With Great Gin, It’s All About the Botanicals
Botanicals are the backbone of any good (or great) gin. They turn simple alcohol into something complex and unique.
What Are Gin Botanicals and Why Do they Matter?
Gin is all about its botanicals – natural ingredients like herbs, spices, fruits, and roots. These are what give gin its unique character and delicious flavours. From sharp citrus notes to smooth, earthy undertones, botanicals create the depth and complexity that make gin a favourite for so many.
As the foundation of every gin, without any botanicals you’re just drinking a neutral spirit. Each adds its own layer of flavour, and the final taste will depend on both the number added and how they mix together to create something special.
Key Botanicals in Gin
Overall, most gins share a core set of botanicals that define the flavour profile, though each distillery puts their own twist on the mix. Some common combinations for botanical gins include Juniper Berries, Coriander Seed, Citrus Peel, Orris Root, Cassia Bark and Angelica Seeds.
Our Botanicals
Our award-winning Dry Gin takes the essentials and elevates them. Inspired by Dundee’s trading history and its global connections, our gin uses a carefully chosen selection of botanicals for a bold, balanced flavour that’s distinctly Dundonian.
Juniper
The cornerstone of any gin, juniper berries add a strong, resinous pine flavour. The very name “gin” derives from “genever,” a Dutch juniper-based spirit. We source our juniper from the Baltic region, honouring Dundee’s whaling past.
Lemon Peel
The brightest citrus notes in lemon come from its peel, which are released during distillation. We use Mediterranean lemons specifically, paying tribute to Dundee’s longstanding trade ties with Spain and Portugal, where the sun-drenched fruits have been cultivated for centuries.
Seville Orange
Dundee’s legacy as the home of marmalade makes Seville orange an essential ingredient. The dried peel of this Spanish citrus adds a dry, bitter citrus note widely used in orange liqueurs.
Coriander Seed
One of the most important botanicals in gin, coriander adds a fragrant, slightly spicy complexity with hints of orange. Native to the Mediterranean Basin and but widely grown in India, these seeds help to balance the sharper notes in our gin while adding warmth and depth.
Cassia Bark
One of the world’s oldest recorded spices, Cassia Bark is often compared to cinnamon but with a deeper, stronger taste. Small amounts add an earthy sweetness giving a complex base note and long finish.
Green Cardamom
Used as a traditional medicine for centuries, Green Cardamon has an unmistakably perfumed flavour. Originally from India, it has a unique flavour- sweet and warm with a fresh hint of eucalyptus.
Orris Root
Harvested from the iris plant, Orris Root gives a soft bitterness to our Dry Gin, widely grown in Hungary and the Baltic area, the botanical has a distinct smell, very similar to Violets.
Angelica
A botanical steeped in European herbal traditions, angelica root adds a subtle earthiness and musky depth to our gin. Grown in the Baltic area and Asia, it adds a subtle herbal note and is widely used in vermouth, absinthe and aniseed aperitifs.
Grains of Paradise
Once a popular substitute for black pepper, grains of paradise arrived in Europe via West African spice traders in the 13th century. These small but mighty botanical seeds bring a warm, peppery heat to our dry gin.
Liquorice
Popular for millennia and even discovered in ancient Egyptian tombs, liquorice root is commonly used for its naturally sweet, slightly aniseed flavour. Widely grown in Turkey, it can be found in the dried root of a plant related to the pea. In our gin it introduces a velvety smoothness with a delicate hint of spice, to round out the final profile.
The Spirit of Botanical Gin
Every great gin is built on a careful selection and balance of botanicals, and our Verdant Dry Gin is no exception. From the citrusy brightness of lemon and orange to the warming spices of cassia and grains of paradise, our gin is a tribute to Dundee’s storied trading past and the rich history of botanical spirits.
Experience the depth and complexity of Verdant Gin for yourself, order a bottle now and enjoy the perfect balance of flavours in every sip.
