What type of spirit is required for gin production in the EU?

The production of gin in the EU mandates the use of neutral spirit as its base. Neutral spirit is typically a high-proof alcoholic beverage that has been distilled to a point where it retains minimal flavor, allowing the botanicals used in gin to impart their characteristics without interference from the underlying grain or source material. This enhances the ability of distillers to craft a wide variety of gin styles, as the flavoring from botanicals becomes the predominant element in the final product.

Neutral spirit facilitates the consistent quality and purity that is expected from gin, which is often infused with herbs, spices, and botanicals, including juniper, coriander, and citrus peels, during the distillation process. This requirement ensures that the end spirit retains the distinct gin profile while also adhering to regulations in the EU governing spirits production.

In contrast, grain spirit, fruit spirit, and molasses spirit are different types of base spirits not specifically required for gin. Each of these spirits has its own distinct flavor profile and production method, which would not align with the standard for gin production as set forth by EU regulations.