Gin is a much appreciated drink around the world, both for its perfumed aroma and its lightness. Its flavor makes it possible to combine it in different drinks, which has made gin the drink of the moment. To understand its success, we must first look at its history.
The drink was created in Holland, in the mid-17th century, by the doctor and professor Francisco de la Boie. That’s right, a doctor! Gin was created as a medicine to alleviate kidney problems. During his research, de la Boie mixed juniper with cereal distillate, and this diuretic medicine later became known by the name gin. However, what he didn’t expect was that it would be used by those who were not sick.
Tasty, light and cheap, the medicine soon became popular with English soldiers who fought during the 30 Years’ War (1618 – 1648), giving them courage and keeping away the cold in the midst of the harsh European winter
After the war, the English took the aromatic distillate to their country, where it became popular. Due to the creation of Coffey’s continuous still, gin began to be produced on a large scale in the country, and soon this distillate became cheaper than beer.
Also known as juniper distillate, gin has unique characteristics in its composition, and also varied styles, such as London Dry, Plymouth, Old Tom and Navy Strength.
The name Gin originated from the combination of variants of the name of juniper, which in Dutch is genever, genievre in French and ginepro in Italian. Today, the Tuscany region of Italy is the main producer of juniper.
The aroma of the gin is another important point, which differentiates this drink from other spirits. Gin has a lot to do with perfumes. Both use many aromatic herbs, such as angelica, lily roots and licorice, among their ingredients.
Gin sophistication
Recently, gin has returned with full force, and much of this is due to the diversity of combinations and its various harmonizations.
Gin was very successful during the 80s, but between the 90s and 2000s, consumers embraced ready-made drinks, causing it to be forgotten again.
However, in 2007, some renowned European chefs reported that after long days of work in the hot kitchens of their restaurants, they cooled down with glasses of gin and tonic over ice. Many of them created new quick drink recipes and developed the perfect way to enjoy the drink, bringing gin back from its sabbatical. Preparing a good drink with gin has become a personalized experience.
It is essential to prepare your drink in a gin glass, because the material of the glass influences the temperature of the drink. The glass keeps the drink fresh and does not transfer heat from your hands to the drink, keeping it refreshing until the end. Likewise, finding the ideal pairing, whether with tonic or other spices, is important to have the best experience possible.
If you’ve never tried a drink with genuinely Brazilian gin, get to know Kalvelage London Dry Gin, a sugar-free and gluten-free drink, made with 100% national cereals and awarded worldwide. Kalvelage London Dry Gin is produced in the European Valley, in Santa Catarina, and has eight aromatic herbs in its composition: juniper, cardamom, coriander, roses, angelica, citron, orange peel and melissa. Kalvelage gin is perfect for making drinks and has 43% alcohol content. Its bottle is inspired by the medicine bottle, where the original gin was sold. Order now at your favorite bar or restaurant!
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