What is Gin Made From?

smiling woman at a bar

What is gin made from?

smiling woman at a bar
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Australia’s Best Gin Distillery Reveals it’s Point of Difference 

Today I am going to delve into what gin is made from but first a moment of appreciation for our majestic Distillery. 

I walked into Fossey’s on Friday night and let out a sigh of happiness. I felt like I was returning home! And it was so wonderful to see our regulars again and a lot of new faces too.

Fossey’s Distillery in Mildura

If you have ever been to Fossey’s, I reckon you will know what I mean when I say it’s such a heart-warming place. The staff are Fossey’s style friendly. They always have smiles on their faces when welcoming anyone into our little Gin Joint.

I love the way we can curl up in front of the fire in comfy armchairs, catching up with friends over some Fossey-licious creations. Cheeseboards are a particular favourite of mine! They are good value too at $20 each. They include sweet & savoury treats most people will enjoy.

Another thing, I love about the Fossey’s intimate setting is it means we don’t have to raise our voices when chatting. This may seem like a small thing but when I want to catch up with friend’s who I have not seen for a while, this is a blessing.

Anyway, as a newbie to the gin world, I have been on a little bit of journey into everything gin! I have found it fascinating to learn the process of how it is made & what sorts of ingredients are in it.

I credit both Steve (head distiller pictured above) & Tash (distiller) for being an gin-credible source of knowledge when explaining how Fossey’s makes our tantalising elixirs. 

Gin Facts: 

  1. Gin is derived from any neutral base spirit – (Fossey’s make it from locally grown grapes. Not seeds.)
  2. Juniper Berries are the key ingredient of Gin.
  3. A number of additional botanicals can be added to flavour the gin.
  4. Gin has a minimum final strength of 37.5% ABV (Alcohol by Volume).
  5. No artificial ingredients are allowed to be added to gin.

What is the Difference Between Gin & Vodka?

Gin is any white or neutral based spirit such as vodka. However, to classify it as gin, botanicals are added and one of them must be juniper berries. 

What are Botanicals then?

Botanicals are an array of various natural flavourings which are plant based. Fossey’s uses a very unique & diverse range which are usually native to the Mildura area where our Distillery is located.

Fossey’s 9 dried botanicals:

  1. Juniper Berries (what defines gin & formally known as genever)
  2. Coriander Seeds
  3. Green cardamom pods
  4. Cassia bark (Australian cinnamon)
  5. Anise Myrtle (Australian native – aniseed flavour)
  6. Lemon Myrtle Leaf
  7. Mountain Pepperberry Leaf (Australian native)
  8. Edible Lavender (Bella Lavender in Berri)
  9. Organic Angelica root
gin botanicals corriander seed, juniper berry, cassia bark, cardamom pods, anise myrtle, lemon myrtle leaf, mountain pepperberry leaf, Edible lavender, Organic Angelica root
Botanicals used in Fossey’s gin

In the UK & most of Europe, citrus peel used in gin is dried. But at Fossey’s we embrace fresh citrus from the local area & it is added to our gin exactly that way.

Citrus used in Fossey’s Gin are:

  1. Lemon
  2. Orange
  3. Bergamot
  4. Tangelo

This really sets Fossey’s gin apart from most others & is something the Distillers are particularly proud of.

Why is the gin ABV minimum 37.5%?

Anything with ABV below 37.5% will not preserve the botanicals & this is considered to be essential for making quality gin.

Well there you go! The lowdown on gin. I must admit I swell a little with pride knowing Fossey’s use mostly locally sourced botanicals & fresh citrus in our creations.

Fossey’s truly is a unique Australian gin handcrafted from the heart. If it’s been awhile since you have sat down for one of our tipples, it’s high time you had a reminder of why it’s the best Australian gin. Order online today & make sure you are organised for the weekend. 

Bottoms up & chin chin, gin lovers!

Until next time,

Fossey’s Ginspired Blogger Girl

Narelle

More to explore

Fossey’s at Sipafrolic 2023!

Fossey’s are super excited to be part of the Sipafrolic event debuting March 3rd-5th 2023 at North Melbourne’s iconic Meat Market venue! TICKETS NOW

Why is gin known as “Mother’s Ruin”?

"Mother's ruin", Fossey's Naval Stregth Gin

Why is Gin known as “Mother’s Ruin”?

"Mother's ruin", Fossey's Naval Stregth Gin
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The history behind gin being nicknamed “mother’s ruin”

You may have heard gin referred to as “Mother’s Ruin” before. I prefer to think of it as “Mummy’s Little helper” as I know it certainly eases my nerves when around demanding kids! But I did wonder where the rather unfair nickname came from and went on a little journey discovering how this unfolded.

To understand how it came about we have to go way back in time, 330 years. As you know (from my previous blog), the Dutch were the original creators of gin.  The British military only adopted it after noticing how courageous the Dutch soldiers were once, they had their prescribed tipple. This was the origin of the saying “Dutch Courage”.

In 1690, King William III passed a law called the “Distillers Act”. The Act meant wine & brandy importation were restricted. But the public could produce pure alcohol for free at home.  This meant almost every Tom, Dick & Harry started creating their own juniper spirits. However, to their detriment, the spirit was not made with high quality grains as the Dutch version.

