Gin is made by redistilling a neutral spirit with botanicals, of which juniper must be the dominant flavour. While every distiller creates their own unique recipe, most gins combine juniper with spices, roots and citrus to produce their distinctive character. At Dryad Gin, we use carefully selected botanicals inspired by the woodlands and coastline of Somerset to create spirits that tell a story.
Every Gin Begins with a Neutral Spirit
The foundation of every gin is a neutral spirit, usually distilled from grains such as wheat, barley, rye or maize. This highly purified alcohol has very little flavour of its own, providing a blank canvas for the botanicals that will define the finished gin. Neutral spirit is very expensive for example my recent bill shows 20 litres at 96% ABV is £950 of which £652.61 is UK Duty.
Some craft distillers choose alternative base spirits made from grapes, apples or potatoes, but the purpose remains the same to create a clean spirit that allows the botanicals to shine.
Juniper Is What Makes Gin, Gin
The one ingredient every gin must contain is juniper. Its fresh pine, resinous and slightly peppery character gives gin its unmistakable flavour. Without juniper being the dominant botanical, a spirit cannot legally be called gin.
Alongside juniper, many classic gins include coriander seed, which adds gentle citrus and spice, and angelica root, which helps bring the different botanical flavours together. Citrus peel, herbs, spices and flowers are then used to create each distiller’s unique style.
How Botanicals Create Flavour
The distinctive aromas in gin come from naturally occurring compounds called terpenes. These are released from the botanicals during distillation, giving gin its pine, citrus, floral and herbal notes.
There are two main ways to extract these flavours. In maceration, botanicals are steeped in the spirit before distillation, allowing the alcohol to draw out their essential oils. In vapour infusion, alcohol vapour passes through botanicals suspended above the spirit, capturing lighter, more delicate aromas. Different methods create different styles of gin.