Ask anyone, and they will always have a choice of alcoholic drink that they will never try again or will never try at all! Many different stories could be the reason for their decisions, but if there is one drink that we actually hear from many people that they would never drink, it’s actually gin! (yep, you may be surprised by that but we often hear people at our bars say “I don’t like the taste of gin” or “I haven’t drank gin for years, it used to make me crazy!”.
Why Are People Afraid of Drinking Gin?
1 - The Intense Aroma
Gin is a drink known for its potent aroma and taste. People often get a whiff of gin and can instantly smell the alcohol. It can be shocking to the nose because of its strong scent, which is more often than not a strong hit of juniper (which lots of people don’t like… it’s an acquired smell and taste).
2 - The Bitter Taste
The next huge factor is the taste of gin. Most people get hit by this strong taste that lingers in their mouth when they drink it. Some say it is too bitter and has a weird taste, which is usually if they taste a traditional, dry gin that will have a strong juniper aroma.
However, a lot of the time, we actually find that these customers are disliking the bitter ‘quinine’ flavour found in the tonic mixed with gin, not the actual gin itself.
If someone is tasting a flavoured gin, depending on their palette and taste preferences, they can often say it’s too sweet for their liking.
The thing to note is, gin is very rarely consumed ‘neat’ (on it’s own), like you would with let’s say Whisky, or sometimes even vodka. When dry or flavoured gins are sipped neat, they can often have an overwhelming taste. It’s why ‘Gin AND Tonic’ is such a popular drink as a nice, crisp, premium tonic water brings out the flavours of the gin, and dilutes that often overpowering alcohol and juniper flavour.
Like many types of alcohol, gin is definitely an acquired taste that can be off-putting for novice drinkers. However, after a while, many find that their palate can adjust to the sophisticated flavours of this alcohol.
3 - The High Alcohol Content
The reason behind many people's refusal to drink gin is not just because of the taste, smell, or the company it comes with. It has something to do with its high alcohol content. Gin is one of the common alcoholic drinks that can get you drunk quickly.
It has a high percentage of alcohol content (usually at least 40% ABV, sometimes as strong as 60%, dubbed ‘Navy Stremgth’) which makes it rank as one of the contenders to get you drunk within a very short period of time. The effect of gin also depends on its alcohol content. Usually, the higher the alcohol content of the drink, the stronger the effect it will give you.
Furthermore, drinking aerated beverages or carbonated-like drinks, such as gin and tonic or champagne will make you get drunk sooner because the alcohol gets into your blood faster.
There are many different kinds of gin sold with its alcohol content ranging from 20% ABV (this will be called a gin ‘liqueur’) all the way up to around 60% ABV (‘Navy Strength’).
Conclusion
Many people are hesitant when it comes to the idea of drinking gin. Its intense taste and aroma can take a while to get used to. However, it’s still a drink worth exploring and enjoying if you’re looking for a good time.
So, if ever you are going to drink gin for the first time, we advise you to taste it first before you decide. Keep in mind that the effect of gin on a person is dependent on many factors. What happens to one person when they drink gin might not be the same thing that happens to another.
Jim and Tonic can provide you with a Gin Tasting Set so you can safely experience the must-try gin-based cocktails at the comfort of your home and get to know which ones you like better than others (who knows, you may love all of them and instantly become a gin fanatic!).
