What are "Cuts"

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Distilling cuts in gin refer to the process of separating the different components of a distilled spirit based on their boiling points. During the distillation process, the distiller makes cuts to separate the "heads," "hearts," and "tails" of the distillate.

In the case of gin made from neutral spirits, the heads and tails cuts are less important, as the neutral spirit has already been distilled to remove the undesirable compounds. The focus is then on capturing the desirable flavors and aromas during the infusion process with botanicals.

The hearts cut is still important in this process as it represents the portion of the distillate where the desirable flavors are most concentrated. In the hearts cut, the flavors and aromas of the botanicals change throughout the run. The initial portion of the hearts cut may have a stronger juniper and citrus flavor, while the middle portion may have a more pronounced earthy and spicy character. Towards the end of the run, the flavor profile may shift towards more herbal notes, and finally end with floral aromas.

Overall, the distilling cuts process is critical in the production of high-quality gin. By carefully monitoring and adjusting the distillation parameters, the distiller can create a product with a consistent and desirable flavor profile. The hearts cut, in particular, is crucial to capturing the essence of the botanicals and producing a gin with complex and balanced flavors.