Wajos Botanical Gin. 19 botanicals, juniper forward, 44 percent – the clear, dry gin for a classic Gin & Tonic – free from fruit and sugar.

Wajos Botanical Gin is a dry gin with 44 percent alcohol and 19 botanicals, including juniper, cubeb pepper, lemon peel, cardamom, and grains of paradise, 500 ml from Dohr on the Moselle. Not a fruit gin, not a liqueur with a gin label, not an aromatized gin with sweetness – but a classic gin where juniper sets the tone. Contains sulfites. 18+ only.

Botanical Gin from Wajos is the antithesis of what has been on the shelves for years: gins with strawberry, rhubarb, or coffee; pink-colored and sweet enough for people who actually avoid gin. This one is clear, dry, and tastes of juniper. It contains 19 botanicals, but fruit and sugar are deliberately left out, and each ingredient remains subtle. For those who want to taste the gin first in their Gin & Tonic rather than the tonic – and for hobby bartenders who need a neutral, bold base for cocktails that complements the recipe.

Juniper first, then pepper and cardamom, lemon at the end

The first scent is juniper, resinous and dry, as befits a gin. Behind it lies a spicy layer: cubeb pepper and grains of paradise provide a warm, slightly tingling sharpness; cardamom adds a hint of sweetness, coming entirely from the spice. The lemon peel keeps the whole thing fresh and makes for a clear finish. At 44 percent, it is bold – one percentage point more than many gins, which you will notice as warmth when drunk neat and as a backbone in a tonic. Wajos keeps the other 14 botanicals a secret; the five mentioned are the ones you will recognize. The gin contains sulfites. For anyone expecting a fruity, mild gin that tastes sweet even on its own, this gin is not suitable – in that case, the Summer Gin is the bottle for you.

Gin & Tonic, Martini, Negroni – the gin that works in every recipe

The Gin & Tonic is the fundamental form: 5 cl of gin, plenty of ice, a dry tonic, and a lemon twist – leave the cucumber ribbons and berries aside. If you prefer it classic, mix a Dry Martini with dry vermouth and an olive; if you like it bitter, a Negroni with equal parts Campari and red vermouth. Gin Fizz, Tom Collins, and Gimlet also work well, because the gin pairs perfectly with lemon and sugar. When served ice-cold and neat, it reveals all 19 botanicals most clearly – a small glass after a meal is enough. It is not suitable for cocktails where the gin is intended to remain in the background; the juniper is too present for that.

Our tip: Botanical Gin with Botanical Tonic Syrup and sparkling water – juniper in both, resulting in a Gin & Tonic that stays dry.

A gin from the company that started as a liqueur manufactory

Spirits are Wajos' oldest business. Walter Josef Oster, a winemaker from Ediger-Eller with 15 generations of viticulture in the family, founded the liqueur manufactory in the 1980s, which gave his initials to the brand. Peter Oster, his son, and Ulf Schwichtenberg built the Wajos brand from it in Dohr near Cochem on the Moselle: over 80 employees, their own stores since 2008, and a laboratory that tests every batch. The path from liqueur to gin is short – this company has been familiar with alcohol, botanicals, and patience for forty years.

The gin for purists, for the home bar, and as a safe gift

The Botanical Gin is the bottle we recommend when someone wants to give a gin as a gift but can only guess the recipient's taste – classic is always a good choice. It fits into every home bar as a base gin alongside seasonal varieties like the Christmas Gin; all gins can be found on our Wajos page. 500 milliliters are enough for about ten Gin & Tonics; store in a dry place away from light, outside the refrigerator. The gin is not suitable for anyone under 18 or for those who have only liked gin in its sweet variety until now.

19 botanicals, juniper forward, 44 percent – the dry gin from the Moselle for those who want to taste the gin in their Gin & Tonic.