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The Spirit of Gin: A Stirring Miscellany of the New Gin Revival
The ultimate guide to today's exciting gin revival with a nod to the spirit's rich history, featuring a comprehensive review of gin distilleries, ingredients and accoutrements, distilling methods, cocktail recipes, international bar guide, and creative contributions from industry leaders.
The Spirit of Gin is a comprehensive and entertaining illustrated guide to the classic spirit, with a sharp focus on the modern gin revival led by innovative craft-gin distillers, new ingredients and infusions, and growing interest in bars across the United States and overseas. The book details the colorful history of gin from its invention in eighteenth century London to today's worldwide resurgence; provides detailed coverage of the methods, ingredients, and accoutrements of modern makers and purveyors; gives coverage to popular gin bars and classic cocktails with eclectic sidebars and interviews; and provides a complete catalog of commercial and craft distilleries worldwide.
The Spirit of Gin is a comprehensive and entertaining illustrated guide to the classic spirit, with a sharp focus on the modern gin revival led by innovative craft-gin distillers, new ingredients and infusions, and growing interest in bars across the United States and overseas. The book details the colorful history of gin from its invention in eighteenth century London to today's worldwide resurgence; provides detailed coverage of the methods, ingredients, and accoutrements of modern makers and purveyors; gives coverage to popular gin bars and classic cocktails with eclectic sidebars and interviews; and provides a complete catalog of commercial and craft distilleries worldwide.
- GenresFoodCookbooksNonfiction
364 pages, Hardcover
First published April 22, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
January 31, 2019
This history of gin is filled with interesting stories and bits of cultural evolution. This book is a handy guide to not only the history, but the exciting present of gin, its rebirth in recent years, and some hints of its future. Matt Teacher visits several distilleries, talks with experts, and gets down and dirty with the technique and the ingredients of this venerable spirit.
That said, this book definitely skews very Hipster. The book has a vintage design, which is nice. But the actual quality of the book itself, the binding and glue, is not so good. The whole time I was reading it, I kept expecting pages to fall out. A lot of the bars Teacher explores are kinda trendy places for dudes with waxed mustaches. And both Teacher and many of his interviewees have bought heavily into the "organic" fad/con. There's a lot of "it's organic, so it's better," with nothing to back it up.
If you can get past the organic thing (which is up there with anti-vaxxers for me), the book is well worth reading for fans of gin, and those who have maybe been scared off the drink in the past.
That said, this book definitely skews very Hipster. The book has a vintage design, which is nice. But the actual quality of the book itself, the binding and glue, is not so good. The whole time I was reading it, I kept expecting pages to fall out. A lot of the bars Teacher explores are kinda trendy places for dudes with waxed mustaches. And both Teacher and many of his interviewees have bought heavily into the "organic" fad/con. There's a lot of "it's organic, so it's better," with nothing to back it up.
If you can get past the organic thing (which is up there with anti-vaxxers for me), the book is well worth reading for fans of gin, and those who have maybe been scared off the drink in the past.
February 9, 2015
The author's shortcomings as a technical writer were balanced by a respectable passion for the craft itself. As a reader, one can almost follow Teacher as he falls deeper into the very character of Gin throughout the progression of the text, and his enthusiasm for it is absolutely electric.
April 24, 2015
Mr Teacher's enthusiasm for gin is infectious, but it can't disguise his shortcomings as a wordsmith. Still, any reader leafing through this volume during an idle moment (and willing to overlook the cringeworthy prose) will have no trouble finding an appealing recipe or intriguing anecdote.
May 15, 2019
Fun read. Less factual info than I had hoped for. More of the author's personal journey exploits in "gin joints" throughout the world.
March 1, 2015
The Spirit of Gin: A Stirring Miscellany of the New Gin Revival is just that, a miscellany. What makes this quite heavy book so highly enjoyable is the fact that it's less OED/reference tome and more lavishly-illustrated book of fun gin factoids and trivia. My only disappointment, and it's a truly a modest one, is that in his admittedly scatter-gun itemization of craft distilleries from around the U.S., Teacher fails to mention my personal favorite, Journeyman Distillery (Three Oaks, Michigan) whose Billberry Blackhearts Gin is the key ingredient in the most refreshing summer punch imaginable known as the English Garden. (Plus, there's a whole historic preservation/adaptive reuse of a corset factory complemented by locally-sourced botanicals, barrels, etc. that made it the total package for me.)
