If it's the second Saturday in June, it's World Gin Day!
The first written records of gin are found in 13th Century medical treatises where "Jenever"—made by monks—was used as a grain-based, juniper-flavored medicament. This treatment was used in an attempt to alleviate coughs, colds, pains, strains, ruptures, cramps, even the black plague. The juniper berries were a means of disguising the otherwise unpleasant taste of the early distillation. The modern spirit (from which gin evolved) was developed in Flanders and the Netherlands. The wider world embraced the treatment (recreationally), especially in England where it became very popular. The British began to call the spirit "Gin"—and it helped fill a void in the market (since conflicts with France prevented the free importation of brandy). Before long, gin frequently was being flavored with other ingredients including herbs, spices, flowers or fruit.
The cocktail glasses, shown above, were made in the Fifties—for many varieties of popular mixed drinks. Gin martinis were especially popular at the time. They have a reeded, tapering shaft which makes them easy to hold. And the platinum rims around the top and the foot—besides making them fancy—also protects (to a degree) the delicate glass edges from chipping. Click on the photo above to learn more about this handsome set of four stems.
Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store where we continue to sell Handsome Gifts (www.LEOdesignNYC.com).
To arrange a visit our Pittsburgh showroom (by private appointment only), please call 917-446-4248.