Once upon a time, in the good old 18th-century England, a rather intoxicating wave washed over the land—the infamous Gin Craze. The period, peppered with a potent mix of merriment and mayhem, saw the rise of gin as the darling drink of the masses. It was a time when gin shops sprouted quicker than daisies in spring, and Londoners found a new love affair with ‘Mother’s Ruin’.

The humble beginnings of the gin boom can be traced back to the William of Orange era, which saw a decrease in beer and ale consumption. Why, you ask? Because drinking gin was cheaper than guzzling beer! This was thanks to a series of government acts that made distilling easier and more profitable. Essentially, it was open season for gin production, and soon enough, everyone and their dog was distilling gin in bathtubs, cupboards, and possibly cauldrons.

The juniper juice quickly became the beverage of choice for the working class. Gin was so affordable that it was almost criminal—so much so that it often was, leading to some rather unsavoury scenes of public drunkenness and disorder. The spirit’s popularity skyrocketed, and at one point, statistics suggest there were a staggering 7,000 gin-shops in London alone. Picture this: a gin shop at every corner, with merry-makers spilling out onto the cobblestone streets, toasting to the health of their neighbours (and occasionally their pet goats).

But the gin craze wasn’t all fun and games. It gave rise to social problems, a bit of moral panic, and even some sensationalist engravings by William Hogarth. ‘Gin Lane’, one of his iconic pieces, depicts a rather dystopian view of gin’s impact, with Londoners depicted in various stages of inebriated decay. This piece of art, though, did more than just hang on a wall—it stirred the pot of public opinion and played a part in the government tightening regulations.

Enter the Gin Acts. The British government, seeing the ‘spirited’ excesses of its populace, decided to intervene. The series of laws aimed to quench the city’s thirst for gin by making it harder and more expensive to produce and sell. These Acts were met with about as much enthusiasm as a rain-soaked bonfire night, but eventually, they did lead to the decline of the gin craze.

While the Gin Craze might have caused a collective hangover that lasted a generation or two, it’s a period that’s looked back on with a sense of bewilderment and, dare we say, a hint of nostalgia. Today, the gin industry has been reborn, with artisanal distilleries and craft gin bars popping up, all celebrating the spirit with a more refined, botanical flair.

So, here’s to the Gin Craze—a chapter in history that taught us perhaps moderation is key, but also that a little bit of juniper can go a long way in lifting the spirits of a nation! Cheers!

Try one of our fabulous Gin’s and start your own ‘Gin Craze’