Sasse Junipaero. Alcohol-free organic gin alternative as a concentrate, with juniper, lemon peel, and cardamom – made for tonic water.

Sasse Junipaero is the alcohol-free gin alternative from the Feinbrennerei Sasse in Schöppingen: an organic concentrate made from distillates of juniper and other gin botanicals, 350 ml. Not a gin and not a ready-made long drink – the base that you dilute with water and tonic for an alcohol-free gin & tonic.

Junipaero by Sasse has the juniper right in its name, as it is called juniper in English. Gin is a spirit whose flavor is defined by juniper, and normally, the alcohol carries the aromas of the botanicals into the glass. This gin alternative takes a different path. Sasse gently distills the organic herbs in a water bath to capture their flavor. The concentrate contains distillates from juniper as well as lemon peel, rosemary, cardamom, and coriander, plus water, sugar, and citric acid. Its place is in a long drink glass: it only becomes a finished drink when combined with tonic water. It’s Friday night, glasses are clinking, and someone at the table is driving later. This bottle is intended for exactly that glass.

Juniper at the front, citrus and spice behind it

The juniper leads the way, full and spicy, just as you know it from a gin. The lemon peel provides freshness, rosemary a herbal note. Cardamom and coriander provide the warm spice that distinguishes a gin from a simple juniper juice. Sasse promises a gin & tonic experience completely without alcohol.

The bitterness only enters the glass with the tonic, the sweetness comes from the sugar in the concentrate. In the finished drink, both balance each other out. How dry your long drink is therefore depends on the tonic you choose.

Twenty milliliters, water and tonic – the manufacturer's recipe

For one glass, add three ice cubes to a long drink glass, along with 20 ml of concentrate and 20 ml of water. Then top up with 200 ml of tonic water and add a lemon twist if desired. It is best if all ingredients are well chilled; this keeps the ice firm for longer and the drink fizzy. With 20 ml per glass, the bottle is enough for a good 17 long drinks.

According to the manufacturer, the gin alternative can also be used in a variety of ways for cocktails, anywhere else where gin would otherwise be used. Store the bottle in a cool, dark place.

Our tip: Peel the lemon twist over the filled glass and rub the rim with it briefly. The essential oils from the peel will then sit on top of the drink, and the first sip will be fragrant with citrus and juniper.

Juniper has a tradition in Schöppingen – here, completely alcohol-free

The Feinbrennerei Sasse in Schöppingen is a grain distillery that knows juniper well. For its Grafschafter Kräuterwacholder and Grafschafter Heide Gin, it processes juniper berries from the Grafschaft Bentheim region. Here, the distillery transfers this knowledge to a bottle that gets by entirely without alcohol.

The difference lies in the process. Instead of extracting the botanicals in alcohol and distilling them, Sasse distills them in a water bath. This creates distillates that carry the flavor of the herbs. According to the manufacturer, all ingredients are of organic quality. The concentrate is bottled at Lagerkorn GmbH in Schöppingen, the company behind the Feinbrennerei.

For gin & tonic fans behind the wheel and for hosts

Junipaero is for everyone who loves the taste of gin & tonic and wants to skip the alcohol on some evenings. Hosts can place the bottle next to the gin and mix both versions with the same tonic. Those who want to try the juniper with alcohol can find it in the Grafschafter Heide Gin, and those who like it herbal and fresh will enjoy the Wellpaero Ginger Lemon Balm. You can find more under alcohol-free spirits and on our Sasse page. The concentrate is not suitable as a gin for drinking neat. Those who expect a sugar-free drink should check the ingredient list, as the concentrate is sweetened.

Juniper, lemon peel, and spices as an organic concentrate – the alcohol-free gin alternative from Sasse in the Münsterland region for the gin & tonic that is also suitable before driving home.