This article was taken from the February 2012 issue of Wired magazine. Be the first to read Wired's articles in print before they're posted online, and get your hands on loads of additional content by subscribing online.
Essence of body wash and a splash of cyanide to mix with your Martini.
Each month Wired's chemist Dr John Emsley deconstructs an everyday product. He is the author of 110 research papers and ten books, including his most recent: Nature's Building Blocks, 2nd edition (OUP).
Ingredients: - Alcohol (40 per cent)
Juniper berries
Angelica
Almonds
Lemon peel
Liquorice
Orris root
Coriander
Cassia bark
Cubeb berriesGrains of paradise
Alcohol Twice distilled and infused with natural flavouring agents, which release traces of volatile chemicals and add flavour
and aroma to the gin.
Juniper berries The basis of all gins, they release an oil consisting of cadinene (C<sub>15</sub>H<sub>24</sub>), camphene (C<sub>10</sub>H<sub>16</sub>) , terpineol (C<sub>10</sub>H<sub>18</sub>O) and alpha-pinene (C<sub>10</sub>H<sub>16</sub>).
Angelica This root releases lingustilide (C<sub>12</sub>H<sub>14</sub>O<sub>2</sub>), a ketone with a spicy odour, and beta-terebangelene (C<sub>10</sub>H<sub>16</sub>), a hydrocarbon with a sweet aroma.
Lemon peel Distilling lemon rind releases several aldehydes, dominated by 2,6-dimethyl-5-heptenal (C<sub>9</sub>H<sub>16</sub>O). It has a surprisingly melon-like flavour
Liquorice The root of glycyrrhiza glabra contains glycyrrhizic acid (C<sub>42</sub>H<sub>62</sub>O16), a complex molecule which is 30 times sweeter than sugar
Orris root Also known as iris germanica, orris root provides cetonal (C<sub>14</sub>H<sub>24</sub>O), an aldehyde with woody and raspberry odours. It's used in tinctures
Coriander seeds These add linalool, which has a floral aroma used in shower gel. It was also once used as a pesticide against fleas and cockroaches
Cassia bark Contains cinnamon, which releases coumarin when distilled. Coumarin can be found in rodenticides and anticoagulants.
Cubeb berries Provide various oils, of which sabinene and cubebene predominate. They are said to have antioxidant and anti-cancer properties
Grains of paradise AKA aframomum melegueta, this spice from the ginger family emits 6-paradol, which has a peppery flavour.
This article was originally published by WIRED UK
