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Are you eager to learn more about the cheapest gin in India? Before we reveal anything about the cheapest gin brand (and trust us, it’s been right under our noses!), here’s a quick guide on your favourite liqueur's brewing process and ingredients!
The science behind your favourite gin and tonic
Distilled from natural ingredients such as wheat, barley, potatoes, or grapes, Gin is a clear and floral-tasting alcohol. Essential to the taste of any gin is the juniper tree, which is one of the botanicals—herbs, seeds, flowers, plants, or spices—used in its preparation.
Actually, according to many international conventions, a drink cannot be legally called Gin, unless juniper is the main taste. The amount of pure alcohol in the entire volume of liquid (the "A.B.V." on the label) must be at least 37.5%. When talking about the types of gin available, it can be broken down into separate categories – London Dry, Plymouth Gin, and Old Tom Gin are the three classic varieties that fall under this umbrella term.
The distillation process behind your favourite summer drink
Gin is typically produced by fermenting and distilling a base of grain, typically wheat or barley. Water and aromatics (herbs, plants, and spices) are added to the fermented grain combination together with juniper berries until the alcohol content and taste balance reach the appropriate levels. Historically, cheap gin was made using a variety of processes! A less complicated method was used to make compound gin, which is frequently referred to as "bathtub gin" (after the illicit quantities that were produced in bathtubs during American Prohibition in the 1920s!). Compound gin was made by infusing a neutral base spirit with various fruits, herbs, vegetables, and spices, such as juniper. Back to the modern era, gin is typically made using the 3 step distillation process
- Steeping: In this method, the distiller uses a pot still, a metal container set over a heat source, to combine the botanicals with the ethanol. The base spirit steeps the botanicals. The distiller has the option of quickly removing the botanicals or letting them soak for up to 48 hours, depending on the desired flavour profile.
- Vapour Infusion: This technique requires a special kind of still called a Carter-head still that has a basket hanging from above. Overhanging the base spirit, the basket holds the botanicals. The botanical basket collects the ethanol vapours that rise to the surface while the spirit is heated in the still. The herbs still impart their flavour and aroma to the vapours by releasing their essential oils; the vapours reintegrate, capturing the flavours of the plants.
- Vacuum distillation: This method of distillation, which is also called cold distillation, drastically lowers the boiling point of ethanol by creating a low-pressure vacuum. The idea behind this process is that floral flavours may be preserved without being heated.
Cheapest gin brand in India
Among the several gins available in India, McDowell's Blue Riband is among the most storied and popular choices, and, of course, is the cheapest gin brand in India. The prestigious Concours Mondial de Bruxelles awarded McDowell's Blue Riband a medal in 2005 for its exceptional mix, flavour, and aroma. This gin is mild and rather smooth, and it has gained a reputation on an international scale. And for the price reveal? Blue Riband Premium Extra Dry Gin costs Rs 600 per 750 millilitres in Mumbai, Rs 950 in Bengaluru, Rs 620 in Kolkata, and Rs 455 in Jaipur.
Blue Riband- cheapest gin brand in India
Since its inception in 1959, Blue Riband has been winning over customers with its innovative mix and stylish packaging. It lingers on the nose as a combination of peppery spice, mild juniper, dried lemon peel, and gritty pastry dough. It has a strong citrus aroma and a long-lasting aftertaste. This gin works wonderfully in martinis or as an aperitif on its own. If you want to taste the flavoured gin; it's best to sip it neat with lots of ice first. To make it last longer and really taste it, mix it with a high-quality neutral tonic, soda, or orange-flavoured soda.
Sip and savour- the dominant notes of Blue Riband gin
The distinctive taste profile of this gin includes notes of herbaceous juniper, talc, and creamy lemon custard; it has an oily, dryish medium body. Mineral fading, cinnamon pastry icing, and gentle lemon oil are the finishing touches. The botanicals in this gin are distilled in a neutral spirit according to the classic London Dry Method which results in a neat and refreshing flavour profile.
With 42.8% alcohol by volume (ABV), Blue Riband Premium Extra Dry Gin is quite potent. This rating is the norm for gins from India that are bottled at 43% alcohol by volume or above. As an example, Greater Than London Dry Gin has 40% alcohol by volume (ABV) in each bottle.