard in terms of history ...

A Dutch invention (1600)

A Dutch scientist originally formulated juniper berry oil as a medicine and was added to the distilled spirit along with botanicals to make it more palatable. It was so palatable, in fact, that reported disease cases increased as people, en masse, tried to acquire this "genever" which was only available in drugstores. The demand was so high that numerous small distilleries emerged and the commercial, non-medicinal version was born.

Dutch Courage (1620s)

The English troops who fought alongside the Dutch in the Thirty Years War (1618-1648) noted that the Dutch soldiers were extremely brave in battle. This courage was attributed to the calming effects of genever sipping from small bottles hanging from their belts. British soldiers returning from the war spread the news of this genever and the Dutch began importing it around the world in their vast fleet of merchant ships.

The Glorious Revolution (1660)

William of Orange (pictured) ascended the throne and gave the freedom to distil and sell alcohol, provided it was made from home-grown English corn. Alcohol prices have fallen and the heavier taxes on beer have further increased the demand for gin, resulting in unregulated production of poor quality grains.

The Gin Mania (1720)

With many waterborne diseases, predominantly around London, gin has become a safe drink for the poor. Over 7,000 liquor stores sprang up in London and gin became known as the common people's opium. William Hogarth's 'Gin Lane' engraving depicts an image of the social breakdown allegedly caused by gin, which has taken the blame for a multitude of sins and consequently earned the nickname "mother's ruin". (Pictured at the top of this page).

Acts and cats (1750)

Gin laws were passed to allow only licensed retailers to sell alcohol and thus ban unlicensed gin dram stores. Consumption dropped and the most respectable companies began distilling, producing better quality products and entering the crosshairs of high society. However, illegal sales continued to persist with the production of a sweet version known as Old Tom gin, which was being sold under the counter on the streets by establishments displaying a symbol referencing a black cat.

A Gentleman's Drink (1830)

The invention of the distillation column led to a significant change in quality and the emergence of a new type of gin, known as the London Dry style. The softer taste of the distillate has allowed the aroma of botanicals to become predominant and many companies have begun to develop gins with a wider range of complex aromas. For the gentlemen of society, Gin Palaces were established, which were luxuriously furnished and offered extravagant entertainment.

Tropical Gin (1800)

As the British Empire expanded, the threat of mosquito-borne malaria became a major concern for settlers. Quinine was a known mosquito deterrent, but on its own it tasted exceptionally bitter. With the recent invention of sparkling water, quinine was used as a flavoring to create tonic water which, coincidentally, is a perfect complement to gin. Gin and tonic was then drunk as an antimalarial and became the quintessentially British colonial drink. Needless to say, when the troops returned to Britain the practice came with them, minus the addition of so much quinine.

Navy turns pink (1824)

Angostura bitters were found to be a good cure for seasickness and thus began to be used for medicinal purposes in the Navy. As with the tonic, bitters were found to be a great accompaniment to gin, producing a pink gin that soon became popular on a more widespread basis.

America and prohibition (1920s)

On the water, following campaigns led by the Prohibition Party and the Women’s Christian Temperance Union, among others, the Volstead Act was passed in 1919 to ban the consumption of alcohol. Despite the thirteen-year ban that followed, this was not supported by the majority of the population and illegal bars became the order of the day. The smuggled alcohol was insufficient to meet the demand, so many decided to make their own alcohol, leading to an era of moonshine and smuggling.

Agitated, not mixed (1960s)

Cocktails are thought to have existed long before they became fashionable, and were even mentioned in a 1806 edition of The Balance and Columbian Repository. However, despite a brief surge after World War I, their popularity did not increase adequately. until the end of the 1960s. when cocktail recipes started appearing in drink books and gin became an essential party drink.

The new gin craze (2011)

After a period away from the limelight, gin has bounced back with a vengeance. Classic retro cocktails mixed with premium gin in elegant glasses are back in fashion and a new wave of premium gin has taken over. Distilled in small stills, using high quality ingredients and a lot of care and attention, these selected gins are made for the most refined palates.

Flavored Gin (2015)

At the end of the first decades of the 21st century, gin and artisanal distillation showed no signs of slowing down. Indeed, industry pundits saw no end in sight for the boom. As more dry gins hit the market, people were asking for something new and exciting to add to their collections. Many distilleries have chosen to bring traditional pink gins back to life, using the flavors of the 1800s and remarketing from the past.