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The Book of Gin: A Spirited World History from Alchemists' Stills and Colonial Outposts to Gin Palaces, Bathtub Gin, and Artisanal Cocktails
Gin has been a drink of kings infused with crushed pearls and rose petals, and a drink of the poor flavored with turpentine and sulfuric acid. Born in alchemists’ stills and monastery kitchens, its earliest incarnations were juniper flavored medicines used to prevent plague, ease the pains of childbirth, even to treat a lack of courage.
In The Book of Gin, Richard Barnett traces the life of this beguiling spirit, once believed to cause a �new kind of drunkenness.” In the eighteenth century, gin-craze debauchery (and class conflict) inspired Hogarth’s satirical masterpieces �Gin Lane” and �Beer Street.” In the nineteenth century, gin was drunk by Napoleonic War naval heroes, at lavish gin palaces, and by homesick colonials, who mixed it with their bitter anti-malarial tonics. In the early twentieth century, the illicit cocktail culture of prohibition made gin � often dangerous bathtub gin—fashionable again. And today, with the growth of small�batch distilling, gin has once-again made a comeback.
Wide-ranging, impeccably researched, and packed with illuminating stories, The Book of Gin is lively and fascinating, an indispensible history of a complex and notorious drink.
In The Book of Gin, Richard Barnett traces the life of this beguiling spirit, once believed to cause a �new kind of drunkenness.” In the eighteenth century, gin-craze debauchery (and class conflict) inspired Hogarth’s satirical masterpieces �Gin Lane” and �Beer Street.” In the nineteenth century, gin was drunk by Napoleonic War naval heroes, at lavish gin palaces, and by homesick colonials, who mixed it with their bitter anti-malarial tonics. In the early twentieth century, the illicit cocktail culture of prohibition made gin � often dangerous bathtub gin—fashionable again. And today, with the growth of small�batch distilling, gin has once-again made a comeback.
Wide-ranging, impeccably researched, and packed with illuminating stories, The Book of Gin is lively and fascinating, an indispensible history of a complex and notorious drink.
275 pages, Hardcover
First published December 4, 2012
43 people are currently reading
1187 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
June 10, 2012
At times the writing is a bit academic for my taste, but this is a fascinating book chock full of wonderful stories and anecdotes about gin, cocktails, and cocktail culture.
Currently reading
December 15, 2012Ahhh, so excited! Read the first chapter on BART today, looks like great writing about a small slice of history -- one that i find particularly tasty....
Looking forward to going into the Christmas vacation with this at the top of my book pile. Thank you, Christmas Elf :)
Looking forward to going into the Christmas vacation with this at the top of my book pile. Thank you, Christmas Elf :)
October 21, 2024
Another great look into a particular bit of history I've never learned about before! I highly recommend it to anyone who shares my goal of becoming the guy who goes, "Speaking of gin, did you know..."
August 14, 2013
Its a good book, just the parts about genever is not treu. Genever is the grandfather of gin but the book said that a Dutch chemist and alchemist named Sylvius de Bouve, first sold genever as a medicine in the late 16th century.The problem with this theory is that Dr. Sylvius was born in the 17th century and that during his fourteen-year tenure as a professor at the University of Leyden, his research included distilling medicines with juniper berry oil, but none of his research papers contain any reference to genever. The dates also don’t add up: Dr. Sylvius certainly wasn’t the first to distill with juniper or call a concoction genever, as proven by written references to genever in 13th century Bruges, Flanders (Der Naturen Bloeme) and 16th century Antwerp, Flanders (Een Constelijck Distileerboec). The latter contains the first printed genever recipe.
