The West is slow to take to vodka, but in recent years it has become enormously popular in North America. Fizz , Screw , Bloody , Martini , Wallbanger . The two basic types are Dutch and British. Dry gin, the universal style, originated in London in the 1870s. Much lighter and more popular than older genever, it is essentially a versatile mixing spirit - with tonic water, juices and a numerous cocktails.
Dry gin is made in many countries, premier brands carrying English names.
Flavoured gins have declined, but sloe gin is still popular in Britian and North America. Gin's culinary uses are confined mainly to offal and games dishes. Of all the major spirits, gin is by far the youngest. Its earliest ancestor was first produced in Holland in 1650. England began producing gin by 1720.