What does the labelling term 'Distilled Gin' indicate in the EU?

The term 'Distilled Gin' in the EU indicates that flavors are added after the re-distillation of the base spirit. In this production method, the base spirit is first distilled to a certain purity and then infused with juniper berries and other botanicals during a subsequent distillation process. This process enhances the aromatic qualities of the gin while ensuring that the flavors are extracted effectively.

When talking about this term, it's important to understand that the addition of flavors after distillation allows for more controlled extraction of the flavors from the botanicals, providing a distinctive character to the spirit. The specific mention of 're-distillation' in the definition clarifies that this is a two-step process involving the base spirit's distillation followed by an additional distillation to infuse flavors.

Other choices inaccurately describe the gin-making process; for instance, indicating that flavors are added before distillation would mischaracterize the method for Distilled Gin. Similarly, stating that flavors come solely from the base spirit would not accurately represent the essential botanical contribution to the flavor profile. Finally, the assertion that no sugar is added is irrelevant to the definition of Distilled Gin, as it does not necessarily pertain to how flavors are infused into the spirit.