The Difference Between Vodka and Gin: A Distiller’s Insight
When it comes to spirits, vodka and gin are often discussed in the same breath due to their clear appearance and shared base ingredients. However, their flavours and production processes set them apart distinctly. At Black Sheep Bottle Shop, we pride ourselves on offering a wide variety of gins, including our very own Eleven Bridges brand, crafted in our South Brisbane distillery. Let's delve into what makes vodka and gin unique.
Darren Lockyer - Eleven Bridges & Black sheep bottle shops
The Basics of Vodka
Vodka is a spirit that doesn’t require ageing or additives. It is traditionally made from a base product like grain, but is a neutral spirit that can be produced from any fermentable material like potatoes, sugar cane, grapes, or whey. Once the yeast has converted the base product into a weak alcohol solution, it is distilled in a column still and the alcohol by volume goes from around 8% to 96%. At this point a ‘neutral’ spirit has been created, that is only slightly influenced by the base product. At this point filtration can be used to further increase the neutral characteristics of the vodka.
Key Characteristics:
Base Ingredients: Grains (like wheat, rye, corn), sugar cane, grapes, potatoes or whey.
Flavour Profile: Neutral, with subtle hints of its base ingredients.
Production: Fermentation, high-proof column distillation, and filtering.
The Basics of Gin
To make Gin, neutral spirit, or vodka, is again distilled but this time in a pot still. It is infused with botanicals, juniper berries being the dominant ingredient that gives the familiar ‘Pine’ flavour. Without juniper berries (or in special circumstances Sloe berries), it cannot be considered Gin.
Key Characteristics:
Base Ingredients: Vodka made using grains, sugar cane, grapes, potatoes or whey.
Flavour Profile: Predominantly juniper, with additional botanicals like coriander, citrus peel, anise, and more.
Production: Vodka distilled in a pot still with botanicals being infused into the gin.
Lavender Rosé Lemonade (cocktail featuring rosé, Antipodes Pink Gin, lavender syrup, lemon, mint, sweetness, soda)
How to Transform Vodka into Gin
The transformation from vodka to gin hinges on the infusion of botanicals. Here’s a simplified overview of how this process occurs:
Start with Neutral Spirit: The base spirit for gin is vodka, made using grains, sugar cane, grapes, potatoes or whey.
Botanical for Infusion: Juniper berries are essential, but other botanicals are added depending on the desired flavour profile. These botanicals can include spices, herbs, seeds, flowers, and fruits.
Redistill & Infuse: The Neutral Spirit is redistilled with the botanicals, allowing the flavours to infuse and create the characteristic taste of gin.
At Black Sheep Bottle Shop, our Eleven Bridges brand is a testament to the art of gin-making. Our distillery in South Brisbane uses a unique blend of botanicals to produce a variety of gin flavours, each with its own distinct profile, catering to both classic gin enthusiasts and those seeking new, innovative tastes.
Exploring Eleven Bridges Gin
Our Eleven Bridges Gin range is a celebration of botanical diversity with only fresh, not dried, botanicals used. All ingredients, other than our juniper, are locally sourced, with our gin also sustainably produced using recycled rainwater and a handmade base alcohol, rather than buying ethanol in bulk.
Featured Flavors:
Eleven Bridges Eleanor Rhubarb Gin: This gin has a fun hit of rhubarb crumble and fresh raspberries. A hint of locally grown oranges and lashings of juniper round out this surprisingly complex gin.
Eleven Bridges William Jolly Summer Gin: A juniper forward gin complemented by a big citrus hit of orange blossom & finger lime. Rounded out with a hint of honey and strawberry, this is summer in a glass. Best served in a tall glass with a quality tonic.
Eleven Bridges Tasmanian Pinot Noir Gin: A dash of the highest quality Tasmanian Pinot Noir wine blended in. Raspberries on the nose, and packed with juniper, clove, and citrus peel, this gin is beautifully balanced and succulent. Drink it neat or with quality tonic water.
Archie Rose Distilling Co.
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Visit Black Sheep Bottle Shop
In conclusion, while vodka and gin may start from a similar place, the infusion of botanicals in gin creates a world of difference. At Black Sheep Bottle Shop, we invite you to explore this fascinating journey through our extensive selection of gins, including the exceptional Eleven Bridges range, crafted right here in South Brisbane. Cheers to discovering your next favourite gin.