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Realistically America's original craft gin, Junipero is made by hand with a dozen botanicals distilled in a copper pot still at a small distillery in San Francisco by Hotaling and Company on a site originally home to Anchor Distilling Company.

As a modern style of gin, Junipero is heavy on the juniper and citrus, at least half of which you may have guessed from the name. Junipero represents the cross section of the bold botanicals of a London dry gin and the candied citrus sweetness of an Old Tom gin.

A change of label has allowed us to procure this gin at a great price, so that we can pass along the savings to you and collectively muster up the coming of spring by fashioning some bright gin cocktails.

Anchor Distilling Company was established in 1993 by Fritz Maytag, the same beverage pioneer who sparked the craft beer movement with his purchase of Anchor Brewing in 1965. Finding inspiration in the rye whiskies of America’s past and the great single malt whiskies of Scotland, Fritz gathered a small team to begin building a distillery that was ultimately responsible for creating the first pot-distilled American whiskey.

Over time, the range of spirits expanded into other categories, with the addition of Junípero Gin and Genevieve genever. The notion of operating a distillery at a smaller scale turned out to be the genesis for craft distilling, effectively kicking off the high end craft gin industry in this country.

By early 2018, Anchor was procured by Hotaling & Co, the name being an homage to the San Francisco legend A.P. Hotaling, who came out West during the Gold Rush and became one of the most reputable spirits dealers in the country. Hotaling’s name became immortalized in spirits lore when his whiskey warehouse on Jackson Street survived the devastating 1906 San Francisco earthquake, registering a 7.8 on the richter scale, killing thousands, and sparking fires that lasted for days.

Junipero weighs in at a hefty 49.3% alcohol, amply endowed with the botanicals of juniper, angelica root, aniseed, bitter orange peel, cardamom, coriander, cubeb, grains of paradise, lemon peel, orange peel, orris root, and cassia bark. The team perfected the proper balance of botanicals with knowledge gleaned from years of mixing herbs and spices for Anchor Brewing Company's annual Christmas ale. Starting out light and crisp, the palate blossoms with big structure and aggressive juniper, citrus, and spice, which is balanced by sweet orange zest.

Here are our tasting notes:
Color: Clear
Nose: Loads of juniper, piney, bright citrus notes, herbal complexity
Palate: More juniper, earthy, anise, spice, lemon zest, cardamom, and lemongrass, candied citrus
Finish: Succinct with a clean and peppery crisp bite

And some of the recent accolades!!

96 POINTS, GOLD MEDAL – SIP Awards 2020
94 POINTS, FINALIST – Ultimate Spirts Challenge 2020
95 POINTS, CHAIRMAN's TROPHY - Ultimate Spirits Challenge 2019
DOUBLE GOLD - The Gin Is In 2017
BEST AMERICAN LONDON DRY GIN - World Gin Awards 2017

Junipero would make a great Tom Collins, which is essentially gin, lemonade (made from scratch, of course) and soda water. If you're making a gin and tonic, a lighter Fever Tree tonic is ideal, and of course requires a large wedge of lime.

Should this past week's harbinger of spring be just a cruel tease, finish off the last weeks of winter with a more apt cool weather tipple, the negroni. Simply use equal parts of gin, sweet vermouth, and Campari, add ice and stir. But don't forget the orange zest! I would recommend using Punt e Mes for your sweet vermouth in this case, as it's a little more on the bitter side. If you don't have Campari, you can substitute Aperol, Carpano Botanic Bitters, or even an amaro if you're feeling adventurous. Negronis are hard to mess up and taste great in many variations. Pick up a bottle of Junipero and start experimenting today! CHEERS!!

-Dan Z., Bin Ends Craft Spirits Specialist

ORDER 2+ BOTTLES, DISCOUNT TABULATES AUTOMATICALLY TO $24.00/BTL.