Gin and Its Botanicals

Gin has been a popular—sometimes too popular—British drink for almost 350 years. It has changed hugely over this period, but the common thread connecting all gin is the predominant flavour of juniper berries. The production of gin rests on two pillars: distillation and the extraction of flavours and aromas from botanicals. While distillation provides the technique, botanicals provide the soul.

What Are Botanicals?

In gin production, "botanicals" refers to any plant material used to flavour the spirit—including berries, seeds, roots, bark, flowers, and herbs. While juniper is the only botanical required by law to be present in gin, distillers typically use anywhere from four to over forty different botanicals to create their signature recipes.

These botanicals are either steeped in the base spirit before distillation, placed in a basket through which alcohol vapour passes during distillation, or both. Each method extracts different flavour compounds, and the art of gin-making lies in balancing these complex aromatic elements into a harmonious whole.

Ancient Spices, Ancient Trade Routes

Much like distillation itself, many of the spices that contribute to gin's aroma can be traced back thousands of years. Coriander, despite not being native to Egypt, has been found in several Egyptian tombs, including Tutankhamun's. The ancient Egyptian incense Kyphi used a locally varying blend of botanicals, often including cardamom and cassia, to scent clothes and purify the air.

Cardamom and cassia were among the many spices travelling along the Silk Roads from China as early as 2000 BCE. In its way, gin evokes these ancient trade routes that connected southern Europe and the Middle East with the exotic flavours of unknown lands to the east. Every sip of a well-crafted gin is a taste of history, a blend of ingredients that have journeyed across continents and centuries.

The Core Botanicals

Juniper Berries

Juniper is gin's defining botanical—the ingredient that makes gin, gin. These small, purple berries aren't actually berries at all but the seed cones of juniper shrubs. They impart gin's characteristic piney, resinous, slightly peppery flavour with subtle citrus undertones.

The sweet aroma of burning juniper was traditionally used to ward off evil spirits and purify the air, while its berries have long been valued for medicinal benefits. They were mentioned alongside caraway seeds, elderberry, and coriander in the Papyrus Ebers—written about 1550 BCE but believed to be copied from even earlier texts. This is one of the oldest preserved medical documents in the world and an extensive record of ancient Egyptian medicine.

Fast forward three thousand years, and juniper was the main ingredient of genever (or jenever), a medicine used in the Low Countries to treat stomach ailments, lumbago, and gout. It was from genever that modern gin gradually evolved, but juniper has remained its constant companion throughout this transformation.

Coriander Seeds

Coriander seeds are the second most common botanical in gin after juniper. They contribute a warm, spicy, slightly citrusy flavour with nutty undertones. Unlike the fresh coriander leaf (cilantro), which some find soapy, the seeds have a universally appealing flavour that complements juniper beautifully.

Coriander's use stretches back to ancient times, and its presence in gin creates a bridge between the spirit's modern character and humanity's long relationship with spice. The seeds help to round out juniper's sharpness and add complexity to the botanical blend.

Angelica Root

Angelica root acts as a binding agent in gin, helping to marry disparate flavours into a cohesive whole. It contributes earthy, woody, slightly bitter notes with hints of musk. Originating in Syria, angelica flourished in cooler European climates and came to be considered one of the most powerful herbs in traditional medicine.

The boiled roots were applied to wounds by the Aleut people to speed healing, and folklore from across northern Europe speaks of an array of medicinal benefits: purifying blood, protecting against contagion, and serving as a remedy for poison. In gin, angelica root provides depth and helps extend the finish on the palate.

Citrus Peels

Lemon peel, orange peel, and other citrus zests are common gin botanicals that bring brightness and freshness to the spirit. The essential oils in citrus peels contain compounds like limonene, which adds vibrant, uplifting aromatics that balance the earthier botanicals.

Different citrus varieties contribute distinct characters: sweet orange brings warm, marmalade-like notes; lemon adds sharp, zesty brightness; and grapefruit peel can contribute bitter, complex undertones. Many modern craft gins experiment with more exotic citrus like yuzu, buddha's hand, or makrut lime.

Exotic and Unusual Botanicals

Beyond the core botanicals, gin distillers have experimented with hundreds of ingredients. Cardamom adds warm, spicy, eucalyptus-like notes. Cassia bark (similar to cinnamon) contributes sweet, woody spice. Orris root, derived from iris flowers, brings subtle floral notes and helps fix volatile aromas. Anise and liquorice root add sweetness and depth.

Modern craft distillers have pushed botanical experimentation even further, incorporating local and unusual ingredients: seaweed, heather, rose petals, cucumber, tea, even ants. This creativity demonstrates gin's remarkable versatility as a canvas for botanical expression.

Detail from Hogarth's Gin Lane showing social decay — Distillation equipment at the Bombay Sapphire Disttillery at Laverstoke Mill

The Art of Balance

Creating a balanced gin is a complex art. Too much juniper and the gin becomes one-dimensional; too little and it loses its identity. Citrus must brighten without dominating; spices must warm without overwhelming; florals must lift without becoming perfumed. The distiller's skill lies in orchestrating these diverse elements into something greater than the sum of its parts.

Each botanical brings not just flavour, but also historical and cultural significance. When you taste gin, you're experiencing a distillation—quite literally—of humanity's relationship with plants, trade, medicine, and craft. From ancient Egyptian tombs to the Silk Roads, from medieval European herbalism to modern craft distilling, gin's botanicals tell stories that span millennia.