Additionally, in 1606 the Dutch had already levied taxes on genever and similar liquors which were sold as alcoholic drinks, suggesting that genever had stopped being seen as a medicinal remedy many years before Dr. Sylvius was even born. Genever’s prevalence can also be observed in Massinger’s 1623 play, “The Duke of Milan”, which references “geneva”. Geneva was the Anglicized name for genever, which British soldiers had brought back with them upon returning from battle in the Low Countries in 1587 and again during the early 1600s. Dr. Sylvius would have been just nine years old when Massinger’s play opened. So while the legend of Dr. Sylvius’s “medicine” may be more myth than fact, it has become the tale most people know. Genever originated in Flanders (Belgium)
Additionally, in 1606 the Dutch had already levied taxes on genever and similar liquors which were sold as alcoholic drinks, suggesting that genever had stopped being seen as a medicinal remedy many years before Dr. Sylvius was even born. Genever’s prevalence can also be observed in Massinger’s 1623 play, “The Duke of Milan”, which references “geneva”. Geneva was the Anglicized name for genever, which British soldiers had brought back with them upon returning from battle in the Low Countries in 1587 and again during the early 1600s. Dr. Sylvius would have been just nine years old when Massinger’s play opened. So while the legend of Dr. Sylvius’s “medicine” may be more myth than fact, it has become the tale most people know. Genever originated in Flanders (Belgium)
March 14, 2017
I've read a good number of books on the history of booze, both general and spirit specific, and this is a pretty good entry in the field. First off, if you're expecting this to be a scientific tome about distilling then you need to pass it by, and perhaps pay a tad more attention to the back cover and dust jacket copy. Like most other books in this genre, this is basically a whirlwind social history with one particular product at the center of the journey. I found it interesting, fun, and a generally informative read that didn't overstay its welcome or try to cram too much into its focus. Yes, it is occasionally dry, but in general it is pretty engaging. Furthermore, I also think some of his transitions between historical periods are a bit abrupt and sometimes unnecessarily confusing in terms of where gin stands in terms of public favor and perception. Lastly, if you are not a fan of gin, then you will likely have a hard time getting into this book, though that should go somewhat without saying. If you enjoy gin and history, then I definitely recommend this short, quick, and informative book.
December 29, 2012
This book read like a college final paper. There are endless references throughout the book. (The last 15+ pages of the book make up the references/resources.) I felt like the author was throwing them in just to stretch the book to an acceptable length. While I did learn some interesting tidbits about gin and its history, this book was too cluttered and tedious to really enjoy.
December 10, 2012
This is an amazingly insightful and intelligent book. While I love the drink of Gin, I didn't realize that there was such a rich and varied history behind the making and packaging of this delicious beverage. This book enlightened me to the life of Gin and the people it has affected in the past as well as the present. I can't wait to pass this book on to my friends!
December 21, 2012
I was hoping to have a scientific based description of distilling and the role Gin played throughout it's long history. But the book was unbalanced, too much detail about temperance movements and not enough about what I was hoping to learn.
Too bad, could have been a good book.
Too bad, could have been a good book.
October 3, 2017
I did it! SEVEN renewals later I finished it. I am not going to try to read non-parenting non-fiction again. This book killed my challenge for the year.
June 25, 2020
My favorite drink is an ice-cold gin martini so, when I came upon this book about gin I just had to read it.
Let me start off by saying I’d give the first half of this book three stars and the last half five. I found the beginning, while containing quantities of historical information about gin, to be repetitive, dull, and long-winded. There are some interesting facts about gin here including its early use in medicine, an ongoing battle between beer and gin, a class issue of gin verses wine, and a love-hate battle with government forces but they are lost among the verbiage.
This book gets much more interesting when it reaches the history of gin from the 1900’s. Here we have information about the prohibition forces (both in the US and Britain), the resurgence of gin in speakeasies, the development of the cocktail party, how martinis became popular, the waning of interest in gin in the 1980s, and the resurgence in the past few decades.
Personally, I have a long history with gin. As a child of the sixties, martinis felt way too bourgeois and so I chose as my “dance partner” Jack and Ginger (sweet Kentucky Bourbon mixed with sour tang of ginger ale). Then President Carter came along and attacked the “three martini lunch”. As many sons do, I had a long, love-hate relationship with my father and he drank gin martinis. Fortunately, through years of “hard work” I overcame all of this so that now, I not only drink martinis with great enjoyment but have begun infusing my own gin creations.
