When someone says gin, what's the first thing that comes to your mind? A clear botanical flavor made from juniper berries? That is the traditional answer, however today most liquor store shelves are filled with a new sight, bottles with shades ranging from light pink to deep pink. This new expression is called Pink Gin.
What is Pink Gin? How is it different from regular gin? Yet, pink gin is not normal gin mixed with color. It has its own production method, ingredients and flavors. Here's everything you need to know about pink gin, including its origins and popular brands in India.
The reason people refer to it as “Pink Gin” is because of its pink appearance and the associated fruit and floral flavor. London Dry Gin is a style that focuses on the juniper base with other botanicals, however modern pink gin incorporates strawberries, raspberries, rose petals, grapefruit etc.
This is how we describe modern pink gin, however traditional pink gin was made by mixing gin with angostura bitter. The bitters allowed the spirit to develop a faint pink tint that eventually led to the name, Pink Gin. Today it has evolved into a much broader category. The expressions made today are a mixture of convention gin and incorporating fruits, flowers and new aromas.
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The foundations are fairly similar to normal gin. A neutral flavored spirit derived from juniper berries and botanicals such as coriander seeds, angelica root, citrus peel and spices. This is where the change comes in, ingredients such as strawberries and raspberries are introduced, thereby giving it the sweeter flavor and tartness. Sharper notes can be added to balance the sweet character. Floral ingredients provide the aromas.
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The color comes from the usage of different ingredients. Strawberry and raspberry contain pigments that produce a pink or reddish shade, this is further strengthened by the way botanicals interact with the spirit. In order to maintain consistency, some manufacturers add colorants, this doesn't make the spirit sweeter or stronger.
The method of production also has its part to play as a distiller might introduce the fruits and botanicals via infusion or additional distillation or flavoring once the gin base is ready. The pink color often develops in the post distillation periods as natural fruit pigments would usually survive distillation.
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The main difference is in the appearance and flavor, as traditional dry gins are clear spirits while the floral and fruit give it its coloring. Pink gins are generally a lot more softer and approachable due to the flavor and aroma.
A common assumption is that pink gins are generally sweet, however strawberry led expressions produce berry flavors and grape-based variants contain a more sharper and citrus first taste. Some pink gins may have added sweeteners.
Pink gin is not automatically weaker than normal gin. The alcohol percentage depends on the producer and the type of expression, therefore checking the alcohol by volume on the bottle is the best way to compare it with regular gin. Pink gin is best enjoyed with tonic water, lemonade or sparkling wine, often served with a strawberry or citrus garnish.
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Pink gin has found its place in India's growing craft spirits market, with several homegrown distilleries experimenting with fruits, flowers, and regional botanicals. Alongside these Indian expressions, international gin brands offer their own interpretations of the spirit. Here are seven pink gins worth knowing about.
Made from a combination of floral and fruity ingredients such as rose petals, hibiscus and strawberries. The florals provide it with its aroma whilst the strawberries give it the fruit character. This combination creates an expression that goes beyond the traditional juniper first dry gins. Samsara describes The City of Pink as India's first pink gin.
Derived from a fruit forward recipe, it features a combination of strawberry, raspberry and other such flavors. The strawberry gives its sweet flavor profile while the raspberries and redcurrants give it its tartness. The berry first character makes it perfect for classic drinks such as gin and tonic. It is a combination of floral and fruit based flavors and Gordan’s famous gin character.
Building on the brand's already established London Dry Gin, this expression introduces strawberry flavors without moving away from the foundational botanical base. The juniper and citrus are a mainstay for the overall flavor while the strawberry gives the fruity character. The balances it creates allows for a conventional gin but with a fresh strawberry flavor.
The information presented in this article has been sourced from European Bartender School, The Oxford Companion to Spirits & Cocktails, and Gin Monkey, along with official references from Beefeater, 1919 Distilling, Downton Distillery, and Angostura. These sources provide details on the history of pink gin, its ingredients, flavor profiles, production methods, and the factors responsible for its distinctive color.
Pink gin has evolved considerably from its origins as a gin-and-bitters cocktail associated with British naval traditions. Today, it includes a variety of flavored gins featuring ingredients ranging from strawberries and raspberries to hibiscus, rose petals, and pink grapefruit. For anyone interested in exploring gin beyond traditional dry varieties, both Indian and international pink gin brands offer plenty of options.
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