The

HIstory

of Gin

THIS IS HOW THE STORY GOES...

THE 9 STORIES OF GIN

 

Click the image for the History of Gin mixology

DARK ARTS

As a word, gin is derived from the French genievre and the Dutch jenever and its earliest history can be traced back to similar concoctions made by medieval monks in the 11th and 12th centuries. These gin-like liquors were crafted by heating wine in primitive contraptions in an attempt by the monks to discover more about these "waters of life".

BLACK DEATH

The 14th century brought with it the infamous Black Plague, striking Europe and Asia and decimating it’s citizens in droves. Doctors turned to gin ingredients as remedies, and medicine men donned duckbilled masks filled with juniper berries in a misguided attempt to ward off the plague. Juniper-laced cordials were also imbibed in the feeble hope that it would protect those exposed against the horrors of disease.

New and Improved

In the 1500’s along came the Dutch and refined gin – as we know it today – by inventing juniper-based distilled infusions. Or at least, some give them the credit. Fast forward to the 17th Century, and juniper-based cordials, such as jenever, were sold in pharmacies to treat gastric and kidney disorders.

Dutch Courage

An audacious expression still used today, the phrase was born out of the Thirty Years’ War between Holland, France, England and Spain in the 17th century as English soldiers would drink gin for valour before entering battle.

London Calling

An unescapable gin craze hit London in the 18th Century and to meet the heady consumption, the liquor was made in every vessel conceivable - even bathtubs! Unfortunately, the gin produced was often poor quality and sometimes had a ghostly blue tinge, coining descriptions such as "blue ruin". Phrases such as “Mother’s ruin” and “ladies delight” were birthed in this era too due to women’s reported love of gin.

The Cat’s Meow

Gin incited strange practice. In 1783, a man nailed a cat-shaped sign in his friend’s window with a lead pipe concealed under a paw. Patrons would whisper “puss”, and if they were greeted with a “meow”, they’d feed coins into the cat’s mouth. Their reward would be gin that trickled out from under the cat’s paw into an awaiting cup – or simply an open mouth.

Upstanding Citizen

In the 19th century gin became respectable, and the drink of choice for gentlefolk. Beautifully-appointed establishments licenced to serve alcohol, sold gin to those of good breeding, and the distillation and selling of refined gin products gave rise to the term "London Dry Gin."

The Roaring 20’s and Beyond

The rich and famous all clamoured for gin in the 1920’s. Whether sipped aboard Cunard cruise liners that crossed oceans, or made into fashionable Gin Rickeys a la 'The Great Gatsby', the glamour associated with gin and it’s bars around the globe was testament to the gin revolution. The 50’s did great things for the drink too when world-famous suave spy James Bond appeared on the big screen, martini in hand. Shaken, not stirred of course.

The Creation of Craft

2010 - 2019 brought exciting industry buzz; enter the world of craft gin. Popular in South Africa and the UK, this boom has meant a dizzying array of additions to an

ever-expanding category. Gin, happily, is here to stay.

2018 © Autograph Distillery

The

HIstory

of Gin

THIS IS HOW THE STORY GOES...

THE 9 STORIES OF GIN

 

Click the image for the History of Gin mixology

DARK ARTS

As a word, gin is derived from the French genievre and the Dutch jenever and its earliest history can be traced back to similar concoctions made by medieval monks in the 11th and 12th centuries. These gin-like liquors were crafted by heating wine in primitive contraptions in an attempt by the monks to discover more about these "waters of life".

BLACK DEATH

The 14th century brought with it the infamous Black Plague, striking Europe and Asia and decimating it’s citizens in droves. Doctors turned to gin ingredients as remedies, and medicine men donned duckbilled masks filled with juniper berries in a misguided attempt to ward off the plague. Juniper-laced cordials were also imbibed in the feeble hope that it would protect those exposed against the horrors of disease.

New and Improved

In the 1500’s along came the Dutch and refined gin – as we know it today – by inventing juniper-based distilled infusions. Or at least, some give them the credit. Fast forward to the 17th Century, and juniper-based cordials, such as jenever, were sold in pharmacies to treat gastric and kidney disorders.

Dutch Courage

An audacious expression still used today, the phrase was born out of the Thirty Years’ War between Holland, France, England and Spain in the 17th century as English soldiers would drink gin for valour before entering battle.