Many people think of martinis as British, thanks largely to the James Bond movies. Barnett counters by citing Barnaby Conrad who described the martini as “an embodiment of American history at its most magnificently diverse: Dutch and English gin, mixed with French vermouth, and served with Mediterranean olives, German-Jewish pickled onions, or Caribbean lemons.”
While British Dry Gin is currently popular, gin’s original homeland was the Netherlands. Here, in the 1500s Jenever (gin) was used medicinally and by the 1600s developed into a popular drink. Perhaps oversimplified, gin is a spirit, such as vodka, with the addition of juniper berries. Juniper was long used medicinally as was alcohol so putting the two together, in retrospect, seems an obvious idea.
In its more modern history, along with juniper, gin requires the addition of botanicals such as coriander, angelica root, licorice, orange peel, cardamom, and many others. With the emergence of micro-distilleries, I have tasted gins with only fresh apple added to the juniper up to gins with over twenty different botanicals. 1988 saw the appearance of Bombay Sapphire, which has become my personal commercial favorite. However, when given the opportunity during my travels, I will try each and every “secret recipe” small local distilleries come up with. According to Barnett, “now is the best time in the last five centuries to be drinking gin.” I couldn’t agree with him more!
Let me start off by saying I’d give the first half of this book three stars and the last half five. I found the beginning, while containing quantities of historical information about gin, to be repetitive, dull, and long-winded. There are some interesting facts about gin here including its early use in medicine, an ongoing battle between beer and gin, a class issue of gin verses wine, and a love-hate battle with government forces but they are lost among the verbiage.
This book gets much more interesting when it reaches the history of gin from the 1900’s. Here we have information about the prohibition forces (both in the US and Britain), the resurgence of gin in speakeasies, the development of the cocktail party, how martinis became popular, the waning of interest in gin in the 1980s, and the resurgence in the past few decades.
Personally, I have a long history with gin. As a child of the sixties, martinis felt way too bourgeois and so I chose as my “dance partner” Jack and Ginger (sweet Kentucky Bourbon mixed with sour tang of ginger ale). Then President Carter came along and attacked the “three martini lunch”. As many sons do, I had a long, love-hate relationship with my father and he drank gin martinis. Fortunately, through years of “hard work” I overcame all of this so that now, I not only drink martinis with great enjoyment but have begun infusing my own gin creations.
Many people think of martinis as British, thanks largely to the James Bond movies. Barnett counters by citing Barnaby Conrad who described the martini as “an embodiment of American history at its most magnificently diverse: Dutch and English gin, mixed with French vermouth, and served with Mediterranean olives, German-Jewish pickled onions, or Caribbean lemons.”
While British Dry Gin is currently popular, gin’s original homeland was the Netherlands. Here, in the 1500s Jenever (gin) was used medicinally and by the 1600s developed into a popular drink. Perhaps oversimplified, gin is a spirit, such as vodka, with the addition of juniper berries. Juniper was long used medicinally as was alcohol so putting the two together, in retrospect, seems an obvious idea.
In its more modern history, along with juniper, gin requires the addition of botanicals such as coriander, angelica root, licorice, orange peel, cardamom, and many others. With the emergence of micro-distilleries, I have tasted gins with only fresh apple added to the juniper up to gins with over twenty different botanicals. 1988 saw the appearance of Bombay Sapphire, which has become my personal commercial favorite. However, when given the opportunity during my travels, I will try each and every “secret recipe” small local distilleries come up with. According to Barnett, “now is the best time in the last five centuries to be drinking gin.” I couldn’t agree with him more!
September 17, 2023
During my recent visit to Sydney, I had the opportunity to see Hogarth's Gin Lane and Beer Street. However, it wasn't until I read this book that I truly grasped the historical significance of those pieces and the controversial past of gin, as well as alcohol in general, in the Western world.
