Simply put, gin is a clear spirit made mostly from juniper berries. The name is short for genever, which is a dutch beverage made of whiskey and a juniper infused spirit. If this sounds familiar, it’s because genever is sort of like the great grandparent of gin. Essentially, gin is made from the same base ingredient as vodka. This base ingredient is grain alcohol, but it’s often referred to as neutral spirit. What makes them different is that gin has the inclusion of juniper and other botanical ingredients, like citrus or spices.

You may not know London dry gin by gin type, but you likely know it by brand. Heavy hitters in the gin world like Beefeater, Bombay and Tanqueray are all London dry gins. London dry gin is made by adding juniper to the grain alcohol base, and redistilling it with natural plant materials, like botanicals. Nothing is added after this process. Oddly, the special thing that makes London dry gin what it is, is not that it comes from London. It’s that no flavors can be added after final distillation. Otherwise, the spirit is disqualified from this elite group.

This liquor has a lot of history behind it. In the 1700s, there was a gin craze that made the industry very popular, but regulations were very low. So the spirit was being made using dangerous methods, making it almost undrinkable. After distillation, gin producers would add chemicals, coloring and artificial ingredients in an effort to mellow the harshness of the drink. This naturally harmed the quality of the gin. London dry gin was created to ensure gin drinkers a way to enjoy a quality spirit that wasn’t harsh on the palate or filled with chemicals. Because of this history, the gin industry, and London dry gin specifically, have very stiff regulations. Now, London dry gin is a beacon in the liquor industry.

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