At a glance
Gin fast facts
The 37.5% value is the EU category minimum, not a universal statement about every market or bottle. Read the label where the drink will be purchased and served.
Composition
What is gin made from?
Agricultural-origin alcohol
The regulated EU definition starts with ethyl alcohol of agricultural origin.
Juniper berries
Juniper is the defining botanical and must remain predominant in the taste.
Supporting botanicals
Citrus peel, roots, seeds, herbs and spices can shape a producer’s recipe, but the exact combination varies.
Label clarity
Gin, distilled gin and London gin
These are production categories, not a simple quality ladder. The label helps explain how the spirit was made; the bottle still needs to be judged in context.
| Label | What it signals | Cocktail reading |
|---|---|---|
| Gin | Juniper-flavoured spirit with juniper predominant. | A broad family; check the bottle’s actual botanical profile. |
| Distilled gin | A regulated gin category involving distillation with juniper. | Production is more specific, but flavor can still vary widely. |
| London gin | A type of distilled gin with tighter production and sweetening rules. | Often a useful dry, juniper-led starting point for classic builds. |
Use it in context
Five cocktails that show different sides of gin
This is a Kokto editorial starting set, not a popularity ranking. Choose by what else you have and the drinking experience you want.
Published catalogGin & Tonic
Fastest of these five; crisp and refreshing
Complete recipeNegroni
Bitter and spirit-forward
Published catalogTom Collins
Tall, citrusy and easy-going
Published catalogFrench 75
Bright and celebratory
Published catalogDry Martini
Dry and confidently gin-led
Quick answers
Gin questions
What gives gin its flavor?
Juniper defines the category. Producers can use other botanicals, so citrus, floral, spice, root and herb notes vary from bottle to bottle.
Does all gin taste strongly of juniper?
Juniper must be predominant under the cited EU definition, but its perceived intensity and the supporting botanicals still vary.
What is the easiest cocktail to make with gin?
Within Kokto’s five-drink starter set, Gin & Tonic is the fastest: the governed recipe is built in the glass with two core ingredients and optional lime.
What can I mix with gin besides tonic?
Citrus, sugar and soda point toward a Collins; Campari and sweet vermouth make a Negroni; dry vermouth points toward a Martini; citrus and sparkling wine point toward a French 75.
Evidence
Sources & editorial note
The legal definition and category distinctions come from the current consolidated EU spirit-drinks regulation. Cocktail names, times and ingredient relationships come from Kokto’s governed catalog.
- EUR-Lex — Regulation (EU) 2019/787, consolidated textPrimary legal source for gin, distilled gin and London gin definitions
- International Bartenders Association — official cocktail listPrimary reference for named classic cocktail styles
- Kokto governed ingredient catalog · ginStable taxonomy identity and published recipe relationships
- Kokto governed media catalogCurrent published ingredient and cocktail media records