I was initially drawn to the book due to my love for gin and tonic (it's my go-to drink, aside from wine), but reading this has definitely given me a greater appreciation for the drink and its cultural context.
Recommend this quick and easy read to anyone curious about the stories behind their favorite cocktails or who wants to have cool stories to share during the next drinks with their friends. Wonder which drink fascinated the author enough to make him want to write a whole book about the history of gin!
I was initially drawn to the book due to my love for gin and tonic (it's my go-to drink, aside from wine), but reading this has definitely given me a greater appreciation for the drink and its cultural context.
Recommend this quick and easy read to anyone curious about the stories behind their favorite cocktails or who wants to have cool stories to share during the next drinks with their friends. Wonder which drink fascinated the author enough to make him want to write a whole book about the history of gin!
June 29, 2019
A fantastic book on the history of gin.
Well worth a read if you love gin. It's a detailed accurate of the history of gin. Now time to find a book on the art of making gin. But for now I will pour myself a gin and tonic.
Well worth a read if you love gin. It's a detailed accurate of the history of gin. Now time to find a book on the art of making gin. But for now I will pour myself a gin and tonic.
May 17, 2022
There's something about viewing history and its impact through the lens of a particular commercial good that makes food histories like this, books on coffee or even butter absolutely fascinating - both in how history has shaped their current forms and how they've shaped other parts of history.
February 26, 2023
Interesting subject and lots of detailed information but it desperately needs a discriminating editor. Way too may quotes, convoluted passages looping back over things already covered. Couldn’t make myself finish it even with rapid skimming.
December 1, 2017
Fun, short but surprisingly deep and well researched. Gin is a complex drink in more ways than one.
December 28, 2020
3.5 stars, good background on gin!
November 25, 2021
3.5 stars
May 13, 2013
I received this book as a First Reads winner several months ago and have just now gotten around to reading it! I wish I hadn't waited so long as it was a fascinating romp through the history of Gin and how it has helped shape history and modern culture.
Although it was written as a history, the writing was not stuffy or boring. In fact I read through it rather quickly as I was fascinated by the cultural icons who consumed (or didn't consume) this popular libation.
I learned interesting tidbits, like the genie in Aladdin was supposed to resemble the "spirits" rising from the neck of the alembic (pg. 14) and that mock funerals were staged for 'Madam Geneva' during the proposed prohibition in the mid 1700's.
Who would have know that Gin played such a massive and interesting role in the shaping of world history?!
Overall, I thought this book was well laid out (I especially loved that Appendix A has excerpts from the cited material for ease of access) and it was well written. I really had a hard time putting it down. I also fought (almost successfully) the urge to tell the person sitting next to me "Hey, did you know that Gin _____".
I would definitely recommend it!
Although it was written as a history, the writing was not stuffy or boring. In fact I read through it rather quickly as I was fascinated by the cultural icons who consumed (or didn't consume) this popular libation.
I learned interesting tidbits, like the genie in Aladdin was supposed to resemble the "spirits" rising from the neck of the alembic (pg. 14) and that mock funerals were staged for 'Madam Geneva' during the proposed prohibition in the mid 1700's.
Who would have know that Gin played such a massive and interesting role in the shaping of world history?!
Overall, I thought this book was well laid out (I especially loved that Appendix A has excerpts from the cited material for ease of access) and it was well written. I really had a hard time putting it down. I also fought (almost successfully) the urge to tell the person sitting next to me "Hey, did you know that Gin _____".
I would definitely recommend it!
November 12, 2013
I found the first three chapters of this book, relating to the early history of Gin in the Netherlands, the early years of Gin in England, and finally the so called Gin crazes of the 17th and 18th Centuries in England quite interesting and thought provoking. In particular, he argues for a more balanced look at the so called gin crazes, taking into account the perspectives of those who were writing the accounts we have often taken as evidence.