London Calling

An unescapable gin craze hit London in the 18th Century and to meet the heady consumption, the liquor was made in every vessel conceivable - even bathtubs! Unfortunately, the gin produced was often poor quality and sometimes had a ghostly blue tinge, coining descriptions such as "blue ruin". Phrases such as “Mother’s ruin” and “ladies delight” were birthed in this era too due to women’s reported love of gin.

The Cat’s Meow

Gin incited strange practice. In 1783, a man nailed a cat-shaped sign in his friend’s window with a lead pipe concealed under a paw. Patrons would whisper “puss”, and if they were greeted with a “meow”, they’d feed coins into the cat’s mouth. Their reward would be gin that trickled out from under the cat’s paw into an awaiting cup – or simply an open mouth.

Upstanding Citizen

In the 19th century gin became respectable, and the drink of choice for gentlefolk. Beautifully-appointed establishments licenced to serve alcohol, sold gin to those of good breeding, and the distillation and selling of refined gin products gave rise to the term "London Dry Gin."

The Roaring 20’s and Beyond

The rich and famous all clamoured for gin in the 1920’s. Whether sipped aboard Cunard cruise liners that crossed oceans, or made into fashionable Gin Rickeys a la 'The Great Gatsby', the glamour associated with gin and it’s bars around the globe was testament to the gin revolution. The 50’s did great things for the drink too when world-famous suave spy James Bond appeared on the big screen, martini in hand. Shaken, not stirred of course.

The Creation of Craft

2010 - 2019 brought exciting industry buzz; enter the world of craft gin. Popular in South Africa and the UK, this boom has meant a dizzying array of additions to an

ever-expanding category. Gin, happily, is here to stay.

The

HIstory

of Gin

THIS IS HOW THE STORY GOES...

THE 9 STORIES OF GIN

 

Click the image for the History of Gin mixology

DARK ARTS

As a word, gin is derived from the French genievre and the Dutch jenever and its earliest history can be traced back to similar concoctions made by medieval monks in the 11th and 12th centuries. These gin-like liquors were crafted by heating wine in primitive contraptions in an attempt by the monks to discover more about these "waters of life".

BLACK DEATH

The 14th century brought with it the infamous Black Plague, striking Europe and Asia and decimating it’s citizens in droves. Doctors turned to gin ingredients as remedies, and medicine men donned duckbilled masks filled with juniper berries in a misguided attempt to ward off the plague. Juniper-laced cordials were also imbibed in the feeble hope that it would protect those exposed against the horrors of disease.

New and Improved

In the 1500’s along came the Dutch and refined gin – as we know it today – by inventing juniper-based distilled infusions. Or at least, some give them the credit. Fast forward to the 17th Century, and juniper-based cordials, such as jenever, were sold in pharmacies to treat gastric and kidney disorders.

Dutch Courage

An audacious expression still used today, the phrase was born out of the Thirty Years’ War between Holland, France, England and Spain in the 17th century as English soldiers would drink gin for valour before entering battle.

London Calling

An unescapable gin craze hit London in the 18th Century and to meet the heady consumption, the liquor was made in every vessel conceivable - even bathtubs! Unfortunately, the gin produced was often poor quality and sometimes had a ghostly blue tinge, coining descriptions such as "blue ruin". Phrases such as “Mother’s ruin” and “ladies delight” were birthed in this era too due to women’s reported love of gin.

The Cat’s Meow

Gin incited strange practice. In 1783, a man nailed a cat-shaped sign in his friend’s window with a lead pipe concealed under a paw. Patrons would whisper “puss”, and if they were greeted with a “meow”, they’d feed coins into the cat’s mouth. Their reward would be gin that trickled out from under the cat’s paw into an awaiting cup – or simply an open mouth.

Upstanding Citizen

In the 19th century gin became respectable, and the drink of choice for gentlefolk. Beautifully-appointed establishments licenced to serve alcohol, sold gin to those of good breeding, and the distillation and selling of refined gin products gave rise to the term "London Dry Gin."

The Roaring 20’s and Beyond

The rich and famous all clamoured for gin in the 1920’s. Whether sipped aboard Cunard cruise liners that crossed oceans, or made into fashionable Gin Rickeys a la 'The Great Gatsby', the glamour associated with gin and it’s bars around the globe was testament to the gin revolution. The 50’s did great things for the drink too when world-famous suave spy James Bond appeared on the big screen, martini in hand. Shaken, not stirred of course.

The Creation of Craft

2010 - 2019 brought exciting industry buzz; enter the world of craft gin. Popular in South Africa and the UK, this boom has meant a dizzying array of additions to an

ever-expanding category. Gin, happily, is here to stay.

