Gin: A Global History

Edible

by Lesley Jacobs Solmonson

Mother’s Milk or Blue Ruin, Dutch Courage or Cuckold’s Comfort – the fanciful nicknames that gin has acquired only hint at its colourful story. The story begins with the aromatic juniper berry originally used by the Dutch to flavour the whisky-like genever. The drink then made its way to Britain, where cheap imitations laced with turpentine and other caustic fillers made it the drink of choice for poor eighteenth-century Londoners. Eventually replaced by the sweetened Old Tom style and then by London Dry, gin was introduced to the wider world by means of the British Empire, and during the Jazz Age became a mainstay of a new drinking culture: the cocktail.
Today classic cocktails like the Gimlet and the Negroni are embraced by drinkers who enjoy a new breed of modern gins, and gin has reclaimed pride of place in the world of mixology. Gin: A Global History will attract both cocktail aficionados and lovers of food history as it chronicles gin’s evolution from cheap liquor to modern alcoholic marvel.

Genres: History, Food, Nonfiction, Food and Drink, Cocktails, Alcohol, Culinary

173 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2012

Reviews

[Sesana · Rating 3 out of 5]

I imagine that I might have liked this particular entry in the Edible series a bit more if I hadn't already read Gin: The Much Lamented Death of Madam Geneva. True, the Edible book is much more about the entire history of gin, and not just the 18th century gin craze and backlash. That said, that's by far the most interesting part of gin's history. This is indeed a much shorter book, with a broader focus. If you have more than a passing interest in gin (or food history in general) I would say to read the longer book by Dillon instead. This one has the virtue of being short, but admirably comprehensive for the length, and is very nicely illustrated. If you only have time or interest for one book on gin, and don't want to spend much time reading it, here's the book for you.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part of the "Edible" series - I do have some other volumes, which I always enjoy reading.
Kind of hard to do the complete history of gin in about 130 pp of text (total book is about 170 pp). So, at times it feels like it is a bit disorganized. But overall gives a good wrap up, and history, of each style of gin. Genever (which I found out is pronounced "ya-nah-vear"), Old Tom, Plymouth, London Dry, and the new "International" (Less juniper, more citrus/fruit - or cucumber, of course! And here compared to tastless vodka.). Good descriptions, so I have a sense of what each style tasted like through its history.
Oh, and I found out why liquor is called "Navy Strength" (on ships booze and gunpowder were locked up together - if the booze was less than 100 Proof, and it soaked into the gunpowder through a leak, it would not ignite!).
Includes Index, recipes, websites (a bit outdated, first published in 2012), list of current gins by style, and a short bibliography.
Read the ebook version - there were occasional typos, and unexpected changes in font style and size. Biggest problem, there are a fair amount of illustrations in this volume, and they are just thumbnails, which don't open up to a larger size. Hard/impossible to see detail.
Nice tie-in to social history - England's Gin Craze, and Imperialism, and America's Prohibition. And how class determined what you drank, and how. Never have had a "Pink Gin", and would love to try a "Corpse Reviver".
But, if you enjoy gin, worth a couple evenings of your time to read about it here.

[Simón Avilés · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un entretenidísimo recorrido por la historia de unos de los licores más llenos de personalidad, variedad y contradicciones. Investigado con detalle, narrado con gracia, ilustrado con pertinencia. Hay momentos del libro en que podrías esperar más profundidad pero no llega, y a veces es cronológicamente confuso por las decisiones de cómo encadenar los hechos recopilados. Sin embargo, es un libro cautivador, potente e interesantísimo. Una pieza necesaria.

[Susan Liston · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just discovered this Edible series, learned quite a lot from this. And I do like gin.

[Annett · Rating 3 out of 5]

Most probably, I'd never have bought this book myself but having been given it as a present, I felt obliged to read it. And I was quite surprised by the wealth of information it contains about the history of gin. Not being more than the very occasional G&T drinker, I was quite amazed to find out about the ups and downs this spirit has lived through over the past centuries and also the success it seems to have presently. A lot of pictures and old commercials round off the story, which is finally complemented with recipes for various gin-based cocktails. A light and completely non-alcoholic read.

[Bradley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the book. It was short and informative. After reading the book, I looked up the other books in "The Edible Series."

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

What's not to like? Pour a gin and tonic or two and journey along with gin's interesting history.

[Drew Neisser · Rating 3 out of 5]

Truly for the gin obsessed there are some details in here I hadn’t seen before.

[Cathy]

An easy to read potted history for the gin fans. It took me beyond Hogarth and Gin Lane, and I learned a few new things about this delightful drink.

[Amaia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Una historia para interesados en el tema y ajenos al mismo. Se lee con facilidad e incluye anécdotas convenientes.
http://librodelosviernes.blogspot.com...

[AskNezka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short, sweet, crisp.

[Carolina Albernaz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Una muy linda historia para los amantes de esta bebida. Te da una perspectiva de otros aspectos de la revolución industrial.

[Lucy · Rating 3 out of 5]

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

Helpful book on understanding the history of Gin. Quick easy read.