Gin is a distilled alcoholic spirit that is predominantly flavored with juniper berries, giving it its distinct pine-like, herbal taste. Here are the main characteristics that define gin:

1. Base Spirit: Gin is usually made from a neutral grain spirit, which is then infused or redistilled with botanicals.

2. Primary Flavor: The dominant flavor in gin must be juniper berries, though many gins incorporate a variety of other botanicals such as coriander, citrus peels, angelica root, and cardamom.

3. Distillation Process: Gin is typically produced by either steeping botanicals in the base spirit (infusion) or passing vapor through the botanicals during distillation to extract flavors.

4. Types of Gin: There are several styles of gin, including London Dry, Plymouth, Old Tom, and Contemporary or New Western gins, each varying in flavor intensity and sweetness.

5. Alcohol Content: Gin is usually bottled at a strength of at least 40% ABV.

Gin is widely known for its use in classic cocktails like the gin and tonic, martini, and negroni.


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