Bartender's Diary - 2

Gin

It was first produced in Holland in the 16th century as a medicinal spirit flavored with oil of Juniper, made by distillation of Mash with Juniper Berries (Flavoring agent). Most Gin is initially distilled in efficient column stills. The resulting spirit is high proof, light-bodied, and clean with a minimal amount of Congener (flavor compounds) and flavoring agents. Genever is distilled in less-efficient pot stills, which results in a lower-proof, more flavorful spirit.

Gin Alcohol Content - in the European Union, the minimum bottled alcoholic strength for gin is 37.5% ABV and In the United States, gin is defined as an alcoholic beverage of no less than 40% ABV that possesses the characteristic flavor of juniper berries.
 

§ Dry Gin: means lack of sweetness.

§ Golden Gin: is a dry gin that is aged thus getting color.

§ Sole Gin: is the sweetest gin

§ Plymouth Gin: is the driest of all gin and produced by one distiller i.e. Coats & Co.

§ Old Tom Gin: is slightly more perfumed and sweeter.

§ Holland Gin: is heavy in body and very aromatic than English Gin.

Brands:

Beefeater, Gordon's dry, Bombay 'sapphire', Tanqueray to name a few.

 

 RUM

 

The word has come “Rumbullion” a Spanish word, which means Rumpus, it was the drink of the slaves on plantations in West Indies as early in 17^th century became today’s Rum.

Manufacturing

1.        Juice is obtained from sugarcane

2.       Juice is boiled to concentrate

3.       Clarified

4.       Subject to centrifugal force, this crystallizes the sugar and leaves behind the molasses.

5.       It is mixed with water and

6.       Fermented.

Fermentation is of 2 types

Slow: Takes two weeks and previous molasses are taken. They are better in body; pot still method is used distillation.

Quick: Takes two days, new yeast is taken, they are light bodied, and patent still method is used for distillation.

7.       Distillation: Pot and Patent both are used.

8.       Maturing: Put in cask for at least 3 years

9.       Usually it is colorless but is aged golden color and if still dark is required than caramelized sugar is added.

 

Alcohol content & Aged

As we all know law of making alcohol can be differ as some countries said their rum must be 3 year aged and some aged for only 8- 24 months (like Panama, Mexico and Dominican Republic. Alcohol content can be different but not less than 40%.

Brands

Bacardi, Old Monk and Mount Gay to name a few.

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You also can read Bartender's Diary-1-Diary-3, Diary-4 & Bartender's Diary 8