Literary Gin-ius! The best books about gin to give for Christmas

Whilst you're busy filling up your liquor cabinet to lubricate your guests at the coming Christmas festivities, we suggest you also lubricate their minds with some fireside reading about gin. The juniper juice's amazingly rich history has a literary canon bred by bookworms, bartenders and botanists alike. The books below are all highly recommended for gin lovers looking to boost their knowledge in order to boost their ginjoyment of their favourite spirit. 

Gin: the Art and Craft of the Artisan Revival

From world-renowned gin expert Aaron Knoll, this book dives into the forces behind the booming craft movement and walking the reader through the history of gin in a way that helps them understand how today's craft distillers are changing the spirit for modern tastes and what it means for gin as the classic cocktail craze evolves. 

Difford’s Guide Gin Compendium 2nd Edition

Full of beautiful images of distilleries, bottles and advertising campaigns, Difford’s Guide is as esthetically pleasing to the eye as it is a knowledgeable pleasure to the brain. Combining the history of gin and its production processes with in-depth accounts of eighteen distilleries and tasting notes for 175 different gins, the Gin Compendium is a superb achievement by drinks expert Simon Difford. 

The Spirit of Gin by Matt Teacher

Released in November 2014, The Spirit of Gin modernizes the history to gin by investigating the spirit’s craft boom in the US and throughout the world. Along with profiles of the best gin bars and those warming up to the trendy spirit comes interviews with the people driving gin’s resurgence and a number of cocktail recipes.

The Drunken Botanist: the Plants that Create the World’s Best Drinks by Amy Stewart

You may forget when you’re drinking it, but the different flavours in gin come from the different herbs, spices, peels, fruits and berries with which distillers infuse their base spirit. Amy Stewart takes at over 150 botanicals explaining the botany and chemistry behind each and why they go well with certain cocktails and not others. 

The Curious Bartender: the Artistry and Alchemy of Creating the Perfect Cocktail by Tristan Stephenson

Professional mixologist and founder of drinks consultancy Fluid Movement which has developed strategies for such experimental cocktail-driven bars such as the Worship Street Whistling Shop and Purl, takes readers on a Cocktail Master Class. Like a good musicians, Stephenson studies the classics and adds modern twists to create contemporary art, all in the name of giving you a better tasting experience. 

Gin: the much Lamented Death of Madam Geneva by Patrick Dillon

Dillon’s 2013 release studies in great detail the social, economic and political consequences of the history of the Gin Craze in London in the UK. From the introduction of jenever to the UK with William of Orange’s ascension to the throne through the implementation and repeal of the Gin Acts, a more thorough history of gin in an easy-to-read format you will not find.