Gin is a spirit which derives its predominant flavour from juniper
berries (Juniperus communis).
In fact it got it's name from either the French genièvre or
the Dutch jenever, which both mean “juniper”.
Gin, like so many things (Coca-Cola and ketchup come to mind), was
originally produced as a medicine.
By the 11th century, Italian monks were flavoring crudely distilled
spirits with juniper berries.
During the Black Death, this drink was used, although ineffectively, as
a remedy.
As the science of distillation advanced from the Middle Ages into the
Renaissance period, juniper was one of many botanicals employed by
virtue of its perfume, flavour, and purported medicinal properties.
From its earliest beginnings in the Middle Ages, gin has evolved over
the course of a millennium from an herbal medicine to an object of
commerce in the spirits industry.
Today, the gin category is one of the most popular and widely
distributed range of spirits, and is represented by products of various
origins, styles, and flavor profiles that all revolve around juniper as
a common ingredient.
