First Impressions
Retribution Soundings Just Juniper Gin takes the minimalist approach to its ultimate conclusion: one botanical. Just juniper. Not juniper-forward with supporting botanicals, not juniper-led with citrus and spice — juniper alone, distilled in isolation, bottled at 42%, and presented as a gin that needs nothing more than the berry that defines the entire category.
It is the purest test of what juniper can achieve on its own — a single-botanical expression that either validates the berry's complexity or exposes its limitations.
The Distillery
Retribution Distilling Co. produces this gin using their standard copper pot still, with juniper as the sole botanical. The approach is deliberately purist: no coriander for warmth, no angelica for earthiness, no citrus for brightness. Every note in the glass comes from the juniper berry and the base spirit alone. The IWSC has recognised the quality, suggesting the minimalist approach is more than a novelty.
Tasting
The nose is surprisingly creamy and soft — not the aggressive, piney blast you might expect from undiluted juniper. There are sweet, confected notes that reveal a side of juniper that supporting botanicals usually obscure. The berry's complexity — its combination of resinous, floral, fruity, and woody characteristics — is laid bare.
On the palate, the gin is punchy but rounded. The intense pine resin hit is the primary experience — juniper at full volume, without any botanical competition. But within that single-note intensity, there is genuine complexity: the resinous quality gives way to subtle fruity and floral dimensions that most multi-botanical gins bury. The taste is clean and crisp, and the mouthfeel at 42% is well-judged.
The finish is surprisingly long and warming — the juniper's essential oils providing a persistence that validates the single-botanical approach. There is more complexity in the finish than you would expect from one ingredient.
How to Drink It
In a Martini, Just Juniper is an education — every note is juniper, and the dry vermouth has nothing to hide behind. In a G&T, it creates the purest possible gin-and-tonic experience. Garnish with nothing — or, if you must, a juniper berry.
The Bottom Line
Retribution Just Juniper earns a 7 for proving that juniper alone can produce a gin of genuine interest and complexity. The creamy softness on the nose is the surprise — juniper is more than just pine resin, and this gin demonstrates that. It is an educational drink as much as an enjoyable one, and every gin lover should try it at least once to understand what their favourite botanical can do on its own. At around £35, it is a masterclass in one berry.
