Lecture 3 - Grain and Gin

Question 1

Gin production

Answer 1

• juniper berry flavoured spirit, unclear origins
• distill natural spirit (95% alcohol) from fermented mash of grains, sugar rich plants
• add water and botanicals, juniper berries and other plants
• gets re-distilled (4-5x)

Question 2

gin movement

Answer 2

-came to england from netherlands as result of King James 2 as he wasa not popular
-english throne was offered to to protestant william of orange who then invaded england - bloodless revolution
this led to a war with france and dutch government bringing gin with them

Question 3

why was gin so popular?

Answer 3

little intense drink served in small cups and was cheap

-behavioural change in drinking culture compared to beer

Question 4

gin legislation

Answer 4

rich land owners dominated parliament and they had grain surpluses
-mashed barely was feedstock for gin and kept distilling taxes low (corrupt)

Question 5

Anti-gin response

Answer 5

-moral entrepaneurs
-pre temperance movement group who dont attack at same level
attacked poor and created moral panics

Question 6

Gin act 1736

Answer 6

• one of many
• imposed licence fee, didnt work, led to riots
• celebrated the death of Madame Geneva