The Book of Gin

A Spirited World History from Alchemists' Stills and Colonial Outposts to Gin Palaces, Bathtub Gin, and Artisanal Cocktails

By: Richard Barnett

Narrated by: Richard Shelton

Gin has been a drink of kings infused with crushed pearls and rose petals, and a drink of the poor flavored with turpentine and sulfuric acid. Born in alchemists' stills and monastery kitchens, its earliest incarnations were juniper flavored medicines used to prevent plague, ease the pains of childbirth, even to treat a lack of courage.

In The Book of Gin, Richard Barnett traces the life of this beguiling spirit, once believed to cause a new kind of drunkenness. In the 18th century, gin-craze debauchery (and class conflict) inspired Hogarth's satirical masterpieces "Gin Lane" and "Beer Street". In the 19th century, gin was drunk by Napoleonic War naval heroes, at lavish gin palaces, and by homesick colonials, who mixed it with their bitter anti-malarial tonics. In the early 20th century, the illicit cocktail culture of prohibition made gin often dangerous bathtub gin fashionable again. And today, with the growth of smallbatch distilling, gin has once-again made a comeback.

Wide-ranging, impeccably researched, and packed with illuminating stories, The Book of Gin is lively and fascinating, an indispensable history of a complex and notorious drink.

©2011 Richard Barnett. Recorded by arrangement with Grove Atlantic, Inc. (P)2014 Audible Inc.

Great history on my favorite drink

If you have the taste for gin and knowledge about gin, then this book is a good chaser.

Well-written, good scope. Ending felt a tad rushed

Engagingly written and performed, covering the long history of gin. Given the amount of time given to most of the history, the ending did feel slightly clipped short. Still, very good.

Outstanding, interesting history!

Unbelievable interesting history of the ups and downs and Renaissance of gin. Narrated wonderfully on top of it all!

Gin sloe is not covered in the book.

It is more historic book. Good to get some knowledge about gin development. Quite UK and US based