The

HIstory

of Gin

THIS IS HOW

THE STORY GOES...

THE 9 STORIES OF GIN

Click the image for the History of Gin mixology

DARK ARTS

As a word, gin is derived from the French genievre and the Dutch jenever and its earliest history can be traced back to similar concoctions made by medieval monks in the 11th and 12th centuries. These gin-like liquors were crafted by heating wine in primitive contraptions in an attempt by the monks to discover more about these "waters of life".

BLACK DEATH

The 14th century brought with it the infamous Black Plague, striking Europe and Asia and decimating it’s citizens in droves. Doctors turned to gin ingredients as remedies, and medicine men donned duckbilled masks filled with juniper berries in a misguided attempt to ward off the plague. Juniper-laced cordials were also imbibed in the feeble hope that it would protect those exposed against the horrors of disease.

New and Improved

In the 1500’s along came the Dutch and refined gin – as we know it today – by inventing juniper-based distilled infusions. Or at least, some give them the credit. Fast forward to the 17th Century, and juniper-based cordials, such as jenever, were sold in pharmacies to treat gastric and kidney disorders.

Dutch Courage

An audacious expression still used today, the phrase was born out of the Thirty Years’ War between Holland, France, England and Spain in the 17th century as English soldiers would drink gin for valour before entering battle.

London Calling

An unescapable gin craze hit London in the 18th Century and to meet the heady consumption, the liquor was made in every vessel conceivable - even bathtubs! Unfortunately, the gin produced was often poor quality and sometimes had a ghostly blue tinge, coining descriptions such as "blue ruin". Phrases such as “Mother’s ruin” and “ladies delight” were birthed in this era too due to women’s reported love of gin.

The Cat’s Meow

Gin incited strange practice. In 1783, a man nailed a cat-shaped sign in his friend’s window with a lead pipe concealed under a paw. Patrons would whisper “puss”, and if they were greeted with a “meow”, they’d feed coins into the cat’s mouth. Their reward would be gin that trickled out from under the cat’s paw into an awaiting cup – or simply an open mouth.

Upstanding Citizen

In the 19th century gin became respectable, and the drink of choice for gentlefolk. Beautifully-appointed establishments licenced to serve alcohol, sold gin to those of good breeding, and the distillation and selling of refined gin products gave rise to the term "London Dry Gin."

The Roaring 20’s and Beyond

The rich and famous all clamoured for gin in the 1920’s. Whether sipped aboard Cunard cruise liners that crossed oceans, or made into fashionable Gin Rickeys a la 'The Great Gatsby', the glamour associated with gin and it’s bars around the globe was testament to the gin revolution. The 50’s did great things for the drink too when world-famous suave spy James Bond appeared on the big screen, martini in hand. Shaken, not stirred of course.

The Creation of Craft

2010 - 2019 brought exciting industry buzz; enter the world of craft gin. Popular in South Africa and the UK, this boom has meant a dizzying array of additions to an ever-expanding category. Gin, happily, is here to stay.

The

HIstory

of Gin

THIS IS HOW THE STORY GOES...

THE 9 STORIES OF GIN

Click the image for the History of Gin mixology

DARK ARTS

As a word, gin is derived from the French genievre and the Dutch jenever and its earliest history can be traced back to similar concoctions made by medieval monks in the 11th and 12th centuries. These gin-like liquors were crafted by heating wine in primitive contraptions in an attempt by the monks to discover more about these "waters of life".

BLACK DEATH

The 14th century brought with it the infamous Black Plague, striking Europe and Asia and decimating it’s citizens in droves. Doctors turned to gin ingredients as remedies, and medicine men donned duckbilled masks filled with juniper berries in a misguided attempt to ward off the plague. Juniper-laced cordials were also imbibed in the feeble hope that it would protect those exposed against the horrors of disease.

New and Improved

In the 1500’s along came the Dutch and refined gin – as we know it today – by inventing juniper-based distilled infusions. Or at least, some give them the credit. Fast forward to the 17th Century, and juniper-based cordials, such as jenever, were sold in pharmacies to treat gastric and kidney disorders.

Dutch Courage

An audacious expression still used today, the phrase was born out of the Thirty Years’ War between Holland, France, England and Spain in the 17th century as English soldiers would drink gin for valour before entering battle.

London Calling

An unescapable gin craze hit London in the 18th Century and to meet the heady consumption, the liquor was made in every vessel conceivable - even bathtubs! Unfortunately, the gin produced was often poor quality and sometimes had a ghostly blue tinge, coining descriptions such as "blue ruin". Phrases such as “Mother’s ruin” and “ladies delight” were birthed in this era too due to women’s reported love of gin.

