The Philosophy of Gin

Few, if any, alcoholic drinks have the dramatic and multi-faceted history of gin. In this fascinating new installment of the British Library’s pocket philosophies, gin is explored through its origins in Holland, where it was popularized by William of Orange; its roots in medicine; its capacity to provide an albeit destructive escapism during the Gin Craze; its influence on language—responsible for the coining of "dutch courage;" and its current status as a popular social beverage and a past...