What Happens When You Make Gin At Home

Gin became the opiate of the poor in 18th century England. It's thought this led many women to child neglect and prostitution. So gin became known as "Mother's Ruin".

Satirist William Hogarth's print Gin Lane (above) depicts a 1751 London street scene. This is described by the History Channel as showing "such disturbing scenes as a gin-crazed mother, covered in syphilitic sores, unwittingly dropping her baby to its death down some cellar stairs while she takes a pinch of snuff."

Many tourists remark how little London has changed today.

Rather than just watching the current craft cocktail craze, I have decided to participate. Thanks to the Homemade Gin Kit I have made my first batch. Watch out Bombay Sapphire! Watch out Hendrick's! The Homemade Gin Kit makes it so easy. Just buy a cheap, generic vodka. Add the provided botanicals in the Homemade Gin Kit. Wait for 36 hours and, voila! A mid brown liquid which I am assured is gin. I am calling "mother's ruin" in honor of its predecessors.

Judging by the taste, I am not sure that I am going to give up my Bombay Sapphire and Fever Tree tonic just yet, but at least I can sell it to the "gin-crazed mothers, covered in syphilitic sores."  

Gin Kits come with two 375-ml glass bottles, tins of "gin-gredients" (juniper berries and special botanical blend), custom stainless steel funnel and strainer, and instructions.

For more information, click here.