A few months ago, I overheard someone talking about a new gin being produced by Anchor Distilling (a.k.a. Anchor Brewing) in San Francisco. I finally had the chance to try it a few weeks ago, as Ben’s Fine Wine started carrying it. So far, it’s the only place outside of the Bay Area that I’ve seen it. It’s called “Junipero”. Not the most creative name, but who cares.

After mixing some up with a little tonic, my first impression was that it lacked flavor. As I had another sip I realized that all the flavors I’d expect from a gin were still there, just a little more muted than I’m used to. Overall, I’d describe Junipero as having a fairly complex but smoother flavor, and being slightly less acidic than the average Tanqueray or Bombay gin. Definitely something I’ll drink every now and then, but it won’t replace Beefeater as my basic gin of choice.