The Cat’s Meow

Gin incited strange practice. In 1783, a man nailed a cat-shaped sign in his friend’s window with a lead pipe concealed under a paw. Patrons would whisper “puss”, and if they were greeted with a “meow”, they’d feed coins into the cat’s mouth. Their reward would be gin that trickled out from under the cat’s paw into an awaiting cup – or simply an open mouth.

Upstanding Citizen

In the 19th century gin became respectable, and the drink of choice for gentlefolk. Beautifully-appointed establishments licenced to serve alcohol, sold gin to those of good breeding, and the distillation and selling of refined gin products gave rise to the term "London Dry Gin."

The Roaring 20’s and Beyond

The rich and famous all clamoured for gin in the 1920’s. Whether sipped aboard Cunard cruise liners that crossed oceans, or made into fashionable Gin Rickeys a la 'The Great Gatsby', the glamour associated with gin and it’s bars around the globe was testament to the gin revolution. The 50’s did great things for the drink too when world-famous suave spy James Bond appeared on the big screen, martini in hand. Shaken, not stirred of course.

The Creation of Craft

2010 - 2019 brought exciting industry buzz; enter the world of craft gin. Popular in South Africa and the UK, this boom has meant a dizzying array of additions to an ever-expanding category. Gin, happily, is here to stay.

THE

HIstory

OF GIN

THIS IS HOW THE STORY GOES...

THE 9 STORIES OF GIN

Click the image for the History of Gin mixology

DARK ARTS

As a word, gin is derived from the French genievre and the Dutch jenever and its earliest history can be traced back to similar concoctions made by medieval monks in the 11th and 12th centuries. These gin-like liquors were crafted by heating wine in primitive contraptions in an attempt by the monks to discover more about these "waters of life".

BLACK DEATH

The 14th century brought with it the infamous Black Plague, striking Europe and Asia and decimating it’s citizens in droves. Doctors turned to gin ingredients as remedies, and medicine men donned duckbilled masks filled with juniper berries in a misguided attempt to ward off the plague. Juniper-laced cordials were also imbibed in the feeble hope that it would protect those exposed against the horrors of disease.

New and Improved

In the 1500’s along came the Dutch and refined gin – as we know it today – by inventing juniper-based distilled infusions. Or at least, some give them the credit. Fast forward to the 17th Century, and juniper-based cordials, such as jenever, were sold in pharmacies to treat gastric and kidney disorders.

Dutch Courage

An audacious expression still used today, the phrase was born out of the Thirty Years’ War between Holland, France, England and Spain in the 17th century as English soldiers would drink gin for valour before entering battle.

London

Calling

An unescapable gin craze hit London in the 18th Century and to meet the heady consumption, the liquor was made in every vessel conceivable - even bathtubs! Unfortunately, the gin produced was often poor quality and sometimes had a ghostly blue tinge, coining descriptions such as "blue ruin". Phrases such as “Mother’s ruin” and “ladies delight” were birthed in this era too due to women’s reported love of gin.

The Cat’s Meow

Gin incited strange practice. In 1783, a man nailed a cat-shaped sign in his friend’s window with a lead pipe concealed under a paw. Patrons would whisper “puss”, and if they were greeted with a “meow”, they’d feed coins into the cat’s mouth. Their reward would be gin that trickled out from under the cat’s paw into an awaiting cup – or simply an open mouth.

Upstanding Citizen

In the 19th century gin became respectable, and the drink of choice for gentlefolk. Beautifully-appointed establishments licenced to serve alcohol, sold gin to those of good breeding, and the distillation and selling of refined gin products gave rise to the term "London Dry Gin."

The Roaring 20’s and Beyond

The rich and famous all clamoured for gin in the 1920’s. Whether sipped aboard Cunard cruise liners that crossed oceans, or made into fashionable Gin Rickeys a la 'The Great Gatsby', the glamour associated with gin and it’s bars around the globe was testament to the gin revolution. The 50’s did great things for the drink too when world-famous suave spy James Bond appeared on the big screen, martini in hand. Shaken, not stirred of course.

The Creation of Craft

2010 - 2019 brought exciting industry buzz; enter the world of craft gin. Popular in South Africa and the UK, this boom has meant a dizzying array of additions to an ever-expanding category. Gin, happily, is here to stay.

THE

HIstory

OF GIN

THIS IS HOW THE STORY GOES...

