Juniper-led spirit · ingredient family

What is gin?

A botanical spirit defined by juniper, with styles that can lean dry, citrusy, floral, spicy or softly sweet.

Short answer

Gin is a juniper-flavoured spirit. Under the current EU definition, it is made by flavouring agricultural-origin ethyl alcohol with juniper berries, and juniper must remain the predominant taste. Other botanicals can shape the bottle, so two gins can behave differently in the same cocktail.
By Kokto EditorialCatalog reviewed Kokto governed catalogHow we review recipes
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From ingredient to bottle

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Choose a bottle to see its catalog entry or brand guide. These are catalog examples, not a ranking or a guarantee that every bottle is interchangeable.

App bottle illustrations; packaging may vary. Check your bottle’s label and the recipe’s required style.

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At a glance

Gin fast facts

Defining botanicalJuniper
EU minimum ABV37.5%
CategorySpirit
Cocktail roleBase spirit

The 37.5% value is the EU category minimum, not a universal statement about every market or bottle. Read the label where the drink will be purchased and served.

Composition

What is gin made from?

01

Agricultural-origin alcohol

The regulated EU definition starts with ethyl alcohol of agricultural origin.

02

Juniper berries

Juniper is the defining botanical and must remain predominant in the taste.

03

Supporting botanicals

Citrus peel, roots, seeds, herbs and spices can shape a producer’s recipe, but the exact combination varies.

Label clarity

Gin, distilled gin and London gin

These are production categories, not a simple quality ladder. The label helps explain how the spirit was made; the bottle still needs to be judged in context.

LabelWhat it signalsCocktail reading
GinJuniper-flavoured spirit with juniper predominant.A broad family; check the bottle’s actual botanical profile.
Distilled ginA regulated gin category involving distillation with juniper.Production is more specific, but flavor can still vary widely.
London ginA type of distilled gin with tighter production and sweetening rules.Often a useful dry, juniper-led starting point for classic builds.

Use it in context

Five cocktails that show different sides of gin

This is a Kokto editorial starting set, not a popularity ranking. Choose by what else you have and the drinking experience you want.

Compare all five directions

Quick answers

Gin questions

What gives gin its flavor?

Juniper defines the category. Producers can use other botanicals, so citrus, floral, spice, root and herb notes vary from bottle to bottle.

Does all gin taste strongly of juniper?

Juniper must be predominant under the cited EU definition, but its perceived intensity and the supporting botanicals still vary.

What is the easiest cocktail to make with gin?

Within Kokto’s five-drink starter set, Gin & Tonic is the fastest: the governed recipe is built in the glass with two core ingredients and optional lime.

What can I mix with gin besides tonic?

Citrus, sugar and soda point toward a Collins; Campari and sweet vermouth make a Negroni; dry vermouth points toward a Martini; citrus and sparkling wine point toward a French 75.

Evidence

Sources & editorial note

The legal definition and category distinctions come from the current consolidated EU spirit-drinks regulation. Cocktail names, times and ingredient relationships come from Kokto’s governed catalog.

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