From Botanicals to Bottles: How Gin From a Local Gin Distillery is Different from the Rest
The gin market size was valued at over US$15 billion annually in 2021 and has been growing continuously. However, many are discovering the appeal of artisanal products from a local gin distillery. The production of all alcoholic beverages begins by preparing a mash of raw materials rich in starches and sugars. The mixture is then combined with yeast, which ferments them to produce alcohol and carbon dioxide.
For winemakers and brewers, additional treatments like sedimentation or filtration, pH adjustment, and blending are the only other steps required before the fermented product is ready for bottling. However, producing alcoholic spirits like vodka, gin, tequila, and whiskey requires at least one more step – distillation. The fermented mash must next be boiled in a still. Because the boiling point of alcohol is lower than that of water, it separates, forming a concentrate of pure spirit, which must be diluted to the legally-permitted strength. For vodka and gin, that limit is typically 37.5% alcohol by volume (ABV).
Unlike plain variants, botanicals like juniper berries are first steeped in the water used to dilute craft gin. So, are all gins the same? Is the product of a local distillery any different from the mass-produced products in bottle stores? It most certainly is. Let’s explore how these seemingly identical products differ.
Why Craft Gin from a Local Gin Distillery is a Cut Above the Rest
Just as handmade furniture holds more appeal than the cheaper mass-produced products from a large chain manufacturer, most people will likely find it hard to resist when first introduced to a craft gin. The following facts about artisanal gin explain its growing appeal:
Highest quality ingredients: Typically, local distillers take exceptional care when selecting botanicals and other flavoursome materials, usually favouring those grown locally. At Rainfall Distillery, all our ingredients are freshly grown and sourced from farms within five miles and used within minutes of arrival. We also harvest winter rainwater from the surrounding Southern Forests to ensure maximum purity.
Unique flavours: One of the main distinguishing factors of a luxury gin is its flavour. While mass-produced products are mainly juniper-based, local distillers are far less constrained. Rather like perfumiers, they use carefully-blended mixtures of botanicals to create unique flavour palates and aromas that excite the senses. Cherries, strawberries, macadamias, Karri honey and mandarins are just a few of the local ingredients infused in the superior craft gin from our artisanal gin distillery in the small town of Pemberton.
Produced in small batches: Unlike its plethora of mass-produced counterparts, our flavoured gin is prepared in small batches. This practice allows the hands-on control and attention to detail essential to craft a unique luxury gin. Due to seasonal variations in the Southern Forests region, the characteristic flavours of our ingredients can vary perceptibly from year to year. This phenomenon means that, like wine, each season’s batch of gin from Rainfall Distillery is of a distinctive vintage.
Creativity and innovation: A local gin distillery is not bound by convention but free to experiment with new and exciting flavours and ageing techniques. Artisanal gin producers are constantly pushing traditional boundaries to satisfy consumer tastes.
Are You Ready for an Outstanding Gin Experience?
Rainfall Distillery offers a range of flavoured gins, including one infused with Karri smoked fortified wine. If you’d like to learn more or place an order, just follow this link.
