The Best Straight-On Juniper Gins
With all the different flavored gins on the market, some would like to go back to the roots of gin, and juniper berries. So what are the best juniper gins?
In this article, we’ll discuss a bunch of amazing juniper-forward gins that will be appreciated by both gin veterans and beginners!
Our Top Picks for the Best Juniper Gins
Let’s get started. We have taste tested a large number of different gins and the below gins are specifically picked because they are juniper forward.
Sipsmith V.J.O.P.
Sipsmith makes some fantastic gins. From their original dry gin to multiple variations on it, they have a lot to offer. But if you’re looking for the most juniper-forward gin in their collection, look no further than Sipsmith V.J.O.P.
Sipsmith V.J.O.P. uses three times more juniper berries than their regular dry gin, making this one have a much heavier taste of juniper.
After all, V.J.O.P. stands for ‘Very Juniper Over Proof’, already hinting at the juniper dominance in this gin.
Besides being heavy on the crisp and piney juniper berries, this gin also has a much higher ABV (Alcohol By Volume) of 57.7%. The higher ABV once again adds to the crispness of the juniper berries.
With such a juniper-forward flavor and a high ABV, this would be the perfect gin if you’re looking for a strong cocktail.
The heavy emphasis on juniper berries makes this one great for a classic gin and tonic, but you could honestly use it in any cocktail of your liking!
Tanqueray London Dry Gin
Tanqueray is a household name when it comes to gin. And with their London Dry Gin, they have an amazing juniper-forward offering, perfect for both a gin lover and a newcomer to gins.
The Tanqueray London Dry gin recipe hasn’t changed since 1830, showing that the original recipe by Charles Tanqueray needs no improvement; it’s already fantastic.
When it comes to flavor, Tanqueray is known for being one of the best in this department. With this gin, you get a wonderfully smooth gin that still manages to portray the complexity of all the botanicals.
And since this is a London Dry gin, you’ll mainly pick up the crispness of juniper berries. It does come across as slightly smoother and sweeter than a lot of the other London Dry gins. With a gin like this, packed full of flavor, you simply can’t go wrong.
Whether you want to enjoy it neatly, so you can truly experience the juniper-forward flavor, or want to use it in your favorite gin-based cocktail, Tanqueray will never disappoint.
Gordon’s London Dry Gin
Gordon’s London Dry Gin was created over 250 years ago by Alexander Gordon. This London Dry gin has an ABV (Alcohol By Volume) of 37.5% and has a distinct taste of juniper.
The exact recipe of this gin is a secret and only 12 people know it, but we can pick up hints of fresh citruses and juniper.
These two come as no surprise, as most gins will contain such botanicals, but Gordon’s manages to do it in a fantastic way.
With your first sip, you’re immediately greeted by a zesty fresh flavor of citruses. On top of that, the crispness of the juniper is added. This creates a wonderful, true gin-like flavor that we all know and love.
Overall, Gordon’s London Dry Gin is nothing too unique, but it does everything great. You can easily use this gin in all of your favorite gin-based drinks, whether that’s a mix or just a glass served neatly!
Perfect for any household, as you don’t have to be an experienced gin enthusiast to enjoy this one.
Beefeater London Dry Gin
Beefeater is one of those classic gin brands we all know and love. And with their signature London Dry Gin, they’ve created a fantastic juniper-forward gin!
The brand has been around since 1863, and so has the Beefeater London Dry Gin. The gin was made with 9 different botanicals, juniper, angelica root, coriander, licorice, orris root, almond, orange, lemon, and angelica seed.
All these botanicals come together to create one of the purest forms of London Dry Gin.
The gin will taste crisp and fresh, with juniper on the forefront. Not far behind are some citrusy accords, which are known to blend in wonderfully with a good juniper.
With such a great and straightforward gin, it comes as no surprise that you can use this one in pretty much every drink. It’s great for a simple gin and tonic, but also for more extravagant cocktails.
And this would also be a great gin for both gin veterans and newcomers!
Tanqueray #10
Tanqueray #10 is a bit different than the other gins on this list. This is almost like a slightly sweeter version of the earlier discussed Tanqueray London Dry gin. Still juniper-forward though.
When you open your bottle of Tanqueray #10, you’re greeted by a scent of fruits and juniper. The scent itself is a little less juniper-forward with the addition of all the different fruits, but it’s definitely still here.
The same goes for the actual flavor of this gin. The juniper still plays a large role, but it’s more heavily supported by fresh fruits and citruses. This makes for a more approachable flavor that is very beginner-friendly.
This would be a great gin for someone who’s never had gin before. It’s still a classic gin just a bit more easy-going.
With the easygoing nature comes a lot of versatility. This gin will be great on its own, in a cocktail, mixed with tonic, or even mixed with ginger ale. An approachable gin like this will do fine, no matter the type of drink.
Broker’s London Dry Gin
Broker’s London Dry Gin is a wonderful gin with a recipe that has been unchanged for over 200 years. They believe the founders got it right the first time, and it’s hard to disagree with them after you’ve taken a sip of this gin.
The botanicals used in this gin are juniper berries, coriander seed, cinnamon, cassia bark, angelica root, orris root, licorice, nutmeg, lemon peel, and orange peel.
These botanicals are steeped for 24 hours in a pure grain spirit, bringing smoothness to the drink.
What you get with this gin is a straightforward London Dry Gin. A predominant flavor of juniper, supported by fresh citruses and a few warming spices make for a familiar and extremely pleasant taste.
Use this gin in your favorite gin-based cocktail or simply enjoy it neatly over ice. Beware, though, because this gin has an ABV of 47%! If you love a good juniper-forward gin, this would be a great option.
