Flavour of gin and tonic could be impacted by climate change, study finds

Volatile weather patterns may be altering taste of juniper berries – a key botanical in the spirit – scientists say

The flavour of a gin and tonic may be impacted by climate change, scientists have found.

Volatile weather patterns, made more likely by climate breakdown, could change the taste of juniper berries, which are the key botanical that give gin its distinctive taste.

Scientists from Heriot-Watt University’s International Centre for Brewing and Distilling (ICBD) have found that changing weather patterns may be altering the flavour compounds in the berries.

The berries have their own regional “terroir” just like wine, depending on rainfall and sunshine, according to the findings, which have been published in the Journal of the Institute of Brewing.