Which botanical is legally required to be present in Gin production?

Juniper is the botanical that is legally required to be present in gin production. According to the legal definitions of gin in many countries, including the European Union and the United Kingdom, gin must have a predominant flavor of juniper berries. This characteristic defines the spirit and distinguishes gin from other distilled beverages.

While other botanicals such as coriander, orris root, and angelica root are commonly used in gin recipes to add complexity and depth to the flavor profile, they are not mandatory for the spirit to be classified as gin. The presence of juniper is what establishes its identity in the category of distilled spirits, ensuring that the distinctive piney and resinous notes that consumers expect are present in the final product.