Junipero Gin 750ML

Junipero Gin 750ML is an unfiltered, juniper-forward American gin distilled in San Francisco at 49.3% ABV (98.6 proof) in a 750ml bottle. Awarded 95 points and a Chairman's Trophy at the 2019 Ultimate Spirits Challenge, this pot-still gin helped launch the American craft spirits movement and remains one of the most respected gins produced in the United States.

Quick Facts: ABV: 49.3%  |  Origin: San Francisco, California  |  Style: Juniper-Forward American Gin  |  Distillery: Hotaling & Co. (formerly Anchor Distilling Co.)

Production & Heritage

Junipero was first distilled in 1996 at Anchor Distilling Co., an offshoot of San Francisco's Anchor Brewing Company. The distillery, now operating as Hotaling & Co., produces Junipero in small batches using a traditional copper pot still. Twelve botanicals in their natural state are ground and added directly to a base of grain neutral spirits blended with filtered San Francisco water sourced from the Hetch Hetchy watershed in Yosemite. Unlike most commercial gins, the finished spirit is not chill-filtered, which preserves the full weight and aromatic complexity of the botanicals. The elevated 98.6 proof bottling strength further ensures that the botanical character holds up in both neat pours and mixed drinks.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Bold juniper dominates the nose immediately, layered over a clean, herbal backdrop with a subtle citrus brightness. Allow the gin to breathe and quieter notes of lemongrass and wild flowers emerge underneath the evergreen core.

Taste: The entry is flowery, grassy, and gently herbal with a firm but never biting structure despite its high proof. At mid-palate the texture turns luxuriously velvety and oily, revealing a well-balanced suite of botanicals — cardamom, lemon peel, and mild sweetness. The juniper remains the throughline, holding everything together without overwhelming the supporting cast.

Finish: Long and layered, concluding with a flourish of roots, brambles, and renewed juniper. The unfiltered bottling leaves a rich, slightly resinous mouthfeel that lingers well after the sip.

How to Drink Junipero

At nearly 100 proof, Junipero rewards a splash of cool water or a single large ice cube, which opens up the floral and citrus dimensions without dulling the juniper core. Its bold structure also makes it a workhorse in cocktails. A Classic Martini is the benchmark serve — the gin's oily body and juniper intensity pair naturally with dry vermouth. A Negroni is another strong match, where Junipero's proof and botanical weight stand up to Campari and sweet vermouth without being buried. For warmer weather, try a Tom Collins; the gin's lemon-peel brightness and herbal edge translate beautifully into a long, refreshing format.

Best For

• Gin enthusiasts who value a juniper-driven, unapologetically classic profile
• Home bartenders building a cocktail-ready gin shelf at a higher proof point
• Gifting to fans of American craft distilling history
• Blind-tasting evenings comparing New World gins against traditional London dry styles

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Junipero taste like? Junipero is a bold, juniper-forward gin with a velvety mid-palate featuring cardamom, lemon peel, and lemongrass, finishing long with roots and bramble. Its unfiltered, high-proof character gives it a noticeably richer mouthfeel than most gins in the category.

How does Junipero compare to Tanqueray? Both are strong, juniper-led gins suited to classic cocktails, but Junipero is bottled at a higher 49.3% ABV versus Tanqueray's standard 47.3% and is not chill-filtered, giving it a heavier body and more textural complexity. Tanqueray uses a proprietary four-botanical recipe for a cleaner, more streamlined profile, while Junipero's twelve botanicals create a wider aromatic spectrum.

Is Junipero good for cocktails? Junipero excels in cocktails precisely because of its 98.6 proof and dense botanical load — it cuts through dilution, citrus, and modifiers without fading. It is particularly well regarded in Martinis and Negronis.

Where is Junipero made? Junipero is distilled at Hotaling & Co. (formerly Anchor Distilling Co.) in San Francisco, California. The water used in production comes from the Hetch Hetchy watershed in Yosemite National Park.

What foods pair well with Junipero? Smoked salmon or gravlax mirrors the gin's herbal, grassy quality. Fresh oysters on the half shell complement its briny, citrus-forward notes. Aged hard cheeses like Gruyère balance the juniper intensity. Grilled white fish with a lemon-herb sauce echoes the lemon peel and lemongrass in the botanical blend. Cured charcuterie benefits from the gin's peppery, root-driven finish.

What sizes does Junipero come in? Junipero Gin is most widely available in the standard 750ml bottle, though 375ml half-bottles may appear in select markets.

Is Junipero worth the price? Junipero positions as a premium craft gin, sitting above mass-market London dry offerings but below ultra-premium or limited-release expressions. Its combination of small-batch copper pot distillation, unfiltered bottling, and higher proof delivers significant depth for the price tier, and its consistent critical recognition — including a 95-point Chairman's Trophy — reinforces its standing as strong value within the premium segment.

Why Junipero?

Released in 1996, Junipero was one of the first craft-distilled gins produced in the United States, predating the modern American gin boom by over a decade. Its unfiltered, 98.6-proof bottling is a deliberate choice that preserves botanical richness in a way that most column-still, chill-filtered gins simply cannot replicate. Critical recognition has been sustained over the years, from a Double Gold at The Gin Is In in 2017 to Best American London Dry Gin at the World Gin Awards in 2018 and a 95-point Chairman's Trophy at the Ultimate Spirits Challenge in 2019. For anyone looking for a gin that prioritizes juniper authority, textural weight, and genuine small-batch provenance, Junipero remains one of the benchmarks in American gin distilling.