THE 9 STORIES OF GIN

Click the image for the History of Gin mixology

DARK ARTS

As a word, gin is derived from the French genievre and the Dutch jenever and its earliest history can be traced back to similar concoctions made by medieval monks in the 11th and 12th centuries. These gin-like liquors were crafted by heating wine in primitive contraptions in an attempt by the monks to discover more about these "waters of life".

BLACK DEATH

The 14th century brought with it the infamous Black Plague, striking Europe and Asia and decimating it’s citizens in droves. Doctors turned to gin ingredients as remedies, and medicine men donned duckbilled masks filled with juniper berries in a misguided attempt to ward off the plague. Juniper-laced cordials were also imbibed in the feeble hope that it would protect those exposed against the horrors of disease.

New and Improved

In the 1500’s along came the Dutch and refined gin – as we know it today – by inventing juniper-based distilled infusions. Or at least, some give them the credit. Fast forward to the 17th Century, and juniper-based cordials, such as jenever, were sold in pharmacies to treat gastric and kidney disorders.

Dutch Courage

An audacious expression still used today, the phrase was born out of the Thirty Years’ War between Holland, France, England and Spain in the 17th century as English soldiers would drink gin for valour before entering battle.

London

Calling

An unescapable gin craze hit London in the 18th Century and to meet the heady consumption, the liquor was made in every vessel conceivable - even bathtubs! Unfortunately, the gin produced was often poor quality and sometimes had a ghostly blue tinge, coining descriptions such as "blue ruin". Phrases such as “Mother’s ruin” and “ladies delight” were birthed in this era too due to women’s reported love of gin.

The Cat’s Meow

Gin incited strange practice. In 1783, a man nailed a cat-shaped sign in his friend’s window with a lead pipe concealed under a paw. Patrons would whisper “puss”, and if they were greeted with a “meow”, they’d feed coins into the cat’s mouth. Their reward would be gin that trickled out from under the cat’s paw into an awaiting cup – or simply an open mouth.

Upstanding Citizen

In the 19th century gin became respectable, and the drink of choice for gentlefolk. Beautifully-appointed establishments licenced to serve alcohol, sold gin to those of good breeding, and the distillation and selling of refined gin products gave rise to the term "London Dry Gin."

The Roaring 20’s and Beyond

The rich and famous all clamoured for gin in the 1920’s. Whether sipped aboard Cunard cruise liners that crossed oceans, or made into fashionable Gin Rickeys a la 'The Great Gatsby', the glamour associated with gin and it’s bars around the globe was testament to the gin revolution. The 50’s did great things for the drink too when world-famous suave spy James Bond appeared on the big screen, martini in hand. Shaken, not stirred of course.

The Creation of Craft

2010 - 2019 brought exciting industry buzz; enter the world of craft gin. Popular in South Africa and the UK, this boom has meant a dizzying array of additions to an ever-expanding category. Gin, happily, is here to stay.

THE

HISTORY

OF GIN

THIS IS HOW THE STORY GOES...

THE 9 STORIES OF GIN

Click the image for the History of Gin mixology

DARK ARTS

As a word, gin is derived from the French genievre and the Dutch jenever and its earliest history can be traced back to similar concoctions made by medieval monks in the 11th and 12th centuries. These gin-like liquors were crafted by heating wine in primitive contraptions in an attempt by the monks to discover more about these "waters of life".

BLACK DEATH

The 14th century brought with it the infamous Black Plague, striking Europe and Asia and decimating it’s citizens in droves. Doctors turned to gin ingredients as remedies, and medicine men donned duckbilled masks filled with juniper berries in a misguided attempt to ward off the plague. Juniper-laced cordials were also imbibed in the feeble hope that it would protect those exposed against the horrors of disease.

NEW & IMPROVED

In the 1500’s along came the Dutch and refined gin – as we know it today – by inventing juniper-based distilled infusions. Or at least, some give them the credit. Fast forward to the 17th Century, and juniper-based cordials, such as jenever, were sold in pharmacies to treat gastric and kidney disorders.

"DUTCH COURAGE"

An audacious expression still used today, the phrase was born out of the Thirty Years’ War between Holland, France, England and Spain in the 17th century as English soldiers would drink gin for valour before entering battle.

LONDON CALLING

An unescapable gin craze hit London in the 18th Century and to meet the heady consumption, the liquor was made in every vessel conceivable - even bathtubs! Unfortunately, the gin produced was often poor quality and sometimes had a ghostly blue tinge, coining descriptions such as "blue ruin". Phrases such as “Mother’s ruin” and “ladies delight” were birthed in this era too due to women’s reported love of gin.

