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BACKGROUND - Popular base spirit for cocktails, including the martini.

- The Dutch are credited with the invention of gin (early 17th century). - Used to treat kidney ailments, gallstones, gout, and other medical problems. - The aromas most commonly associated with gin are citrus, fruit, floral, earth, spice, sweetness and wood. - Usually clear, color depends on botanicals used, ex. Iris = Magellan gin. - Dryness = more root botanicals (like orris or angelica). Sourness = more citru s botanicals (like lemon and orange peel). PLANT IT CAME FROM - Even if the botanicals vary, juniper berries are a common ingredient to most t ypes of gin. - Between 50-67 species of juniper - Juniper communis BOT THINGS - Coniferous: They are cone-bearing seed plants with vascular tissue; all living conifers are woody plants. - Cupressaceae (cypress family) - Gymnosperm: seed-bearing plants whose ovules are not enclosed in an ovary, but are exposed on the surface of sporophylls - Can be monoecious or dioecious; all are wind-pollinated. -M: male and female on one plant D: male on one plant, female on another ANATOMY OF PLANT - Junipers vary in size and shape from tall trees, 20 40 m tall, to columnar or lo w spreading shrubs with long trailing branches. - They are evergreen with needle-like and/or scale-like leaves. - Shoots: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Jun_chin_close.jpg Juvenile and Matu re shoots PART OF PLANT USED - It is not a true berry but a cone with unusually fleshy and merged scales, so it only looks like a berry. - Essentials oils can be extracted and used for aromatherapy and perfumery. - Seeds: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Juniperseeds.jpg - Gives gin its distinct flavor. PROCESS HOW PLANT -> DRINK 1. Neutral spirit is distilled in grain mash (malt, barley, etc.) 2. The highly-concentrated spirit is redistilled with juniper berries and other botanicals.

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