Gin and our time

 

Gin - There are wines that get better with age. Then there are years that only get better with wine.
Gin - kuna mvinyo ambao hupata bora zaidi ya miaka. Kisha kuna miaka ambayo ni bora tu na mvinyo

What is gin? Gin (from French genévrier: juniper) is a mostly colorless spirit with juniper (juniper schnapps) and the main ingredient in many cocktails, such as the martini, the negroni and the long drink gin and tonic. (Wikipedia).

The middle of the 17th century, the first document reports on the juniper brandy called Genever by the doctor Franciscus Sylvius. As William III. von Orange-Nassau ascended the English throne in 1689, he brought the Genever with him from his homeland. He made the production of juniper schnapps tax-free and at the same time imposed high taxes on the import of French alcoholic beverages. Also English soldiers, the Dutch in the

Dutch-Spanish War

supported, brought this liquor to the British Isles, where it was given the name gin. A decree in 1690 stipulated that gin could only be produced from English grain. So much for the beginning.

Gin is in high demand in Kenya, especially chrome gin. Who is drinking gin in Kenya now and why? I drink it, sometimes, not always, did I mention it, I'm a beer drinker!

In Europe, where the gin taps flow, women served gin in teapots and mugs in public places. This was to escape the spying eyes of judging society in the 19th century. "It was the best bait, their best secret weapon," said a Scot.

It started as a way to avoid public drink shaming, instead evolved into a culture where men joined the trend, and then quickly evolved into a tradition that has lasted for generations. It was only natural that iced tea would later be served with a shot of gin, especially in Europe during the summer when the days are warmer. Not so much in Kenya. According to the International Wines and Spirits Record Report (IWSR), Kenyans' thirst for gin tripled to 711,000 cases in 2016, equivalent to 6.3 million litres, versus 245,000 cases in 2011. Unfortunately, those are old numbers, it's safe to assume that gin consumption has increased significantly. From my own experience I can say that every Kenyan drinks gin. Many don't drink Chrome, it's probably one of the cheaper ones, many drink the imported gin from Great Britain. Common gin brands on the market include Gilbey's, Beefeater and Gordons, with gin alcohol content averaging 40%.

This made gin the third most consumed spirit among Kenyans, behind cane spirit, whose 2016 intake was 2.1 million cases, equivalent to 18.9 million litres, and vodka's consumption of 1.2 million cases, or 10 .8 million liters.

As an Austrian I can only say: "Not bad!"

According to Euromonitor International, gin is the fastest growing beverage in the spirits category worldwide. In the UK, for example, annual gin sales rose 16 per cent to surpass £1 billion for the first time, prompting the spirits industry to declare 2016 the 'Year of Gin'.

(Business Daily)

But gin also has effects, one of which should be briefly mentioned here. High gin consumption among women drove sales for the year, with the company forecasting a strong recovery from the coronavirus crisis. This as the company saw sales grow 15 per cent to Sh86 billion, driven by smart investments in brands, distribution channels and innovation. The business is doing well. The brewer has also made profits on off-trade sales.

(Star)

Here's a final word. Gin, as I see it, is the national drink of Kenya, whether man or woman, everyone drinks it and, as we have seen, not too little. But what's the point? Enjoy the meal. Bottom up!