COCKTAILS AND CUISINE WITH ADITI

S O M E G I N F A C T S T H A T Y O U M U S T K N O W !

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The gin fever is taking over everyone and how. Gin has garnered a lot of popularity in the past few years and has become a preferred choice of drink for many. Many brands are launching their products in the gin segment and a rapid growth has been observed.

I am sure there is no bar that you visit today that doesn ’t display a wide range of gin brands available with them, and not just gin, but the supporting categories of tonic water are also seeing a rise in the number of brands. So going with the flow, here are some interesting facts about our beloved gin that I thought of sharing with you all, hope you enjoy them while sipping your favourite gin and tonic. 1. While gin may be the national spirit of England, its origin is dated back to Holland. The British discovered genever while fighting the Dutch War of Independence in the 17th century and brought the spirit back with them. 2. The late 1600s was a period when genever was sold in pharmacies in holland. Franciscus Sylvius, a Dutch physician, created genever as medicine and his high-proof concoction was believed to improve circulation and other ailments. During the Dutch Independence War, it was given to soldiers and referred to as “Dutch Courage. ” 3. Tonic is as important as gin for the making of a quality gin and tonic. During the 19th century, Britishers began to move to India after the Sepoy Rebellion of 1857 and, subsequently, the popularity of Gin & Tonics increased. In efforts to avoid malaria, the demand for “Indian Tonic Water ” grew. Gin was added to the tonic water to mask the bitterness and enhance its taste. 4. The first cocktail listed in the first British cocktail book was a gin cocktail with ginger syrup, orange curaçao and bitters.

5. New York City in 1928 was all about GIN AND TOMATO JUICE for hangover relief. It was famous years before the vodka-based Bloody Mary made its debut at the King Cole Room in the St. Regis Hotel. 6. It is estimated that most of the Juniper used in gin are wild-picked. Almost none is cultivated. 7. While British sailors received daily rum rations, UK naval officers received daily gin rations 8. Contrary to the popular belief that Gin is most consumed in England, the Philippines is the country with the highest per capita consumption of gin in the world. It consumes an estimated 25 million cases annually. 9. A martini at Mayfair ’ s duke ' s hotel bar is often referred to as the best in the world. Drinks are mixed on a tableside trolley, and the bar maintains a strict two-Martini limit. 10. Did you know that a juniper berry without which a gin cannot be made is actually not a berry at all? It is a female seed cone, a highly evolved pinecone with fleshy and merged scales that give it the appearance of a berry.