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AIBU?

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Original poster

Gordon’s Lemon Meringue isn’t gin!

32 replies

SSRI · 20/11/2025 20:21

I bought a bottle over the counter at my local mini supermarket, they didn’t have my fave Sicilian Lemon so thought I’d give this a go. In tiny writing at the bottom it says ‘spirit drink’ it’s not actually bloody gin! I choose gin because in my head it’s one of the easiest to digest, doesn’t give me a hangover and seems faintly medicinal. This all of course may be bollocks but this is clearly some fakey ultra processed chemical juice that I will probably regret. I’m drinking some now with tonic, it’s alright but tastes more vodka-y and just Isn’t Gin. I feel mid-sold. AIBU?

OP posts:
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YouAndMeDays · 07/02/2026 08:46

LadyMonicaBaddingham · 06/02/2026 20:12

Gin for people who don't like gin is definitely a thing lately...

So true 😆

YouAndMeDays · 07/02/2026 08:45

BillieWiper · 06/02/2026 21:36

Ok yeah I know clear spirits are. Is whisky as well?
But it doesn't say that on the packaging or branding material though does it?

I wonder why they just say 'spirit'. It's why OP and others get confused I think. I guess 'ethanol' doesn't sound very appealing and tasty.

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All drinking alcohol is ethanol. Every spirit, wine, beer etc - ethanol. There is no other type.

BillieWiper · 06/02/2026 21:36

YouAndMeDays · 06/02/2026 19:08

Spirits are ethanol. Gin, vodka, rum - ethanal. Vodka is not the default.

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Ok yeah I know clear spirits are. Is whisky as well?
But it doesn't say that on the packaging or branding material though does it?

I wonder why they just say 'spirit'. It's why OP and others get confused I think. I guess 'ethanol' doesn't sound very appealing and tasty.

LadyMonicaBaddingham · 06/02/2026 20:12

Gin for people who don't like gin is definitely a thing lately...

Uricon2 · 06/02/2026 19:33

tartyflette · 06/02/2026 17:48

Gin is typically a colourless spirit distilled from grain and flavoured with juniper.
I despair of some modern 'gins' flavoured (and even sweetened!) with god knows what.
I recommend Beefeater for a 'juniper forward' gin at 40 pct abv.

Thanks for the recommend. I like Chase GB, juniper and somehow piney. Proper gin.

YouAndMeDays · 06/02/2026 19:25

Wine, beer - ethanol with carbs

Spirits - ethanol, sometimes with herbs/flavourings

TicklishReader · 06/02/2026 19:21

NeverDropYourMooncup · 06/02/2026 19:19

It's just the plastic on the bottle.

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I had no idea. What a scam.

NeverDropYourMooncup · 06/02/2026 19:19

TicklishReader · 06/02/2026 19:16

Bombay Sapphire isn't blue?

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It's just the plastic on the bottle.

TicklishReader · 06/02/2026 19:16

Livpool · 21/11/2025 19:38

I thought gin (I can’t drink the ‘proper’ stuff, only flavours like pink gin, and don’t get me started on Bombay Sapphire not being blue!) was basically vodka with juniper berries added? Then the favours are just other flavours!

That is how my aunt used to make it years ago!

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Bombay Sapphire isn't blue?

YouAndMeDays · 06/02/2026 19:08

BillieWiper · 06/02/2026 18:14

Ok, but isn't plain see through spirit just known as 'vodka' when selling drinks with it in?
Spirits never say they contain ethanol do they?

Show quote history

Spirits are ethanol. Gin, vodka, rum - ethanal. Vodka is not the default.

BillieWiper · 06/02/2026 18:14

YouAndMeDays · 06/02/2026 17:52

Not really. It's all ethanol. With flavourings, or not.

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Ok, but isn't plain see through spirit just known as 'vodka' when selling drinks with it in?
Spirits never say they contain ethanol do they?