The English used low quality grains cut with methylated spirits & turps to make their spirits. Then they flavoured it with juniper berries and anything else they could find locally to mask the disgusting taste of the turps and metho! This series of events led to the period which became known as the “Gin Craze”.

The English public continued on consuming their home-made concoctions until 1720 when the “Mutiny Act” was bought in. It meant anyone creating alcohol wouldn’t have to have soldiers staying with them.

This boosted local gin production greatly. Meaning by 1730, there were in excess of 7000 gin shops in London! Three years later, the average Joe Blow was consuming about 1.3 litres of gin each week! Gin literally was created in 1 out of 3 buildings in old London town.

Today’s gin strength pales in comparison to the elixir in 1733 being 160 proof! As you can imagine, it meant it was gin-credibly gin-toxicating. The other factor making it so extraordinarily lethal was it was not being sipped like a Fossey’s G&T…ah no…rather guzzled in huge amounts such as 500ml per day.

Think of it like drinking a bottle of Fossey’s Naval Strength x 3 per day!

It wasn’t long before misery, crime rates, madness & death rates soared, whilst birth rates fell. The English Gin Joints permitted women to join men in their gin guzzling for the first time. This was blamed for causing high child neglect. Worse still, many women became prostitutes to pay for their rather excessive drinking habits which is why gin eventually earned itself the nickname “Mother’s Ruin”.

There you have it!

Now you know the reason the humble and seemingly innocent gin has been known as “Mother’s Ruin”. All I can say is thank god the gin of today is not made from metho and turps. Gosh imagine that! Blah!

Enjoy your gins over the weekend, knowing, thankfully, you are in much safer hands with Fossey’s, than the English gin drinkers 300 years ago. 

Bottoms up & chin chin, gin lovers!

Until next time,

Fossey’s Ginspired Blogger Girl

Narelle

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More to explore

Fossey’s at Sipafrolic 2023!

Fossey’s are super excited to be part of the Sipafrolic event debuting March 3rd-5th 2023 at North Melbourne’s iconic Meat Market venue! TICKETS NOW

7 Things You Didn’t Know About Gin

7 things you didn't know about gin

7 things you didn't know about gin

7 things you didn't know about gin
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A must read for every gin enthusiast
7 Things You Didn’t Know About Gin

In case you didn’t know, it’s World Gin Day this Saturday! And even though in Victoria, we really can’t celebrate at the fabulous Fossey’s Distillery, it certainly warrants a few tipples…well then again, as if we needed an excuse! 

There’s really nothing much better than kicking back with a few friends, laughing & conversing over a few G&T’s. This Saturday, I know I won’t be holding back & just may put away a number of Broken Heel Gin’s with Fever Tree Tonic! (If you have not tasted Broken Heel, you really are missing out) I daresay I may have a sore head on Sunday to show for my celebratory drinks but nothing that can’t be fixed with a hearty breakfast and possibly a couple of Panadols or even another gin. But shh…better not to think of that at this point. Focus on the Fossey’s fun to be had first and foremost!

Y’all know I hadn’t given much thought to gin before I started working for Fossey’s but since landing my dream job (I am not even joking) I have come to learn quite a bit about our fabulous elixir and I reckon these are 7 things you didn’t know about gin! See how many of this list you already knew.

1. What is “Dutch Courage”?

You have most likely heard the term “Dutch Courage”? But do you know where it originated? Well, gin is actually well-known for its calming effects. During the Thirty Years War the Dutch army was apparently aware of this side-effect, because they were known to ration portions to their soldiers prior to battle to calm their nerves. It is said that the English army caught wind of this habit, and was amused to see the difference in the Dutch after having their rations! Contrary to popular opinion, it was the Dutch, not the English, who first made gin!

Nowadays, everybody knows the British are its biggest fans but the juniper-led spirit originated from Holland and was brought to England in the early 1600’s by British soldiers after the aforementioned war!

2. Gin can be and was, used for medicinal purposes!

As far back as 1269, was the first major mention of juniper-based health-related tonics when they appeared in a Dutch publication. Ever since, gin has had a history of being used “for medicinal purposes.” The Royal Navy mixed gin with lime cordial to stop scurvy, and angostura settled the stomach at sea. Tonic water with quinine was anti-malarial, giving them a great excuse to drink more gin and tonics. And can you believe, In India, Gin was used to make tonic water and cinchona mixture, a more palatable taste to combat malaria? Then in the 17th century, it was prescribed by doctors & readily available in European chemists. It was used to treat everything from kidney infections to stomach issues! You won’t believe that gin even became so popular it was found on every street corner in England! (Source)

3. Junipers are loaded with antioxidants

Although Juniper is a seed, it is nearly identical to a blueberry. And just like blueberries, junipers are loaded with antioxidants. The bitter seed is effective in fighting infection, aiding digestion, and relieving bloating. You see? Now it makes sense that gin is considered medicinal! (Source)

4. Which movie is the line “Shaken, not stirred” from? 

You guessed it! Thanks goes to the James Bond movie franchise, the martini became the most sought-after cocktail, made from a mixture of gin and dry vermouth. Thank you, 007!

