Styles of Gin

Gin is one of the groups of spirits with the most variation within styles.  While two well vodkas, or two well rums are likely to have a similar taste, as are two top shelf vodkas or two top shelf rums, every gin is distinct.  The legal definition of gin (in the United States) is simply "an alcoholic beverage of no less than 40% ABV that possesses the characteristic flavour of juniper berries."

This clearly leaves some room open for interpretation, as is clear from the range of products on the market.  There are a few major categories which, although flavors vary even within the categories, can help tell a little bit about the gin.  I am going to list them in the order I think most American drinkers are likely to encounter them in.

London Dry gin is the most common type of gin.  It is dry, focuses primarily on the juniper flavors, and is generally fairly crisp and clean.  Tanqueray, Bombay, Boodles, Beefeaters, Seagram's, etc. all fall within this category.

New American gin is basically any gin which fits within the legal definition of gin, but not necessarily within any of the other styles.  Generally speaking, although not always, they tend to put more of an emphasis on citrus, floral, or herbal flavors, than London dry.  Hendrick's is probably the best known new style gin.

Sloe Gin is not really gin (any more).  It is a liqueur which uses a gin base, blackthorn berries (also known as sloe berries) for flavor, and is oak aged.

Genever (several different spellings exist) is starting to make a come back, but is actually the original style of gin.  It is attributed to the dutch.  This is a style which can be made from malt wine or a mixture of malt wine and sugar cane derived spirits, which are the redistilled with juniper and other gin flavorings, and are sometimes aged.  The key difference is that the grain (in oude genever) or other (in jong genever) spirits, as well as the aging when that takes place, are expected to actually contribute to the final gin flavor.  Where other styles focus on a crisp, clean spirit that highlights the clean flavors of gin, genever has more of a rough, grain spirit flavor.  Bols Genever and Genevier are the best known examples.

Old Tom gin is a sweeter style than London dry.  It actually predates London dry, as during early days of gin distillation, the alcohol and distillation flavors were so strong and offensive, that sweeter flavorings were needed to make gin palatable.  It is the gin originally used in a Tom Collins.  There are not a lot of well known brands of Old Tom gin, but the names for brands within this category usually include "Old Tom" or "Old English" right in the name.

Plymouth Gin is similar to London dry, but more earthy in flavor.  It must be produced in Plymouth, England, and as of right now, there is only one brand of true Plymouth Gin, coincidentally called Plymouth Gin on the market.