n a matter of a few years, gin
has become one of the trendiest
alcoholic beverages. The juniper-
based spirit’s popularity has soared, with
gin-specific bars opening up and countless
new flavours rolling onto the market. In fact
experts predict that by next year more gin
will be sold in Scotland than its most famous
tipple: whisky.
As a result, there is no better time to be
involved in the production or retail of gin.
Particularly in Scotland, given the vast
number of distilleries and expertise in the
whisky industry.
Gin begins its life as ethanol, a pure spirit
made from grain. This is the exact same
ingredient that whisky is produced from,
meaning adding a gin production line
to a distillery is straightforward for any
whisky distiller. Scotland has become a
large producer and distributor because
of this, and given the drink is quick to
mature, it can be taken to market almost
immediately ensuring a quick production
process. This has also inspired any
newly-opened, micro-distilleries to create
a gin production line as it is the least
time consuming spirt to distil. Scottish
distilleries are now exporting to countries
across Europe and even as far as Japan
and the Middle East.
A shift in culture in the 21st century has
helped boost gin’s popularity. A revival
in the number of cocktail bars opening has
increased the demand for a good gin. Gin
is the base of countless famous cocktails
such as the Martini and the Negroni, and acts
as the perfect base spirit for any alcoholic
concoction as it doesn’t compete with other
fluids for flavour; it tends to act like more of
a seasoning. Gin is also the most versatile
cocktail as it mixes well with everything, so
will be featured in a large proportion of any
bar’s cocktails. And if all else fails a good
tonic will bring out its flavours.
In a world where self-expression is now
actively encouraged rather than disregarded,
gin offers the distiller a chance to stamp
their mark on a product with their ownunique blend of spices and flavours. Some
will prefer a harsher, more juniper-infused
sip while others will like a medley of citrus
and floral bursts. Experimental flavours like
Christmas pudding have proved popular too.
Botanicals are often hand-prepared, so it’s
seldom that any two products are ever the
same and this adds to exclusivity.
So why is gin so popular? In truth it never
wasn’t, it’s just managed to usurp vodka and
whisky as the go-to spirit for the modern
consumer. And is this a surprise, in the age
where locality of ingredients are essential?
Gin precisely matches the mood of modern
culture. And according to experts, this boom
is just bedding in.I
GIN AND
ITS RISING
POPULARITY
Scotland’s love for both whisky
and gin has enabled it to produce
substantial quantities of the drink
the whole world is craving.
138 • WWW.SCRUMMAGAZINE.COM • ISSUE 116 2019
GIN