Whether you're a creator or merely an enthusiastic consumer of gin, you've probably noticed that the all gins seem to include Angelica Root and Orris Root. You may even have heard that they're fixatives, but what does that mean, and are fixatives a scam cooked up by crooked Angelica farmers?
What is a Fixative?
A fixative is an ingredient that is believed to 'fix' the aroma of a gin, perfume or essential oil. That is round out the aroma / flavour, and ensure that it lasts longer. This is obviously desirable in gin, as we don't want our fantastic creation slowly fading into a vodka.
What are the Main Fixatives Used In Gin?
Angelica Root - the root of the Angelica Archangelica plant is the most common fixative in gin. Aside from 'fixing' the flavour, it also imparts an earthy, woody and slightly bitter flavour. Anecdotally, angelica root is likely to be the second most used gin botanical after juniper.
Orris Root - the root of the Iris x Germanica - otherwise known as the German Bearded Iris. This woody little fellow has been used in traditional western medicine for centuries, and is also the main fixative used in potpourri (maybe not a great endorsement). Its flavour is remarkably bright, often being compared to raspberries and violets. Underpinning this is a pleasant earthiness.
Do Gin Fixatives Actually Work?
Probably.
We have been unable to find any scientific studies actually proving that Angelica or Orris actually make a difference to the long term aroma-retention of gin. However, it's reasonable to think that centuries of gin distillers and perfumiers knew what they were doing. Also, there are sensible theories with scientific-sounding words (umbelliferone! irones!) as to how this would work.
So Should you use Fixatives in Your Gin?
Yes. Angelica Root and Orris Root probably contribute to retention of aroma, but either way - they add good flavour complexity to your gin. Our advice is just do it.
Finally, Gin Craft would humbly suggest to any chemistry students looking for a doctoral thesis topic, that further exploration on this topic could do the world a great service and be a good reason to drink some gin.
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