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Holland gin

Holland gin

7.2
A gin from the Netherlands that tastes a little like malt
  • noun
translation icon : ginebra holandesa
  • While traveling in Amsterdam, she sampled authentic Holland gin at a local bar.

Examples

  • Traditional cocktails sometimes call for Holland gin instead of London dry gin.

  • The distinctive taste of Holland gin sets it apart from other types of gin.

  • I enjoyed a glass of Holland gin last night.

  • Have you ever tried Holland gin?

  • The distinctive taste of Holland gin sets it apart from other types of gin.

  • Traditional cocktails sometimes call for Holland gin instead of London dry gin.

  • While traveling in Amsterdam, she sampled authentic Holland gin at a local bar.

Synonyms

Hollands
vsHolland gin
9.2

A type of gin made in the Netherlands that tastes more like malt and is heavier than London dry gin

is the traditional Dutch form stressing old production methods and origin
geneva
vsHolland gin
  • Archaic
8.0

A strong drink flavored with juniper berries like old-style gin

is more about maltier taste and classic production than simple juniper

Surface Forms

Holland gin singular
Holland gins plural

Morphology

Holland + gin

The meaning is compositionally derived from 'Holland' (a place) + 'gin' (a spirit), so a learner who knows both words can infer it refers to gin produced in Holland/the Netherlands. Place+product compounds are a common, predictable pattern across languages, making this readily understandable to B1 learners.

Etymology

Holland gin comes from the English name for an old Dutch spirit called 'jenever'. The name links Holland (the Netherlands) and gin because it was made there from malt and tastes different from other gins, so today it means 'gin distilled in the Netherlands'.