The Story Behind Our Distillery Name

Temple of Juniper. But why?

Many gin lovers will recognise that juniper is the key botanical that makes gin, well - gin. In fact, juniper is legally required to be the dominant botanical in any gin. Without it, a spirit simply cannot be called gin. Juniper berries bring those fresh pine and woody notes, sometimes with hints of citrus and spice that give gin its signature depth and complexity.

But our name goes deeper than just the core ingredient in our spirit - it’s also a nod to family and heritage.

Our distiller, Charles, has family connections to Lebanon, home to one of the most remarkable examples of Imperial Roman architecture: the Temple of Jupiter in Baalbek.

Temple of Jupiter is a colossal Roman temple in Baalbek, Lebanon - one of the grandest of the ancient world. Built between the first century BC and the third century AD, it featured columns nearly 20 metres high and remains an awe-inspiring symbol of craftsmanship and devotion.

So how did we arrive at Temple of Juniper?

For us, it felt like the perfect blend - a nod to family heritage through the Temple of Jupiter, and a tribute to our craft through juniper, the heart of gin itself. Temple + Juniper = Temple of Juniper.

It should be admitted, it took a little while to land on the right name. I’m sure you would laugh if you saw some of our original suggestions. Thankfully, we had the guidance of Lizzy & Anna of The Brand Team in Brisbane, who helped us shape our identity from the very beginning which set us on a very clear path.

That sense of connection - between heritage, flavour, and story flows through everything we do. Our Middle Eastern Spiced Gin draws inspiration from the ingredients Charles’ late mother, Mary, loved to cook with. In her honour, our 500L still is also named Mary.

Hospitality is at the heart of Lebanese culture and our Australian spirit shares that same love of good conversation and great drinks. Together, they form the essence of who we are.

We invite you to visit our distillery and experience the Temple of Juniper difference for yourself - where heritage meets handcrafted gin.