Juniperus communis is the defining ingredient in gin, giving the spirit its signature piney, citrusy, and slightly spicy character. Without juniper, gin simply wouldn’t exist. These small, blue-black berries are packed with aromatic oils and resins, infusing gin with complex flavours that balance earthy, herbal, and zesty notes. 

Beyond flavour, juniper has been prized for centuries for its medicinal properties, once believed to ward off illness and even evil spirits. As gin’s essential botanical, sourcing sustainable juniper is crucial, especially as wild populations face habitat loss. Protecting Juniperus communis ensures not only the future of gin but also the biodiversity it supports.

Juniperus communis is the backbone of gin. It is under threat due to habitat loss, climate change and poor regeneration. Once widespread across the UK and Europe, juniper populations have declined significantly, with nearly 50% of its historic range lost and some regions seeing up to a 70% reduction in Wiltshire.

Factors such as overgrazing, grove collapse, disease, and land mismanagement have made it difficult for young juniper plants to establish and thrive. Additionally, poor seed viability has led to aging populations with little natural regeneration, making long-term survival uncertain.

Climate change is another major challenge. Warmer temperatures and drier conditions disrupt the delicate balance needed for germination and growth, while an increase in fungal diseases like Phytophthora austrocedri further threatens its survival. Since juniper berries take two to three years to mature, any disruption in growth cycles will impact its micro eco system.

To combat this, conservationists and distilleries are working on rewilding efforts, planting new juniper groves, and ensuring sustainable harvesting practices. Without intervention, Juniperus communis could become critically endangered across the UK, making it more important than ever to support conservation initiatives to protect the future of both juniper and gin.

There are over 70 species of juniper worldwide, thriving in environments ranging from cold mountain regions to arid deserts. However, despite this diversity, only a select few are suitable for gin production.

The gold standard for distillation is Juniperus communis, valued for its distinctive piney, citrusy, and slightly spicy character. Found across Europe, North America, and Asia, key sourcing regions include Italy, the Balkans, and Spain. While Juniperus communis remains the industry’s preferred choice, some craft distillers have experimented with Juniperus oxycedrus (Prickly Juniper), known for its sweeter, resinous notes, and Juniperus phoenicea, which offers a softer, fruitier profile—though neither is widely used as a primary gin botanical.

Certain juniper species contain toxic compounds and should never be used in distilling.

• Juniperus sabina (Savin Juniper) and Juniperus virginiana (Eastern Red Cedar) contain harmful oils that can cause poisoning
• Juniperus scopulorum (Rocky Mountain Juniper) has a weak, woody aroma, lacking the bold, oily berries essential for gin.

With English juniper in short supply, we’ve been working with Polish juniper, known for its large, oily berries that add exceptional depth and bold flavor to our gin, making it a key ingredient in our distillation process. We are committed to sustainability and hope to use our own homegrown juniper in the future, ensuring a locally sourced and environmentally responsible approach to our gin-making.

Juniper thrives in dry, well-drained environments, making chalky, limestone-rich soils ideal for its growth. It prefers south-facing slopes, where it receives maximum sunlight, ensuring strong, healthy development. Juniper is cold-hardy, tolerating frost and strong winds, making it well-suited for exposed landscapes like the chalk downs of southern England. Once established, it is drought-tolerant, requiring minimal watering, and thrives in nutrient-poor conditions, making it a low-maintenance yet resilient plant, making Domaine Hugo and the Vineyard an ideal location.

When the Distillery relocated to Botley Farm, we were fortunate to have the opportunity to rewild a once-unused area, restoring it to its natural beauty. Initially, we planned to work with Plantlife to grow juniper from seed scrapes, but with a three-year germination period and the ever-present hares & deer on the Downs, success was uncertain.

Instead, thanks to proceeds from Explorer’s Gin and generous customer donations, we purchased 50 saplings in 2022, planting them across two groves. After three years of careful nurturing, one grove was successfully transplanted onto the Wiltshire Downs in January 2025, while the other remains thriving on the Vineyard overlooking Wick Down. Now, a third grove (25 plants) is being established in front of the distillery, continuing our commitment to juniper conservation and rewilding.

Thank you to the Great Bustard Group for their help in rewilding our second grove.

We are keen to identify land owners who would like to help us rewild this wonderful plant on the Wiltshire Downs.

Please contact us at info@downtondistillery.com

Juniper groves are thriving ecosystems, supporting a diverse range of wildlife, plants, and fungi, making them essential for biodiversity and habitat conservation. They offer shelter, food and nesting grounds, particularly in harsh environments where few other trees can survive.

Birds such as wrens, goldcrests, blackbirds, and fieldfares depend on juniper berries, especially in winter when other fruits are scarce. The dense foliage provides safe nesting sites, protecting them from predators. Meanwhile, insects and pollinators flourish in juniper groves, with species like the juniper carpet moth relying entirely on the plant for reproduction.

Beetles, spiders and ladybirds also call juniper groves home. Ladybirds, in particular, thrive in these environments, as the evergreen structure offers shelter from predators and harsh weather. More importantly, juniper attracts aphids and scale insects, which serve as a primary food source for ladybirds. By feeding on these pests, ladybirds act as natural pest controllers, helping to keep juniper healthy.

Beneath the juniper canopy, lichens, mosses, and fungi thrive, contributing to soil health and nutrient cycling, making these groves an essential part of a balanced ecosystem.