FrostyPalms · 06/02/2026 17:55

We make gin at home by steeping juniper berries in vodka and also adding various other flavors as we see fit.

YouAndMeDays · 06/02/2026 17:54

ALL ALCOHOL IS ETHANOL.

Maybe with some flavour. Wine, beer, vodka, gin - the alcohol part is all ethanol. There is only type of alcohol that humans can ingest relatively safely.

I thank you.

YouAndMeDays · 06/02/2026 17:52

BillieWiper · 21/11/2025 15:59

Gin is vodka with berries in it to flavour it.

Not really. It's all ethanol. With flavourings, or not.

Lmnop22 · 06/02/2026 17:51

I love the idea that you reconcile yourself to drinking gin by saying it’s vaguely medicinal 😂 not that you need any excuse to drink gin and I certainly drink enough of it myself. But this internal monologue of “shall I pour a gin on a Tuesday? Go on then, it is vaguely medicinal after all” tickled me

tartyflette · 06/02/2026 17:48

Gin is typically a colourless spirit distilled from grain and flavoured with juniper.
I despair of some modern 'gins' flavoured (and even sweetened!) with god knows what.
I recommend Beefeater for a 'juniper forward' gin at 40 pct abv.

Livpool · 21/11/2025 19:38

dementedpixie · 20/11/2025 21:30

I googled it and it's 35% alcohol so it is gin with added flavours to make it taste of lemon meringue

@Livpool vodka is very different from gin!
Gin is horrible and vodka is nice

I thought gin (I can’t drink the ‘proper’ stuff, only flavours like pink gin, and don’t get me started on Bombay Sapphire not being blue!) was basically vodka with juniper berries added? Then the favours are just other flavours!

That is how my aunt used to make it years ago!

Shizzlestix · 21/11/2025 17:01

I check abv, I like a ‘burn’. Depressingly, the flavoured vodkas all taste incredibly sweet ai can’t do fizz so can’t dilute them.

Kuretake · 21/11/2025 16:41

They are if they're labelled as gin - it's a protected term.

SleepingisanArt · 21/11/2025 16:12

Not only must it be 37.5% it must contain juniper to be called gin. London gin is a specific recipe but does not have to be distilled in London. Any gin over 47% abv is classified in the UK as Navy Strength. The history of gin is really interesting but most of the flavoured gins are not gin at all...

BillieWiper · 21/11/2025 15:59

Gin is vodka with berries in it to flavour it.

Original poster
SSRI · 21/11/2025 15:51

Every day is a school day! I thought gin was totally different to vodka. The Sicilian Lemon one definitely says gin on it. Maybe it’s due to the lower alcohol content then.

I thought it was the latest country gone to the dogs thing now we aren’t allowed proper chocolate on Penguins, not even being allowed gin is too much. It was cheaper though so there’s that. And I don’t feel rough today despite drinking best part of 1/2 the bottle Gin

OP posts:
Kuretake · 20/11/2025 21:52

Fifty50Fifty · 20/11/2025 21:51

Gin based liqueur has more stuff added to it - mainly sugar but also other flavourings. As a result it is lower in alcohol. Gin can only be called gin if it is at least 37.5% ABV.

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Ah that makes sense thank you!

Kuretake · 20/11/2025 21:51

Minjou · 20/11/2025 21:49

Well of course it isn't! Once you mess around with it adding flavours like lemon meringue, it's not pure gin anymore. How could it be?

It's not gin at all - gin is just a grain spirit flavoured with juniper. This is a grain spirit flavoured with lemon.

It doesn't make it any more or less pure and won't make a difference to OP's health.

Fifty50Fifty · 20/11/2025 21:51

Kuretake · 20/11/2025 21:47

Gin is also a spirit though. How is a gin based liqueur made differently? I don't understand the distinction.

Gin based liqueur has more stuff added to it - mainly sugar but also other flavourings. As a result it is lower in alcohol. Gin can only be called gin if it is at least 37.5% ABV.