Junipero Gin
Junipero is an American gin distillery, that claims to have led the birth of American craft gin. This gin comes in a beautiful looking bottle with an ABV of 49.3%, which is higher than your typical gin.
This is definitely a juniper-forward gin. In fact, the name ‘Junipero’ literally means juniper in Spanish.
Along with the juniper are the following botanicals; angelica root, anise seed, bitter orange peel, cardamom, cassia bark, orris root, orange peel, lemon peel, cubeb, coriander, and grains of paradise.
With the first sip of this gin, you’ll immediately understand why it’s named this way. A strong and crisp juniper is at the forefront, showing its freshness and complexity.
Along with the juniper are hints of fresh citruses and very soft spice. This makes for an easy-going gin that still manages to be heavy on the juniper.
Serve over ice and garnish with a lemon peel, this gin will be great on its own or with a good quality tonic.
St. George Terroir
St. George Terroir tastes like a forest in a bottle. This gin is extremely heavy in the juniper and pine notes, making for a crisp flavor that tastes extremely juniper-forward.
Besides the juniper, this gin uses many more botanical notes. Citruses, sage, pine, bay laurels, and fir, just to name a few. However, the great thing about all these botanicals is that they all enhance the juniper.
Juniper is known to have a pine-like taste, and the addition of actual pine only strengthens this feel.
Citruses add a freshness that makes the juniper pop more, and the several herbaceous botanicals give a fresh and aromatic undertone to the gin.
What this leaves you with is a gin that tastes extremely crisp and piney, like a forest in a bottle. This all enhances the flavor of the juniper berries, leaving you with a gin that tastes extremely juniper-forward.
Mix this gin with your favorite tonic or use it in one of your cocktails. You can also sip this one neat, but beware of the 45% ABV (Alcohol By Volume)!
But really, this is a gin that will be great in any drink, provided you are a gin-lover!
Bombay Sapphire Original London Dry
Bombay Sapphire is an incredibly popular and respected gin brand. It should come as no surprise, then, that they also have one of the best juniper-forward gins on the market.
This gin has been created 25 years before the now most popular Bombay Sapphire gin bottled in the iconic blue bottle.
The London Dry Gin comes in a simpler bottle with a similar shape, but a white label and without the blue hue.
With an ABV (Alcohol By Volume) of 37,5%, Bombay Sapphire Original London Dry is around your average gin ABV. Its taste, however, is a little more juniper-forward than your average gin.
This is mainly due to the fact that there’s only a small number of botanicals used in this gin. Naturally, this makes the ones that are used more pronounced, however, the focus seems to lie on the juniper berries.
With such a smooth and juniper-forward gin, you have the perfect gin for any cocktail, gin and tonic, or cravings for a neat glass of gin!
No.3 London Dry Gin
No.3 London Dry Gin is a beautiful gin with a simple, straightforward flavor palette. This gin is infused with only 6 different botanicals, allowing all of them to shine even brighter.
The core of this gin would be the juniper-forward flavor, paired with an undertone of citrusy notes and some spices.
This can be found back in the 6 botanicals used for this gin; juniper berries from Italy, grapefruit peel from Uruguay, orange peel from Spain, Coriander from Bulgaria, Cardamom from Guatemala, and Angelica Root from Poland.
These are some classic gin botanicals. You have the standard juniper, paired with Angelica root, a commonly used botanical, and you have your classic selection of citruses.
These botanicals come together to create a relatively straightforward, but amazing flavor.
Upon opening the bottle, you’re greeted by crisp juniper and fresh citruses. And these are immediately present in the first sip as well.
The juniper and citruses are definitely at the forefront, followed closely by a fresh undertone of spicy cardamom.
Overall, this is an amazing gin with a classic London Dry flavor. Pair this gin with your favorite mix or just sip it neatly! You really cannot go wrong with this one!
Why Most Gins Are Juniper Forward
If there’s one unmissable ingredient in a gin, it has to be the juniper berries. In fact, a gin can’t even be called a gin if it doesn’t contain juniper berries.
A gin is required, by law, to have juniper berries as its predominant flavor. Aside from the juniper berries, a gin distiller is free to add whatever botanicals he/she wants, but the juniper berries have to be included.
Due to the laws in place that require a gin to be predominantly juniper flavored, many of the gins on the market are juniper-forward. Added to that is the fact that a London Dry Gin is the most popular gin, and a London Dry Gin is an unsweetened type of gin.
All of these factors result in most gins, or most of the popular gins, being rather juniper-forward. There are, however, a few differences. Some of the most popular gins are actually not that juniper-forward in taste.
Even though the dominant botanical is juniper berry, other flavors could come through to give it a different taste. Spices, for example, can give off a strong flavor, so even a little amount of spices can have a large influence on the actual flavors of the gin.
Other botanicals with a strong flavor are lavender, citruses, and licorice. These botanicals can have a large influence on the flavor and can take away some of that crispy juniper flavor.
On the other hand, there are also some botanicals that can enhance the flavor of the juniper berries, Certain citruses and pine will boost the crispiness of the juniper berries even more.
These will also be the more commonly used botanicals in a juniper-forward gin.
Overall, there are many, many different gins, and even though they all contain juniper berries, some are definitely more juniper-forward than others.
Final Thoughts
There you have it, our picks for the best juniper gins. And while they vary in their flavors and complexities, they all share one thing-a distinct taste of Juniper that will excite your pallet.
You can also check out some of these lesser-known but equally amazing ones from small distilleries across the country!
