What is a Gin Style?
- Wayne Munday
- Jan 21, 2021
- 1 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
Gin is today available in a variety of styles, each with its own distinct character that intends to make the most of its particular flavour profile.
From the classical times of ancient Greece to the modern-day gin has evolved into a number of different styles determined by the quality of the juniper berries used, and the way in which gin is distilled and crafted with a choice of organic botanicals.
A gin style describes the distinctive flavour profile, production method, and botanical balance that shape how a gin performs in cocktails. These styles emerge from the dominant botanicals—whether juniper-led London Dry, citrus-forward expressions, herbal or spiced blends, floral profiles, or contemporary gins where juniper plays a softer role.
Production techniques further influence character, distinguishing classic London Dry gins from distilled or compound gins, each offering varying levels of intensity and aromatic depth. The spirit base also contributes to style, with grain producing a clean, neutral canvas, grape introducing softness and fruitiness, and sugarcane adding sweetness and roundness.
Regional traditions reinforce these differences, from the earthy qualities of Plymouth Gin and the historic sweetness of Old Tom to the bold high-proof Navy Strength and the botanically rich Japanese and Nordic gins. While gin styles vary widely, regulatory definitions still apply, with minimum ABV levels of 37.5% in the EU and 40% in the United States guiding what may legally be classified as gin.
