Decoding A Gin Bottle: All The Label Terms You Need To Know
Gin is an excellent addition to a number of different cocktails. Its botanical flavours lend the spirit a bright quality, making the liquor a great base for floral and citrusy cocktails. But which one to choose from a plethora of different gins out there requires careful consideration.
Yet, for an amateur this might seem like a daunting task which involves reading the labels on the botanical spirit’s bottles to decode the different characteristics the gin embodies.
Take a look below at the breakdown of different label terms present on the gin bottle that would enable a novice to make more informed choices about which spirit variation to buy:
How do the different production styles make themselves known on a gin bottle?
Generally, a gin bottle comes with a lot of terms which signify the style of production used to distill the spirit. Here’s a look at some of these methods which the labels make known:
– London Dry: This gin is not about geography! Rather it is a production style in which all botanical flavours, mainly juniper, are added during distillation and no artificial sweetener is added afterwards. This is a spirit with crisp flavours and a dry finish.
– Distilled Gin: Similar to London Dry gin, in this too, the botanicals are added during distillation, but there is some scope for infusing flavourings or sweeteners afterwards, lending the spirit a floral or citrusy edge.
– Navy Gin: This is a high proof gin with robust flavours. It is an excellent addition to cocktails wherein adding other ingredients can dilute the gin’s more pronounced flavours.
What does ‘small batch’ on a gin’s label mean?
Small batch generally refers to gin produced in limited quantities, often by craft distillers. This involves experimental blends, an artisanal character and the infusion of some lesser-known botanicals.
What does ‘botanical’ mean on a gin’s label?
Botanicals are the herbs, spices, fruits or floral elements that give gin its flavour. While juniper is the most prominent ingredient in the botanicals roster, coriander, cardamom, citrus peels and lavender can also be infused in the spirit along with spices like cinnamon and black pepper.
Also Read: Decoding Gin’s Botanicals: Which Herbs And Spices Create Flavours?
What is a flavoured gin?
Put simply, this is a gin in which additional fruit, spice or herbal flavourings are infused after distillation. Rhubarb gin, berry gin or Indian-inspired masala gin are simple examples of flavoured gin. These are sweeter, often layered drinks, which are interesting base ingredients in spritzers and certain floral cocktails.
What does ABV mean on a gin bottle?
ABV or alcohol by volume essentially points to the percentage of pure liquor in the spirit. This percentage enables an amateur to gauge how high-proof or robust the gin is and make an informed decision about which one to choose, depending on their cocktail requirements.
Does the word ‘dry’ on gin always mean ‘not sweet’?
In a way, yes. This is because dry generally refers to the absence of added sugar in the spirit. London dry is the driest of gin variations whereas others might carry a certain subtle, sweet taste on account of their botanical nuances.
So, which are the essential terms to look out for while buying gin?
Here are the primary terms to trace on a gin bottle to find out more about its style and flavour, and determine which one to buy based on the cocktails the spirit will be used to prepare:
Style: London Dry, Distilled Gin, Navy Gin (for the robustness of the gin).
Small Batch: For the craft that goes into making the spirit, and how artisanal the spirit is.
Botanicals: To trace the flavour profile of the spirit and find out which botanicals are used to build the tasting notes of the liquor.
ABV: To gauge how high or low proof the spirit is and then determine which cocktails it can be used to prepare.
Drink Responsibly. This communication is for audiences above the age of 25.