The book provides a summary in snippet form of author Matt Teacher's globetrotting (albeit decidedly western Europe-focused with reference to a few Australian distilleries tossed in for good measure) travels to famous bars and distilleries to chat with their proprietors about the wonderful world of gin. It also includes a few excerpts from industry publications and other short articles about gin. My personal favorite bit is his running commentary on how to convert vodka drinkers into fans of the juniper. An excerpt from an article by Erik Holzherr, outlines the six-step conversion process with benefit of the hypothetical holdout's reservations to which the gin proselytizer is provided rebuttals. Here's my personal favorite:
Point: "Gin makes me think of my grandma."
Rebuttal: "Your grandma sounds cool."
Long story short, for fans of any of gin's many wonderful varieties, this is an informative read that is less reference than teaser. It inspires you to learn more--not only about this particular spirit, but about the craft distillery movement, about what's local where you live, and which new gins and/or gin-based cocktails you might wish to try. The Spirit of Gin... provides citations for other more scholarly works on the topic, should that be something readers wish to pursue. The beauty of this book, however, is its highly attractive packaging, layout, its short pieces, blurbs, sidebars, and gorgeous photographs. This would make a welcome addition to any cookery/cocktail library and a perfect housewarming or shower gift for anyone setting up house (and bar).
The book provides a summary in snippet form of author Matt Teacher's globetrotting (albeit decidedly western Europe-focused with reference to a few Australian distilleries tossed in for good measure) travels to famous bars and distilleries to chat with their proprietors about the wonderful world of gin. It also includes a few excerpts from industry publications and other short articles about gin. My personal favorite bit is his running commentary on how to convert vodka drinkers into fans of the juniper. An excerpt from an article by Erik Holzherr, outlines the six-step conversion process with benefit of the hypothetical holdout's reservations to which the gin proselytizer is provided rebuttals. Here's my personal favorite:
Point: "Gin makes me think of my grandma."
Rebuttal: "Your grandma sounds cool."
Long story short, for fans of any of gin's many wonderful varieties, this is an informative read that is less reference than teaser. It inspires you to learn more--not only about this particular spirit, but about the craft distillery movement, about what's local where you live, and which new gins and/or gin-based cocktails you might wish to try. The Spirit of Gin... provides citations for other more scholarly works on the topic, should that be something readers wish to pursue. The beauty of this book, however, is its highly attractive packaging, layout, its short pieces, blurbs, sidebars, and gorgeous photographs. This would make a welcome addition to any cookery/cocktail library and a perfect housewarming or shower gift for anyone setting up house (and bar).
January 6, 2015
I am a gin novice. I enjoy it, but other than what I've picked up from other people, I don't know much about it. I was intrigued as I knew the spirit could be made with various botanicals and I wanted to know more about what was available. I saw this book and the library and had to bring it home. A brief glance showed that it contained a history of gin, explanations of the types of gin and methods to distill it, as well as a description of a large number of gins on the market now including the distillery, city/state/country, the brands available under that maker, and a brief description of the product. Also included were commentary about ice, the proper glassware and garnishes. The author provided narratives about notable bars or distilleries around the world, and plenty of recipes!
I did not read every page of this book. It's 365 pages. I found the writing a little dry and hard to read or difficult to keep my interest. I skimmed a large portion of the first half of the book, and thoroughly read the portions I was interested in. I read all of the info on the available gins and made a list of the ones I want to try.
The cover of the book is beautiful.
I did not read every page of this book. It's 365 pages. I found the writing a little dry and hard to read or difficult to keep my interest. I skimmed a large portion of the first half of the book, and thoroughly read the portions I was interested in. I read all of the info on the available gins and made a list of the ones I want to try.
The cover of the book is beautiful.
May 26, 2015
As a gin novice, this book was a really good, quick intro to gin. It includes the history of it, recipes, pictures, and all the different kinds of gin available. I didn't know there were so many gin distilleries in the PNW! I may have to get out and do some taste-testing. My only gripe about this book is the layout of it. I don't like the sections where he talks about the tours he went on...they just seem out of place and like he didn't know where else to put them.
February 18, 2015
Anyone who enjoys a Martini, Gin & Tonic, or any other beverage would likely enjoy flipping through this book. There are some GREAT quotes, different concepts, and good information about gin.
June 2, 2016
Loved the subject matter, but the writing was a bit uneven and repetitive. I will enjoy trying some of the cocktails, and it is a good reference.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews