“A taste of Gin, without sugar, without alcohol”: this expression describes in the simplest possible way the slightly crazy bet we embarked on a few months ago.
In fact, when we started thinking about the recipe, we didn't think that it absolutely had to look like a Gin. We didn't want to be the degraded version, the "diet" version, without smell or flavor, of a drink that would be, because it was alcoholic, much more subtle.
We wanted to prove that we can make very beautiful, sophisticated, spicy things, without sugar, and without alcohol. JNPR is not alcoholic, then dealcoholized in the sense that we would remove the alcohol at the very end, we have a separate manufacturing process, in which we distill our botanicals.
But what does JNPR taste like? At first, I answered by describing the very floral, Mediterranean taste, the length in the mouth...
"But what else?"... So obviously, with juniper berries as the main ingredient, the blend of botanicals, the closest taste if we try to make connections... it might well be that of Gin, to speak like a Norman.
I understand that it has a reassuring side to be able to make associations and not take a big leap into the unknown by tasting JNPR n°1.
I also understand when people tell me that what most resembles Gin is not the taste, but the ritual, or that it really resembles Heindrick's Gin when mixed with a tonic ;-).
I understand, because I think that taste is very personal. Ultimately, this description: "a taste of Gin, without sugar, without alcohol", has the defects of its qualities: it is surely reductive but it allows to grasp in a simple way the essence of the project. I would be really happy to be able to collect your impressions on this subject.
Further additions to this article:
To complete, you will find below the comment of Sarah, from the group Gin Lovers in France:
"I admit to being a little sceptical about how a non-alcoholic gin would taste, but I was very pleasantly surprised by how subtle gin and gin like JNPR are. The juniper shines through strongly and there are floral notes too, making it light and refreshing. Even my husband declared it 'perfectly acceptable' - high praise indeed! The JNPR Mule was particularly successful and the alcohol wasn't really missed."
And the review by @shakehoms Bordeaux:
"The first nose is very intense, we have no aggression linked to alcohol since it is 0%, which is, I admit, pleasant! Strong aromas of warm spices emerge! Cumin, saffron, turmeric and coriander then hit you.
After aeration, the herbaceous and fresh side highlights these spices. We close our eyes in a field of flowers dotted with young ferns. I understand butterflies!
In the mouth, the product surprises us! A natural apple acidity is noted like an English candy but not sweet.. the aromas of turmeric and juniper coat the mouth.
The end result is extremely long! More than 15min. Beautiful scents of pine resin provide all the structure and linger in the mouth.
JNPR is a product that is part of the alcohol-free range and is still little known. It offers a multitude of extremely interesting flavors to explore neat or in combination in cocktails."