Junipero is the original American craft gin, first made in San Francisco in 1996, distilled by hand in a small copper pot still and bottled unfiltered at 98.6 proof (49.3% ABV).
Junipero fearlessly led the birth of American craft gin in 1996. Its name is the Spanish word for juniper berry, the main botanical in gin, and its makers were hell-bent on elevating juniper and citrus flavors.
Junipero was created by the team at Anchor Distilling, today Hotaling & Co., on a tiny copper pot still installed in a corner of the Anchor Steam Brewery in San Francisco in 1993. The team drew on years of experience mixing herbs, spices and botanicals for Anchor's annual Christmas Ale, and after experimenting with a wide range of them, settled on a formula of a dozen botanicals that remains a secret. Ground in their natural state, the botanicals go straight into the distillate before the small-batch pot distillation. The gin is made in a London Dry style, with juniper leading and notes such as aniseed, cardamom, cubeb, grains of paradise and citrus peel behind it.
To do that, the distilling team forged a new path: each batch is crafted in a small copper pot still, with botanicals sourced from around the globe for their expressiveness, and the gin is boldly bottled unfiltered at 98.6 proof. Decades later, Junipero is still made by hand in San Francisco.
The result is light, crisp and clean, with a deep and mysterious spiciness: a juniper-forward, citrus-bright gin with real intensity. The high proof carries the botanicals in a cocktail and gives the gin a full, assertive character that stands up to vermouth, bitters and tonic.
Junipero celebrates those who break with convention to pursue an original path. It is a natural for a classic Martini, a Negroni or a Gimlet, and it makes a bold Gin & Tonic.
Tasting Notes
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Nose: Bold juniper, citrus.
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Palate: Juniper-forward, bright citrus, intense.
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Finish: Long and assertive.
Specifications
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Distillery: Made by hand in San Francisco
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Style: American craft gin (since 1996)
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Still: Small copper pot still
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Filtration: Unfiltered
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Proof / ABV: 98.6 proof (49.3% ABV)
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Size: 750ml
How to Enjoy It
Stir a classic Martini or a Negroni, or shake a Gimlet.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Junipero mean?
It is Spanish for juniper berry.
When was it first made?
In 1996 in San Francisco, as the first American craft gin.
Why 98.6 proof?
The higher strength carries the juniper and citrus botanicals.
Explore more in our Gin collection.
