Classic Piney & Citrus Gin Botanical
Create distinctive homemade gin with the unmistakable piney, citrusy and lightly spicy character of juniper berries.
Juniper berries are the defining botanical used in traditional gin. During maceration or distillation, their aromatic oils contribute fresh pine, citrus peel, gentle spice and a slightly bitter finish that helps balance other botanicals.
This packet contains 100g of juniper berries for creating your own gin recipes or adjusting the juniper character of an existing botanical blend.
Why You'll Love It
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Essential botanical for traditional gin
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Distinctive piney and resinous character
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Fresh citrus peel notes
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Light herbal and spicy complexity
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Helps balance sweeter botanicals
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Suitable for maceration or distillation
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Can be used alone or blended with other gin botanicals
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Supplied in a convenient 100g packet
Flavour Profile
Juniper berries provide the classic pine-forward aroma and flavour that defines gin.
They contribute resinous pine, fresh citrus peel, gentle herbal spice and a slightly bitter, dry finish. The intensity can be adjusted by changing the amount used or combining the berries with coriander seed, citrus peel and other botanicals.
What's Included?
Each packet contains:
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100g of juniper berries
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Suitable for homemade gin recipes
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Suitable for maceration, vapour infusion or pot distillation
How to Use
Juniper berries can be lightly crushed before use to help release their aromatic oils. Avoid grinding them into a fine powder, as this can make filtration more difficult and may extract excessive bitterness.
Maceration
Lightly crush the berries and soak them in suitable neutral spirit for approximately 24–48 hours.
Remove the botanicals using a fine sieve or filter cloth, then allow the spirit to rest before tasting. Adjust the botanical character gradually to suit your preferred gin style.
Vapour Infusion
Place the juniper berries in a suitable botanical basket so the alcohol vapour passes through them during the spirit run.
Vapour infusion generally produces a lighter and more delicate botanical character than direct maceration.
Pot Distillation
Juniper berries can be macerated in clean neutral spirit before a second pot distillation. Reduce the spirit to the appropriate strength for your equipment and follow the still manufacturer’s operating instructions.
Collect the distillate in separate containers so the final botanical flavour can be blended to taste.
What Do Juniper Berries Taste Like?
Juniper berries have a distinctive piney and resinous flavour supported by citrus peel, herbal spice and a lightly bitter finish.
Their character can range from fresh and citrusy to earthy and woody depending on the quantity used and the extraction method.
Are Juniper Berries Essential for Making Gin?
Yes. Juniper is the defining botanical in gin and should remain the dominant flavour even when coriander, citrus peel, angelica root and other botanicals are included.
Should Juniper Berries Be Crushed Before Use?
Lightly crushing the berries helps expose their aromatic oils and improves flavour extraction.
They should not be ground into a fine powder, as this may introduce excessive bitterness and make the finished spirit more difficult to filter.
How Many Juniper Berries Should I Use?
The amount required depends on the volume of spirit, extraction method and preferred gin style.
Start with a proven gin recipe and adjust future batches gradually. Using too much can create an overpowering resinous or bitter flavour.
Can Juniper Berries Be Combined with Other Botanicals?
Yes. Juniper berries are commonly combined with coriander seed, citrus peel, angelica root, orris root, cardamom and other herbs and spices.
Juniper should remain the main flavour, while the supporting botanicals add citrus, spice, floral or earthy complexity.
Can I Use Juniper Berries Without Distilling?
Yes. Juniper berries can be macerated in suitable neutral spirit and removed by fine filtration. This method produces a different result from distilled gin but is useful for experimenting with botanical flavour.
How Should Juniper Berries Be Stored?
Keep the packet sealed in a cool, dry place away from heat, moisture and direct sunlight. Proper storage helps protect the volatile oils responsible for their aroma and flavour.
Why Buy from Border Brewing Supplies?
Border Brewing Supplies stocks gin botanicals and home-distilling ingredients for spirit makers throughout Tweed Heads, the Gold Coast, Northern Rivers, Brisbane and the wider Queensland–New South Wales border region.
Shop online for Australia-wide delivery or select Click & Collect from our Tweed Heads South home brew shop.
Recommended Products
For creating homemade gin, consider adding:
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Botanical basket
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Coriander seed
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Dried citrus peel
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Angelica root
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Spirit measuring cylinder
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Alcohol hydrometer
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Glass spirit bottles
