2. GIN AND ITS ORIGIN
Gin is a spirit which derives its predominant flavour
from juniper berries.
From its earliest origins in the Middle Ages, gin has
evolved over the course of a millennium from a
herbal medicine to an object of commerce in the
spirits industry.
Gin was developed on the basis of the older
Jenever, and became popular in Great Britain when
William of Orange, leader of the Dutch Republic,
occupied the English and Scottish thrones with his
wife Mary.
3. PRODUCTION METHODS
Pot distilled gin represents the earliest style of gin, and is
traditionally produced by pot distilling a fermented grain mash
(malt wine) from barley and or other grains, then redistilling it
with flavouring botanicals to extract the aromatic compounds.
Column distilled gin evolved following the invention of the
Coffey still, and is produced by first distilling high proof (e.g.
96% ABV) neutral spirits from a fermented mash or wash using
a refluxing still such as a column still. The fermentable base for
this spirit may be derived from grain, sugar beets, grapes,
potatoes, sugar cane, plain sugar, or any other material of
agricultural origin.
Compound gin is made by simply flavouring neutral spirits with
essences and/or other 'natural flavourings' without redistillation,
and is not as highly regarded as distilled gin.
4. TYPES OF GIN
GIN
This is a juniper-flavoured spirit made not via the redistillation of botanicals, but by simply adding
approved natural flavouring substances to a neutral spirit of agricultural origin. The predominant
flavour must be juniper.
DISTILLED GIN
Distilled gin is produced exclusively by redistilling ethanol of agricultural origin with an initial strength of
96% ABV in stills traditionally used for gin, in the presence of juniper berries and of other natural
botanicals, provided that the juniper taste is predominant.
LONDON GIN
London gin is obtained exclusively from ethanol of agricultural origin with a maximum methanol content
of 5 grams per hectolitre of 100% ABV equivalent, whose flavour is introduced exclusively through
the re-distillation in traditional stills of ethanol in the presence of all the natural plant materials used,
the resultant distillate of which is at least 70% ABV.
7. RUM AND ITS ORIGIN
Rum is a distilled alcoholic beverage made from sugarcane
byproducts, such as molasses, or directly from sugarcane
juice, by a process of fermentation and distillation. The
distillate, a clear liquid, is then usually aged in oak barrels.
Fermentation
Sugarcane is harvested to make sugarcane juice and
molasses.
Most rum produced is made from molasses. Within the
Caribbean, much of this molasses is from Brazil. A notable
exception is the French-speaking islands, where sugarcane
juice is the preferred base ingredient. In Brazil itself, the
distilled alcoholic beverage derived from cane juice is
distinguished from rum and called cachaça.
8. Distillation
As with all other aspects of rum production, no
standard method is used for distillation. While
some producers work in batches using pot
stills, most rum production is done using
column still distillation.
Aging and blending
Many countries require rum to be aged for at
least one year. This aging is commonly
performed in used bourbon casks, but may also
be performed in other types of wooden casks or
stainless steel tanks. The aging process
determines the color of the rum. When aged in
oak casks, it becomes dark, whereas rum aged
in stainless steel tanks remains virtually
colorless.
9. GRADES OF RUM
Dark Rum
Flavored Rum
Gold Rum
Light Rum
Overproof Rum
Premium Rum
Spiced Rum
10. BRANDS OF
RUM
Bacardi
McDowell’s No. 1 Celebration
Captain Morgan
Havana Club
Brugal
Cacique
Contessa
Madira
Montilla
Appleton