THE CAT'S
MEOW

Gin incited strange practice. In 1783, a man nailed a cat-shaped sign in his friend’s window with a lead pipe concealed under a paw. Patrons would whisper “puss”, and if they were greeted with a “meow”, they’d feed coins into the cat’s mouth. Their reward would be gin that trickled out from under the cat’s paw into an awaiting cup – or simply an open mouth.

UPSTANDING CITIZEN

In the 19th century gin became respectable, and the drink of choice for gentlefolk. Beautifully-appointed establishments licenced to serve alcohol, sold gin to those of good breeding, and the distillation and selling of refined gin products gave rise to the term "London Dry Gin."

The Roaring 20’s and Beyond

The rich and famous all clamoured for gin in the 1920’s. Whether sipped aboard Cunard cruise liners that crossed oceans, or made into fashionable Gin Rickeys a la 'The Great Gatsby', the glamour associated with gin and it’s bars around the globe was testament to the gin revolution. The 50’s did great things for the drink too when world-famous suave spy James Bond appeared on the big screen, martini in hand. Shaken, not stirred of course.

The Creation of Craft

2010 - 2019 brought exciting industry buzz; enter the world of craft gin. Popular in South Africa and the UK, this boom has meant a dizzying array of additions to an ever-expanding category. Gin, happily, is here to stay.

THE

HISTORY

OF GIN

THIS IS HOW THE STORY GOES...

THE 9 STORIES OF GIN

Click the image for the History of Gin mixology

DARK ARTS

As a word, gin is derived from the French genievre and the Dutch jenever and its earliest history can be traced back to similar concoctions made by medieval monks in the 11th and 12th centuries. These gin-like liquors were crafted by heating wine in primitive contraptions in an attempt by the monks to discover more about these "waters of life".

BLACK DEATH

The 14th century brought with it the infamous Black Plague, striking Europe and Asia and decimating it’s citizens in droves. Doctors turned to gin ingredients as remedies, and medicine men donned duckbilled masks filled with juniper berries in a misguided attempt to ward off the plague. Juniper-laced cordials were also imbibed in the feeble hope that it would protect those exposed against the horrors of disease.

NEW & IMPROVED

In the 1500’s along came the Dutch and refined gin – as we know it today – by inventing juniper-based distilled infusions. Or at least, some give them the credit. Fast forward to the 17th Century, and juniper-based cordials, such as jenever, were sold in pharmacies to treat gastric and kidney disorders.

"DUTCH COURAGE"

An audacious expression still used today, the phrase was born out of the Thirty Years’ War between Holland, France, England and Spain in the 17th century as English soldiers would drink gin for valour before entering battle.

LONDON CALLING

An unescapable gin craze hit London in the 18th Century and to meet the heady consumption, the liquor was made in every vessel conceivable - even bathtubs! Unfortunately, the gin produced was often poor quality and sometimes had a ghostly blue tinge, coining descriptions such as "blue ruin". Phrases such as “Mother’s ruin” and “ladies delight” were birthed in this era too due to women’s reported love of gin.

THE CAT'S
MEOW

Gin incited strange practice. In 1783, a man nailed a cat-shaped sign in his friend’s window with a lead pipe concealed under a paw. Patrons would whisper “puss”, and if they were greeted with a “meow”, they’d feed coins into the cat’s mouth. Their reward would be gin that trickled out from under the cat’s paw into an awaiting cup – or simply an open mouth.

UPSTANDING CITIZEN

In the 19th century gin became respectable, and the drink of choice for gentlefolk. Beautifully-appointed establishments licenced to serve alcohol, sold gin to those of good breeding, and the distillation and selling of refined gin products gave rise to the term "London Dry Gin."

The Roaring 20’s and Beyond

The rich and famous all clamoured for gin in the 1920’s. Whether sipped aboard Cunard cruise liners that crossed oceans, or made into fashionable Gin Rickeys a la 'The Great Gatsby', the glamour associated with gin and it’s bars around the globe was testament to the gin revolution. The 50’s did great things for the drink too when world-famous suave spy James Bond appeared on the big screen, martini in hand. Shaken, not stirred of course.

The Creation of Craft

2010 - 2019 brought exciting industry buzz; enter the world of craft gin. Popular in South Africa and the UK, this boom has meant a dizzying array of additions to an

ever-expanding category. Gin, happily, is here to stay.