If he had stopped there, or stayed covering European cocktail history & drinking culture, this might have been a better book.
However, in the last two chapters, the author tackles the subjects of prohibition in America and American Cocktails. Strangely, he seems to be almost entirely basing his arguments on evidence gleaned from modern cultural references, fiction and movies, a tactic which while it might have been interesting on its own, but following the three more historical chapters of the book, seems odd.
If he had stopped there, or stayed covering European cocktail history & drinking culture, this might have been a better book.
However, in the last two chapters, the author tackles the subjects of prohibition in America and American Cocktails. Strangely, he seems to be almost entirely basing his arguments on evidence gleaned from modern cultural references, fiction and movies, a tactic which while it might have been interesting on its own, but following the three more historical chapters of the book, seems odd.
July 14, 2014
Just what it says - the history of gin from its first development from spirits derived from wine, juniper added. The really interesting part, of course, is the social history. Gin had a societal effect in the 18th century similar to crack or meth in this one. Strict Government regulations only made it worse, since people concocted it themselves and created a prosperous black market (sounding familiar?). Only when the British government needed money to fight various wars did it lower the fines, instituted tariffs generating profitable taxes, and gin became more the smaller social issue we have in alcohol today. A fascinating book, but not for those uninterested in Britain, gin, or history.
August 23, 2015
Barnett has clearly done exhaustive research - this feels like a definitive historical guide to how gin developed and its influence on culture.
It was a bit disappointing not to see more illustrations or some color plate pages. He goes to great lengths painstakingly describing paintings or advertisements, and a visual would really help.
It was a bit disappointing not to see more illustrations or some color plate pages. He goes to great lengths painstakingly describing paintings or advertisements, and a visual would really help.
June 4, 2017
Ramos Gin Fizz
2 oz. gin
1 oz. simple syrup
1/2 oz. lemon juice
1/2 oz. lime juice
1 oz. heavy cream
1 egg white
5 drops orange flower water
1 drop vanilla extract
Dry shake all ingredients, then add ice, and shake until too cold to hold.
Double strain into collins glass.
Wait.
Wait.
Slowly add Topo Chico until almost overflowing.
Add straw.
Serve.
2 oz. gin
1 oz. simple syrup
1/2 oz. lemon juice
1/2 oz. lime juice
1 oz. heavy cream
1 egg white
5 drops orange flower water
1 drop vanilla extract
Dry shake all ingredients, then add ice, and shake until too cold to hold.
Double strain into collins glass.
Wait.
Wait.
Slowly add Topo Chico until almost overflowing.
Add straw.
Serve.
March 6, 2013
Quite a captivating read!It was very interesting to learn the long, deep history of Gin. This book brings gin out in the limelight both in the past as well as the present. A must read for any Gin enthusiast.
June 6, 2013
"A Bottle of Rum" was much better. That had some storytelling and interest to it. This book seemed to boil down to a listing of documents, books, and movie which had simply mentioned gin through time. Thoroughly boring and not all that educational.
March 17, 2014
I really, really wanted to like this... but for one of the first times ever, I just couldn't finish it. It wasn't bad, exactly, but it was no Mark Kurlansky. I got about halfway through and stopped. That's about all I can say ...
Read
July 14, 2013Not going to star rate it because I didn't finish it, but I didn't all-out hate it either. This book is -- forgive the pun -- rather dry. It's really more about prohibition attempts in general, but with a focus on liquor over beer. I love gin, but apparently I don't want to know THAT much about it.
Want to read
July 30, 2012yum.
December 20, 2012
Would rather have just drank gin than read about it. A dry subject.
March 7, 2013
I love Gin! My favorite is from Alameda, CA. The distillary is St George's and the variey is their Dry Rye Gin. Yum!
February 2, 2013
At the risk of a bad pun, this book is dry. Appendixes with classic texts and tasting notes were interesting.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews