🍸 Distilled gin
Distilled gin is gin made by redistilling alcohol of at least 96% vol. with juniper and botanicals; at least 37.5% ABV. Gin made by simply adding essences or flavourings to alcohol does not count.
Distilled gin is a type of gin produced solely by redistilling ethyl alcohol of agricultural origin with an initial strength of at least 96% vol. in the presence of common juniper berries and other natural botanicals, with juniper as the dominant taste. It is category 21 of Regulation (EU) 2019/787, minimum strength 37.5% ABV. In the US, the same idea sits in 27 CFR § 5.144, where "distilled" is reserved for gin made by original distillation or redistillation.
The regulation allows two forms of this drink. The first is simply the distillate of alcohol and botanicals. The second is a mix of that distillate with ethyl alcohol of agricultural origin of the same composition, purity and strength. Flavouring substances or preparations permitted for ordinary category 20 gin may also be added.
The key limit is spelled out separately: gin made by simply adding essences or flavourings to alcohol is not distilled gin. So the word "distilled" on a label guarantees that the botanicals went through the still together with the alcohol, rather than being added afterwards.
The word "dry" may be added to or included in the name if added sweetening does not exceed 0.1 g per litre of the finished product, expressed as invert sugar. A stricter type is London gin (category 22).
Why it matters to you. If a bottle just says "gin", its aroma may come from flavourings. "Distilled gin" means distillation with botanicals, but flavourings may still be added afterwards, so it is not yet London gin. Compare the legal name on the label, not the colour or shape of the bottle. The WHO reminds us that no amount of alcohol is safe.
Facts
| EU category | 21 |
|---|---|
| Alcohol (% vol.) | 37.5 % vol. |
| Raw material | ethyl alcohol of agricultural origin, juniper berries (Juniperus communis), other natural botanical ingredients |
| Legal basis | Reg. (EU) 2019/787, Annex I; applies from 25.05.2021 |
| Country | EU (category 21); USA: the term “distilled” under 27 CFR § 5.144 |
| Main use | gin whose aroma comes from distilling alcohol with botanicals |
How it connects to Spirits
🍸 Distilled gin → similar → 🌾 Vodka and grain spirits → kind of → 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Next step
- 🍷 Alcoholic fermentation, 🍷 Yeast
- Packed in
- 🍷 Wine label
- Made from
- 🍷 Ethanol
- What it contains
- 🍬 Sugar
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Images and sayings
- 🥃 Common juniper (Juniperus communis)
- Traditions
- 🧑🤝🧑 British, 🧑🤝🧑 Americans
- Part of
- 🍸 Gin and juniper spirits
- Similar and different
- 🍸 Gin, 🌾 Vodka and grain spirits, 🥃 Old Tom Gin, 🥃 Bombay Sapphire, 🥃 Gordon's, 🥃 Beefeater, 🥃 Hendrick's, 🥃 Bombay Bramble, 🥃 Bombay Dry Gin, 🥃 Bombay Sapphire East
- In other topics
- 🍷 Vermouth
Frequently asked questions
What does the word "distilled" on a gin bottle mean?
That ethyl alcohol of agricultural origin with an initial strength of at least 96% vol. was redistilled together with common juniper berries and other natural botanicals, and juniper dominates the taste (category 21 of EU Regulation 2019/787).
Is it true that nothing can be added to distilled gin after distillation?
No. The regulation allows the distillate to be blended with alcohol of the same composition, purity and strength, and flavouring substances or preparations permitted for ordinary gin may be added.
What is the minimum ABV of distilled gin?
The finished drink must have at least 37.5% ABV in the EU. The alcohol redistilled with the botanicals must have an initial strength of at least 96% vol.
How does distilled gin differ from London gin?
In London gin the aroma comes only from distillation in the presence of all botanicals, the distillate has at least 70% vol., methanol is capped at 5 g/hl, colourings are banned and sugar is limited to 0.1 g/l. Flavourings after distillation are not allowed there.
Can gin made with essences also be called distilled?
No. Point (c) of category 21 states plainly that gin obtained simply by adding essences or flavourings to ethyl alcohol of agricultural origin is not distilled gin.
What to read next
- 🍸 Gin — Gin is a spirit flavoured with juniper berries. In the EU it is at least 37.5% ABV and juniper must dominate; in the US it is bottled at 40% ABV (80 proof) or more. “Dry” means up to 0.1 g/l of sugar.
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🍷 Ethanol — The alcohol formed during fermentation that makes you drunk.
- 🍷 Alcoholic fermentation — Yeast eats the sugar in the must and releases alcohol and carbon dioxide.
- 🧑🤝🧑 British — People of Great Britain; their protected West Country Cheddar matures for at least 9 months, and tea is drunk with milk.
Similar
🍸 London gin · 🍸 Gin · 🥃 Old Tom Gin · 🥃 Borovička · 🍸 Juniper-flavoured spirit drink · 🍸 Berenburg
⚠️ Spirit drinks contain alcohol and are for adults only. Alcohol harms health. Do not drink during pregnancy or before driving; check the label for ingredients and possible allergens.
What it includes
Sources
- Regulation (EU) 2019/787 on spirit drinks (OJ L 130, 17.5.2019), Arts. 2, 5 and Annex I
- 27 CFR § 5.144 Gin (USA, TTB standard of identity), text via Cornell LII
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)