History of Gin

Gin was first produced in the Netherlands, during the seventeenth century. The name Gin is derived from the French word for the juniper plant, genévrier, which is what gives gin its distinct flavor.

The person most often credited with the invention of Gin is the physician Franciscus Sylvius. Its first use was a medical treatment for a variety of ailments such as gout, kidney failure, and gallstones.

The beverage first gained widespread popularity as an alcoholic drink when it spread to the nearby English shores. In Englad, the government passed a law which allowed gin to be manufactured without a license. This, combined with heavy tarrifs on imported alcohol, led to an increase in demand for alcohol that could be produced from low quality grain, unfit for beer production.

The relatively low cost of the spirit led it to become very popular with the poor, and by 1740 production of Gin had outstripped that of beer six times over. Beer was still popular as a beverage, especially since it was often safer to drink that then un-distilled water, which could carry disease. However over half of the bars and drinking establishments in the country at that time were gin shops.

During the 1700's Gin got a relatively bad reputation for causing lawlessness and fighting. This was most probably due to the fact that it was consumed by the lower classes, who were often subjected to harsher treatment by law enforcement officials.

The government tried to control the sale and production of the beverage through an act called the Gin Act of 1736, which imposed heavy taxes on its sale. This was very unsuccessful however and led to people rioting in the streets. Later Gin acts were less restricted, and more successful, by focusing on regulating the industry rather than taxing it out of business.

This regulation was important as home made, and later black market gin, was often made in unsanitary conditions, and would often contain toxic additives such as turpentine and sulfuric acid.

The London Dry style of Gin, which is its most popular form, was developed soon after the invention of the column still in 1832.

The origin of the popular gin and tonic drink actually comes from colonial armies' use of the beverage. At the time quinine was used to protect soldiers from Malaria, but it had a horrible taste. To cover this up the quinine was dissolved into tonic water, and then mixed with gin. The drink was so popular that it caught on in private use, and has become the mix of staple for gin ever since.

During the American prohibition era, gin was commonly the drink of choice for black market speakeasies, as it was relatively simple to produce. Today it is the base for a wide variety of popular cocktails, of which the most famous may be the original martini.

About the Author:

This article was written by artist Joey Pebble, on behalf of his line of absorbent sandstone beverage coasters. These coasters are natural, and are made from real pieces of mountain born stone. Many of them also have a functional absorbent property, which makes them extremely useful for protecting possessions from a sweaty glass.

Author: Joey Pebble

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