5. Fire-water? Ah..literally?

Does the term “Navy strength” ring a bell? It is definitely the clear favourite of Fossey’s head distiller, Steve Timmis and gin-credibly talented distiller, Tash. But besides loving a great tipple, legend has it the Navy used gunpowder to ensure the gin they were receiving was high quality. The gin would be poured onto gunpowder, and the strength confirmed by seeing how well it lit. Talk about being super serious about the strength of your gin!

6. Gin is to thank for Dr. Suess! 

Did you know that gin is responsible for the pen name of beloved children’s “Cat in the Hat” author Dr. Suess? He was actually born, Theodor Suess Geisel & as a young man he was editor of a campus newspaper during his years at Dartmouth University. Tragically, or as it turned out, not so tragically, he was fired from his role after being caught smuggling GIN into his dorm room in 1925 (peak prohibition days). Determined to continue writing, he submitted all of his articles using just the name “Suess,” and later added “Dr.” to the beginning. (Source)

7. And my favourite one…Gin is not a depressant but aids weight loss.

Yep you read right! A Latvian study by researchers from the Sigulda University (sounds legit) found G&T boosts our body’s ability to burn calories for one hour after drinking it. Another gin-teresting fact is antioxidant-rich juniper speed up your metabolism. Doesn’t that gin-formation just make you want you to stock up and drink up – all in the name of good health & fitting into your jeans?

There you have it, folks. 7 things you didn’t know about gin. Now you know these fun facts about gin, I am sure you will feel a lot better about getting stuck into 1 or 2…or 7. Whatever…who’s counting, right? After all, it is World Gin Day!

Bottoms up & chin chin, gin lovers!

Until next time,

Fossey’s Ginspired Blogger Girl

Narelle

More to explore

Fossey’s at Sipafrolic 2023!

Fossey’s are super excited to be part of the Sipafrolic event debuting March 3rd-5th 2023 at North Melbourne’s iconic Meat Market venue! TICKETS NOW

The Tale of Fossey’s

Steve Timmis standing in the Fossey's Distillery

the Fascinating tale of fossey's

Steve Timmis standing in the Fossey's Distillery
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 Where it all started

Fingers crossed the Distillery will be open again soon! We are all looking forward to it. But, until it does and we get to socialise together, I am going to tell you the tale of the fascinating tale of Fossey’s history & how it all started!

Grab a G&T, make yourself comfortable and relax into the story how Mildura got it’s very own Distillery…

The Fossey name was married into the family in the early 1900’s and as was tradition then, it was given as the middle name to the first-born son John Fossey, known to everyone as “Foss”.

A name that stood out, those who have it as their own have been of creative mind. Of pioneering spirit. Of being eloquently misunderstood and proudly so.

Fossey’s have lived by principles and ideologies that have been passed down through generations and become known as Fosseylosophies which we have based our Fossey’s Gin business principles on.

Bite off more than you can chew, then chew like crazy.

Foss’s Grandmother, who he never met, raised 6 children alone, while running a pub in Ludlow, the area where our Fossey’s Gin Juniper berries come from. One son, Albert, migrated to Australia and married Elsie Vera. Small
in stature but big in spirit nothing would faze her. Bringing up 4 children (one of them Foss) in Koorlong before established roads and power, Elsie rolled up her sleeves and got on with the job. Growing up in the sticks, Foss thought the best things he had ever seen were running water and knives with a serrated edge. Were these the things to ginspire big ideas and Fosseylosophies?

Who knows? His execution of big ideas could be somewhat erratic at times and misguided at best, but Foss was an original entrepreneur. Pioneering land well outside of Mildura and of otherwise no use, Foss went on to create something that is still an icon of Mildura today –Timmis Speedway.

Not stopping there, along with his young family, Foss farmed a property in Mourquong. Growing fresh fruit still to this day, this particular block is where our Fossey’s Original Gin Elixir bergamot oranges and tangelo’s are grown.

But how does Foss fit in with Fossey’s Gin?

Father to our Master Ginnovator, we are bought to the present day where the pioneering spirit and big ideas are as strong as ever, only perhaps with a slightly more straight forward strategy to implementation, the fundamentals of Fosseylosophies live on in our approach to developing something truly unique.

Why gin? Why not?

It encompasses everything we want to represent.
First class second to none products.
Creative interpretation of, well, everything.
Good fun, good times, good friends, good drink.
Big ideas in a small space with a deadline of yesterday.

And family.

This fascinating tale of Fossey’s was originally written by Cherie Gowers – Manager of Fossey’s Distillery and daughter of the Head Ginnovator, Steve Timmis

Next time we meet, I hope I have good news we can all catch up for a drink in the Distillery because it’s open again. 

Chin chin & have a great week! 

Gin-Spired Blogger Girl

More to explore

Fossey’s at Sipafrolic 2023!

Fossey’s are super excited to be part of the Sipafrolic event debuting March 3rd-5th 2023 at North Melbourne’s iconic Meat Market venue! TICKETS NOW