Summer vibes are abuzz and the outside is calling you to add your flavour to the mix. While the Gaborone social calendar may become quite dizzying, very few events could match GinMe. A 9-hour-long affair starting in the late morning, anyone seeking to pack in fun but concerned about not wanting to be out until midnight has no excuse to miss it. On 1 November, merrymakers are invited to the Game City Marquee for what promises to be a blend of good music, delicious drinks, and relaxed festivities. It would be impolite to launch oneself into a world where gin takes centre stage without offering guidance to the age-old spirit.
Far from the rigid, pine-heavy reputations of the past, contemporary gin is a sophisticated, versatile spirit brimming with entrepreneurial temperament and diverse flavour profiles. Gin is a versatile, artisan spirit defined by a captivating botanical spectrum. Forget simply adding tonic; to truly enjoy gin is to understand its core structure. This 3-point guide will provide the fundamental knowledge you need to navigate GinMe with confidence and appreciation.
The enjoyment of gin begins with its defining characteristic: botanicals. According to Difford’s Guide, there are legal requirements in the United States and the European Union that gin must be flavoured primarily with juniper berries. For a product with a global market value estimated at USD 15.3 billion, according to Grand View Research, this is a must-know fact for anyone indulging in it. This tiny ingredient is responsible for the spirit’s signature piney, resinous, or woodsy note – the very foundation of gin flavour. For many, a love affair with gin is simply a love affair with juniper.
However, the real excitement lies in the supporting cast. Gin distillers use a diverse range of botanicals – substances obtained from plants and used as additives in food and cosmetics – to create a unique fingerprint for every bottle. You should be looking out for how these secondary notes layer themselves over the juniper core. The four we will explore are citrus, spice, floral, and earthy notes. Citrus notes are provided by peels of lemon, orange, or grapefruit, and they tend to add a refreshing brightness. They are crucial for a vibrant Gin & Tonic. Spice notes come from ingredients like coriander seeds, cardamom, or cinnamon. They can impart a warming, peppery, or savoury backbone, often making a gin more robust and suitable for sipping or darker cocktails – such as the Bramble or Martinez.
Floral notes come from delicate botanicals, such as lavender, rose, or elderflower. These create an aromatic, softer profile, often celebrated in contemporary styles of distillery and cocktail making. Earthy notes are derived from roots like angelica or orris, ginger, seaweed, bay leaf or rosemary. Much like in a well-constructed neutral palate, they add depth, binding the lighter aromas together and providing a full mouthfeel. While it will take more than a single sip on a toasty Gaborone summer day, knowing whether you are tasting a citrus-forward, spicy, or floral gin is the first step toward becoming a true savant.
By understanding these fundamentals, you transform your gin experience from being comparative to one that is guided by true enjoyment. You’re invited to approach each glass with curiosity, so that you gain an appreciation for the complex, multifaceted nature of one of the world’s most enduring and versatile spirits. In the second instalment, we will discuss two more foundational principles necessary to elevate the way you treat and comprehend gin.
