Gin (Object Lessons)

"Object Lessons is a series of short, beautifully designed books about the hidden lives of ordinary things. Gin tastes like Christmas to some and rotten pine chips to others, but nearly everyone familiar with the spirit holds immediate gin nostalgia. Although early medical textbooks treated it as a healing agent, early alchemists (as well as their critics) claimed gin's base was a path to immortality-and also Satan's tool. In more recent times, the gin trade consolidated the commercial and political power of nations and prompted a social campaign against women. Gin has been used successfully as a defense for murder; blamed for massive unrest in 18th-century England; and advertised for as an abortifacient. From its harshest proto-gin distillation days to the current smooth craft models, gin plays a powerful cultural role in film, music, and literature-one that is arguably older, broader, and more complex than any other spirit. Object Lessons is published in partnership with an essay series in the The Atlantic."-- Provided by publisher "Gin tastes like Christmas to some and rotten pine chips to others. Although early medical textbooks treated it as a healing agent, early alchemists (as well as their critics) claimed gin was a path to immortality - and also Satan's tool. In more recent times, the gin trade consolidated the commercial and political power of nations and prompted a social campaign against women. Gin has been used successfully as a defense for murder; blamed for massive unrest in 18th-century England; and advertised as an abortifacient. From its harshest earliest form to the current smooth craft models, gin has played a powerful role in our culture - one that is arguably older, broader, and more complex than any other spirit." -- Book cover "Gin tastes like Christmas to some and rotten pine chips to others. Although early medical textbooks treated it as a healing agent, early alchemists (as well as their critics) claimed gin was a path to immortality - and also Satan's tool. In more recent times, the gin trade consolidated the commercial and political power of nations and prompted a social campaign against women. Gin has been used successfully as a defense for murder; blamed for massive unrest in 18th-century England; and advertised as an abortifacient. From its harshest earliest form to the current smooth craft models, gin has played a powerful role in our culture - one that is arguably older, broader, and more complex than any other spirit." --Rabat Title Page Copyright Page Contents Chapter 1: Gin and Juice: An Introduction Chapter 2: A Potent Three-Letter Etymology Chapter 3: The Basics: Juniper Chapter 4: The Basics: Distillation Chapter 5: Class and Type Chapter 6: The Great Style Divide Chapter 7: Dutch Courage and the British Navy Chapter 8: The British Gin Craze Chapter 9: Ice Harvest, American Style Chapter 10: Gincidents Chapter 11: Portraiture and Visuals Chapter 12: Lyrics and Verse Chapter 13: Film and Literature Chapter 14: Ginaissance Acknowledgments List of Figures Index