Britain had a Dutch King William III, in 1688. While the gentry were already avid gin drinkers, his accession prompted more English people to start drinking gin as an act of patriotism.
When did gin became popular in England?
1688
Although this development had been taking place since the early 17th century, gin became widespread after the 1688 Glorious Revolution led by William of Orange and subsequent import restrictions on French brandy. Gin subsequently emerged as the national alcoholic drink of England.
Why do Brits drink gin and tonic?
Tonic water thus became an essential part of Britain’s colonialism, though its taste in those days was bitter and harsh. Brits soon found that the addition of gin, sugar, ice, and citrus was the perfect way to temper the bitterness and make the cure palatable.
How did gin become so popular?
Rumor has it that, in medieval times, peasants downed it to ward off the plague. From there, it became part of their culture—nay, brand: the world’s most famous gins, like Beefeater and Gordon’s, are all British. Simply put: if anyone is going to drink gin, it’ll be the Brits.
Is gin a British thing?
Like many of Britain’s national favourites, gin did not originate on our shores. In fact, if you don’t count the Italian monks who are thought to have used juniper berries as flavourings in distilled spirits back in the 11th century, it’s Holland that’s credited as the birthplace of gin.
Which country drinks the most gin?
Per capita, people in the Philippines drink more gin than any other country in the world.
Why is gin called Mother’s ruin?
The gin obsession was blamed for misery, rising crime, madness, higher death rates and falling birth rates. Gin joints allowed women to drink alongside men for the first time and it is thought this led many women neglecting their children and turning to prostitution, hence gin becoming known as ‘Mother’s Ruin’.
What does Queen Elizabeth mix with her gin?
Dubonnet
Elizabeth II was known to love a Dubonnet, a French drink by Pernod Ricard which combines fortified wine with herbs and spices – so much so that she gave it a Royal Warrant in November 2021. She preferred a cocktail of two parts Dubonnet to one part gin, garnished with lemon.
What did English soldiers call gin?
In English, ‘genever‘ became gin and an English obsession was born as it made its way back with the soldiers. This is also thought to be where the term ‘Dutch courage’ comes from, referencing Dutch soldiers reportedly enjoying a stiff drink of gin before a battle to bolster their morale.
What are the benefits of eating gin?
The juniper berries in gin contain flavonoids, which can clean clogged arteries. It can also reinforce the connective tissues of the veins. Having moderate amounts of gin every day (one small glass) can decrease the risk of heart attacks and cardiovascular diseases.
What age drinks gin the most?
Amongst gin drinkers, women aged 18-34 are most likely to drink it at least once a month (62%) compared with older women and men of all ages.
Why are people obsessed with gin?
Versatility. One of the great things about gin is that it is highly versatile and really quite exciting. Depending on the manner of which it is distilled and processed, it can take on many different strengths, tones and tastes. Gin’s flavour can also be easily transformed by adding various botanical infusions.
Who drinks gin in UK?
The over-70s were the biggest gin drinkers, with 21% consuming gin daily and 56% consuming gin two to three times per week. In contrast, 18 to 24 year olds drank less often but considered themselves more knowledgeable, with 62% of the demographic classing themselves as ‘gin experts.
Is gin nicer than vodka?
Gin’s got ’em, vodka doesn’t. This is what gives gin its distinctively bracing flavor that some people find delightful and others liken to paint thinner. Vodka, on the other hand, is meant to be pure, the “water of life,” unsullied by earthly adjectives like color, odor, and flavor.
How do the British drink their gin?
A fruit cup is an absolute British classic; typically a gin-based fruit concoction which is intended to be made into a long drink by the addition of a mixer like lemonade or ginger ale. The most common brand of fruit cup is Pimms, you can’t get more iconic than Pimms and lemonade.
Is gin stronger than vodka?
For a gin to be a gin, there must be at least 37.5% of pure alcohol in the total volume of liquid. Look for the ABV percentage on the next bottle you pick up. Sing Gin sits at a nicely-rounded 40%. Vodka’s minimum alcohol content is the same – around 35% – but note the word ‘minimum’!
Which country gets drunk the most?
Here are the 10 countries with the most alcohol consumption:
- Germany – 12.79 liters/year.
- Lithuania – 12.78 liters/year.
- Ireland – 12.75 liters/year.
- Spain – 12.67 liters/year.
- Uganda – 12.48 liters/year.
- Bulgaria – 12.46 liters/year.
- Luxembourg – 12.45 liters/year.
- Romania – 12.34 liters/year.
What is the gin capital of the world?
The best gin bars in London
“As a London-based company, we’re used to seeing Brits having a tipple or two in the city bars,” says Lee Thompson, co-founder here at Flash Pack. “So, we’re proud to see the city crowned the gin capital of the world.
Where is the best gin in the world?
10 of the best gins from around the world from the IWSC 2022
- Mt.
- Herno Gin, Navy Strength Gin.
- Revsunds Distillery, Mylta Cask Edition 2021 Gin.
- Skrea Backe, Ocean Strength Gin.
- Triple Eight Distillery, Gale Force Gin.
- Matsui Shuzo, The Hakuto Premium Matsui Gin.
- Garage 22 Prague Distillery, Gin 22 Dry Gin.
Why is gin worse than vodka?
Vodka has a smooth, clean, neutral taste whereas gin has more complexity from the juniper and other botanicals. By law, all gins must contain juniper but the amount of juniper varies by brand with London Dry gins having a pronounced juniper-forward taste.
Is gin more of a depressant than vodka?
So I went digging to find where this widespread and seemingly nonsensical gin myths came from. Gincredibly, I found that there absolutely no basis for the myth that gin is any more a depressant than any other spirit.