Gin, which is distilled from grain, receives its flavor and aroma from juniper berries and other botanicals. (Every gin producer has his own special recipe)
Most gin is colorless, though some brands may be golden or straw-yellow because of aging in barrels. Even though a distiller ages his gin. He cannot, by law, make age claims for his product. Gin sold around the world at 80 proof is bottled in this country at proofs varying from 80 to 94.
DRY GIN – merely signifies that the gin lacks sweetness.
VACUUM-DISTILLED DRY GIN – is distilled in a glass-lined vacuum still at a low 90° Fahrenheit temperature (instead of at the usual 212°), capturing only the light, volatile flavors and aromas without the bitterness found in some gins.
LONDON DRY GIN – originated in England and is now considered a generic term and may appear on American-made gins as well. Dry gins from England are inclined to be a little heavier-bodied.
GOLDEN GIN – is a dry gin which, due to aging in wood, has acquired a golden color.
HOLLAND, GENEVA OR SCHIEDAM GINS – are imported from Holland, where gin originated, are highly flavored and rich in aromatic oils; they do not mix well with other ingredients in cocktails.
OLD TOM GIN – is an English gin that has been sweetened with sugar syrup.
FLAVORED GIN – is a sweet gin usually flavored with orange, lemon or mint.
SLOE GIN – is not a gin at all but a liqueur.