St. George Botanivore Gin 750ML

St. George Botanivore Gin 750ML is a 19-botanical American craft gin bottled at 45% ABV (90 proof) from Alameda, California. Awarded 93 points by Wine Enthusiast and named one of the publication's Top 50 Spirits of 2012, Botanivore stands as one of the most botanically complex gins produced in the United States — described by Park and Bond as "a sunshine-drenched greenhouse of a spirit."

Quick Facts: ABV: 45%  |  Origin: Alameda, California, USA  |  Style: New American / Botanical Gin  |  Distillery: St. George Spirits

Production & Heritage

St. George Spirits, founded in 1982, is one of America's pioneering craft distilleries. Botanivore uses a dual-extraction method that distinguishes it from conventional gin production: juniper berries, bay laurel, and fresh cilantro are placed in a botanicals basket above the still, while the remaining 16 botanicals — including angelica root, bergamot peel, citra hops, caraway, cardamom, and star anise — steep overnight in the pot of a 1,500-liter copper pot still. Gentle steam heat then coaxes flavors from both sources, yielding a layered spirit where no single botanical dominates the profile. This approach produces a gin that reads more like a garden than a juniper-forward London Dry.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with soft juniper and pine resin, then unfolds into fennel, lime zest, cracked pepper, and baking spice. It reads rich and beautifully balanced, with each botanical emerging in sequence rather than competing.

Taste: The entry is thick and slightly oily, carrying vivid cinnamon, spicy ginger candy, and bright peppercorn. The midpalate transitions to dry green herbs — cilantro and dill most notably — with a lacing of dark licorice and an earthy, almost Aquavit-like caraway note that adds depth. Esquire called it simply "complex and bright."

Finish: The finish is warm and spicy, opening with forest-floor earthiness before giving way to lemony hops, candied orange, and lime wedge. It concludes with a long, lingering kiss of pine, mint, and ginger, bookended by a clean, hop-driven astringency and cool licorice back note.

How to Drink Botanivore Gin

Given its complexity and 45% ABV, Botanivore rewards neat sipping at room temperature, where the full botanical cascade reveals itself. A single large ice cube or a few drops of water can open up the citrus and fennel notes without muting the herbal core.

• Gin & Tonic: The 19 botanicals create a remarkably layered G&T; the citra hops and citrus peel play naturally against tonic's quinine bitterness.
• Negroni: The warm spice and earthy herbs hold their own against Campari and sweet vermouth, adding a garden-fresh dimension to the classic.
• Bee's Knees: Honey syrup and lemon juice amplify the ginger, cardamom, and bergamot notes already present in the spirit.

Best For

• Gifting a gin enthusiast who already owns the usual London Drys
• Building a craft spirits shelf focused on American distilleries
• Side-by-side tastings comparing botanical-forward gins
• Elevating a home cocktail bar with a versatile, complex base spirit

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Botanivore Gin taste like? Botanivore delivers a layered profile of warm cinnamon, spicy ginger, and bright pepper up front, transitioning to earthy cilantro, dill, and dark licorice at the midpalate, with a long finish of pine, hops, and candied citrus. The juniper is present but deliberately understated, allowing the full greenhouse of 19 botanicals to share the stage.

How does Botanivore Gin compare to The Botanist? Both are complex, multi-botanical gins — Botanivore uses 19 botanicals with a dual-extraction copper-pot method in California, while The Botanist uses 22 hand-foraged Islay botanicals in a Lomond still in Scotland. Reviewers describe the two as "very similar" in ambition but different in flavor direction: Botanivore leans warmer and spicier, while The Botanist tends toward lighter, floral-herbal notes.

Is Botanivore Gin good for sipping neat? Yes — its 45% ABV provides enough structure for neat sipping, and the layered botanical profile unfolds gradually on the palate, making it one of the more rewarding gins to drink without a mixer.

Where is Botanivore Gin made? Botanivore is produced at St. George Spirits distillery in Alameda, California, situated in an old airplane hangar on the former Alameda Naval Air Station. St. George Spirits, founded in 1982, is one of the oldest craft distilleries in the United States.

What foods pair well with Botanivore Gin? Smoked salmon or cured trout complement the dill and caraway character. Fresh goat cheese with herbs echoes the green, herbal midpalate. Seared scallops with citrus beurre blanc pick up the bergamot and lime notes. Thai green curry mirrors the cilantro, ginger, and lemongrass-adjacent spice. Dark chocolate with candied orange peel harmonizes with the warm, spicy finish.

What sizes does Botanivore Gin come in? The standard widely available format is the 750ml bottle.

Is Botanivore Gin worth the price? Botanivore positions as a premium craft gin, sitting above mass-market options but within reach for serious home bartenders. The 93-point Wine Enthusiast rating, dual-extraction production method, and 19-botanical recipe offer strong value relative to other small-batch American gins in the same tier.

Why Botanivore Gin?

The dual-extraction method — basket distillation for the freshest botanicals, overnight pot steeping for the rest — is a production choice few gin producers attempt, and it is the primary reason Botanivore's flavor profile reads as layered rather than blended. The 93-point Wine Enthusiast score and Top 50 Spirits selection reflect genuine critical recognition, not marketing awards. Among American craft gins, Botanivore occupies a distinctive position: botanical complexity without sacrificing balance, warmth without heaviness, and enough character to stand alone yet enough versatility to anchor cocktails from a Negroni to a Bee's Knees.