As a gin drinker - my favourite tipple - this was an absolute must read.
This was so full of history and I would love to have a copy on my shelf. I will be seeking this out to buy. .

This was a really interesting book and something that I'd love to keep on my shelf to go back to time and time again. Also great information to surprise your friends with over a G&T!

4/5 Stars

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with access to this e-arc.

This is a really informative history of gin across the globe. There is a lot of well researched history spanning from the origins of gin, it's connections between Holland and England through William of Orange, through the tragic gin craze and prohibition in the US before the World Wars and more modern drinking. It shows how there is a colourful history of gin in the world, before the modern boom in popularity and a great tale of how there is so much more to a G&T!

As an avid gin lover this was a great book, full of history and learnings. Would love to have it on my shelf permanently.

I love the idea of a history of gin! This got a bit into the weeds with some history/dates and wasn't quite as consistently readable as I'd hoped, but it was worth it for the overall info. Gin is such a historically important drink.

When it says 'the dark history of gin' it really means it. I thoroughly enjoyed the journey of gin through time. An eye-opener and I learned many new facts. A good read.

This is a fascinating read. Seldom does one pour a glass and wonder about the origins of its contents. This book could change that.

The book uses a light-hearted tone to convey the compelling history of gin, including its many pseudonyms. The timeline nature makes it easy to follow, linking each period well with a seamless transition throughout.

Periodically, the focus of each chapter becomes convoluted, meaning the impact is lessened by the lack of clarity. Despite this, it's an insightful exploration of the drink and its history.

This was an interesting look into the history of gin and gin drinking in Britain but as I've read other books similar to this one I didn't feel that I learned anything new. It was well written and enjoyable.

#netgalley
Thanks Netgalley for the ARC.

It's my delight to describe gin as "mother's ruin". The book gives a spirited (excuse the pun) account of everything gin.

But ultimately the history of gin is both tragic and gloomy. It's diffcult to reconcile just how the consumption of gin inspried Acts of Parliament and riots etc.

The book is sometimes repetitive but at the same time Mike Rendell makes it fascintating, especially to a gin lover. I liked the history of gin cocktails at the end of the book.

It really is a superb spirit with so many complex flavours and combinations.

*This book was received as an Advanced Reviewer's Copy from NetGalley.

Gin is my favorite; a good Aviation, mixed with a little jam, however you like it. But according to Rendell, it hasn't always been the premium liquor it is today. Not trendy, not as fun, but definitely consumed in vast quantities.

To start off first, this book lives up to its name. While the description mentions "light-hearted", I didn't really find it so. It was gloomy and largely showed all the Acts against gin, the history of the poor and their consumption, among all the other myths and issues that gin lies at the heart of.

While this was well written, it was a "dry" gin for me. The numerous chapters on the gin acts got somewhat repetitive, and while, that is history as it was made, I started skimming through them. I definitely enjoyed the last few chapters the best. Stories of the different distillers, the way new cocktails were made and shaped. And I also enjoyed the etymology (Geneva vs Gin, where did the word cocktail come from, etc.) that Rendell explored in this book as well.

If you are really interested in the political/sociological/historical implications of gin, this is a book that definitely encompasses all of those areas.

Review by M. Reynard 2022

This book was wonderful and interesting.

I am a gin enthusiast. This being said, I am not a history buff by any means. Because of this, I was worried that I wouldn't enjoy it. I was worried that it would feel like reading a history textbook. While it times it did, I had to remind myself that, well, that is exactly what I was reading. However, through most of the book there was fact, but there was also the author's voice which made this engaging in a way that I wasn't expecting.

I work at a craft cocktail bar and this was the perfect read. The people who sit at my bar are excited to talk about alcohol. They, like myself, are excited to learn. This book's educational value gave me fun little snippets of information that I could share with my customers as they waited for their drinks.

I enjoyed the way the book was set up and timeline focused. It really showed the evolution of gin and helped me better understand how it became the spirit I enjoy today.

All around I was just so so so pleased with this book

I enjoyed this book a lot. It had a lot of information, it has a good flowing writing style, so it’s easy and quick to read.

This is a really informative book but a bit heavy going! Great for history and gin lovers alike though!