Juniper – Upfront and essential? - Ginposium 2021

How little is Too Little Juniper for a Gin to be Considered a Gin? A view from America.

Aaron Knoll is a spirit’s historian, botanical spirits expert and author. He’s written several books on gin including Gin: The Art and Craft of the Artisan Revival which was named among the best gin books of the year by The Guardian and has been translated into six languages. Aaron is the founder of The GIN is IN— an online resource dedicated to educating consumers on gin, gin flavour and created the first search tool for finding gin based on flavour. He also has served as judge for several international gin competitions including the American Distilling Institute and World Gin Awards. He was inducted into The Gin Guild as a Rectifier in 2019 for his contributions as a writer and educator. Aaron currently lives, works, and tastes gin out of Denver, Colorado.

Jason Barrett is the Proprietor of Black Button Distilling, which he started in 2012. Based in Rochester NY. He is a Warden Rectifier in the Gin Guild

Jeff Fairbrother conducts the day to day production of gin (and bourbon) at Black Button Distilling. He is a Rectifier in the Gin Guild

Melissa Katrincic is a scientist turned gin maker and is the marketing guru behind the gins produced by Durham Distillery (USA). She is the vice president of the North Carolina distillers Association and has sat on panels as a gin expert for ACSA and ADI conferences. She is a Rectifier in the Gin Guild

Maggie Campbell is a spirits, wine, flavour, and aroma expert with production and executive experience in the global drinks industry. Maggie served as President and Head Distiller of the spirits company Privateer Rum for 9 years elevating the company to cult brand.
Maggie served two elected terms on the Board of Directors of the American Craft Spirit Association and two elected terms as Vice President, she also serves as their Spirits Judging Director. She is a member of the Board of Directors of Resistance Served and the Wine and Spirits Education Trust’s International Advisory Alumni Board, representing the United States.

Stephen Gould is co-owner of Golden Moon Distillery and speakeasy. He is a board member of the Colorado Distiller’s Guild, a small distillery member of the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States and a member of the American Craft Spirit Association. He is the first American ever to be named a Warden of London’s Gin Guild and is a Liveryman of its parent body, the Worshipful Company of Distillers (a distilling trade body dating back to 1638). He has an extensive library of distilling works and is a passionate historian of distilling.