*Don’t feel like reading? I’ll read it to you.*👇

Just tell me what bottles to try.

Having worked with thousands of people, gin is one of the spirits many people avoid after having experienced low-quality versions, often in large quantities, at college/dive bars and weddings. Don’t let these bad actors spoil the category for you.

Gin 101

To start at the top without getting technical, what you need to know is that in order to be legally defined as gin in the US, **a **spirit has to 1) be at least 40% alcohol and 2) contain juniper. Other than that, pretty much anything goes, which can lead to a diverse array of flavors and quality.

So what are juniper berries?

They’re the seed cones from a juniper tree and contribute piney and slightly peppery flavors.

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Avoiding garbage: a quick tell on the label

• Look for “distilled gin” on the bottle. If it doesn’t say this, it may be a “compound gin”, which tend to be harsher.

Other flavors in gin

Unlike tequila or bourbon, gin isn’t tied to a strict recipe. Producers can add as few, or many, ingredients as they like. Common ones include:

• Tangy zest: citrus peels, coriander
• Spice: grains of paradise, cinnamon
• Sweetness: licorice root
• Aromatic: lavender, angelica

This flexibility leads to a large spectrum of flavors.

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