“Gin has a wild and globe-spanning history, but the short version is that it originated in Holland as kidney medicine before ending up as the recreational beverage we know and love today. Because it relies on a collection of far-flung botanicals, gin can be thought of as the world’s first global spirit, and since its beginnings has been associated with modernity and urban life. (Also, if you want a fun way to spend a few hours, google “gin craze;” you won’t be disappointed.)”