Procera gin explained: fresh African juniper, three dot bottles, and which one to buy first

Procera gin is a Kenyan craft spirit made from fresh African juniper and sugar cane. Most gins use dried berries, but they pick these green and distill them in Nairobi. Blue Dot is the bottle I keep at home for about $90; it's oily and tastes like fresh pine, which works best neat or in a dry martini. I save Red Dot for Negronis when I need a higher proof to stand up to Campari, and Green Dot is a collector's item made from a single tree that I only buy once I'm already a fan of the brand.

The distillery is small and only makes about 100 bottles a day, so it can be hard to find in the US even when people are talking about it. They blow the glass by hand in Nairobi and cap the bottles with palm wood. Each box comes with a small jar of botanical salt that you can use for a G&T rim or just a pinch in the glass.

Here is what Procera is, how the three dots differ, and which bottle I would buy first if I were shopping blind.

Sixty-second producer facts

What it is: Gin from Nairobi Distillers in Kenya. People often call it the country’s first craft spirits operation.
Founders: Guy Brennan and chef Alan Murungi started the partnership in 2017 and launched the brand in 2019.
The juniper: They use Juniperus procera, an African juniper native to the highlands. They harvest the berries wild within 70 km of the distillery.
Production: They use fresh juniper and a 230L Müller pot still. They macerate the botanicals at a gentle 110°F to avoid pulling out bitter flavors.
Base spirit: The gin uses a sugar cane spirit from the Lake Victoria region.
Packaging: Every bottle is hand-blown glass with a leather neck wrap and a carved stopper.

What Procera gin actually is

Most gins use common juniper that has been dried out for shipping. Procera uses African juniper instead, which grows wild in the Kenyan highlands above 2,000 meters. It’s the only juniper native to the southern hemisphere, and they harvest it fresh to keep the oils intact.

Founder Guy Brennan says that drying berries takes the "soul" out of the plant. Whether you agree with the marketing or not, the result is a gin with a much oilier texture and a louder fresh-juniper character than a standard London Dry.

Blue Dot uses 11 botanicals, including pink peppercorns, Selim pepper, Swahili limes, and acacia honey. Red Dot and Green Dot use the same fresh-juniper approach but are designed for different drinks.

Lineup decoder: Blue, Red, and Green dot

US prices below are from the official shop as of 2026.

Expression	ABV	US price	Role	I buy it when…
Blue Dot	44%	$90	Signature; martini & G&T	I want my first bottle or a martini gin
Red Dot	51%	$150	Bold, cocktail-proof	I'm making Negronis or Red Snappers
Green Dot	47%	$240	Single-tree juniper	I want to taste a specific vintage

Vintage note: They treat Green Dot like a fine wine. Each release comes from a single tree in a specific county, and they only make a few thousand bottles per year. It's a vintage product, not a permanent flavor you can always find.

How each dot tastes and how I pour it

Blue Dot

The nose has gentle juniper and lime. This matches what I've read in other reviews, but the real surprise is the texture. In the glass, the juniper turns up with a full, oily mouthfeel. I get notes of cardamom and a peppery finish. Blue Dot won the 2024 Gin Guide Award for contemporary gin, and it's easy to see why once you taste it neat.

How I pour Blue: I drink it neat or in a dry martini with a 3:1 ratio of gin to vermouth. Some people like it in a G&T, but I think a heavy tonic can blur the botanicals. If you do use tonic, use a light one and add a pinch of the included botanical salt.

Red Dot

They designed Red Dot specifically for cocktails like the Negroni and Red Snapper. It uses several types of African peppers, oyster shells, and myrrh to create a savory profile. At 51% ABV, it has enough heat and spice to stand up to bitter ingredients.

I don't usually sip Red Dot on its own. It's a "grand reserve" gin that stays audible in a mix where a 44% gin might disappear. Use it when you want the gin to be the loudest part of the drink.

Green Dot

This is the most minimalist bottle in the line. They only use parts of the juniper tree: the berries, the foliage, and the toasted wood. It tastes earthy and piney with a long umami finish. I pour Green neat or in a 50/50 martini when I want to focus entirely on the juniper without other botanicals getting in the way.

Which Procera bottle should you buy first?

Path A: Most buyers

Buy Blue Dot. It costs $90 and gives you the best introduction to the brand's oily texture. Try it neat before you mix it with anything.

Path B: Negroni fans

Buy Red Dot if you spend most of your time drinking bitter cocktails. It costs $150 and is built to cut through vermouth and Campari.

Path C: Collectors

Buy Green Dot only if you already love Blue Dot and have $240 to spend on a single-tree vintage. They usually limit orders to two bottles per person.

Path D: Skip Procera for now

Stick to Hendrick's or Tanqueray if you want floral notes or a $30 workhorse for parties. Procera is a different beast and costs significantly more.

How I drink Procera gin

Blue Dot martini: 2½ oz Blue Dot, ½ oz dry vermouth, and a lemon twist.
Blue Dot G&T: Light tonic with a pinch of botanical salt in the glass.
Red Dot Negroni: 1 oz Red Dot, 1 oz Campari, and 1 oz sweet vermouth.
Green Dot: Neat at room temperature or slightly chilled.

Master distiller Roger Jorgensen says African juniper changed his view of gin the first time he distilled it. That's a big claim, but it matches the reaction most people have when they first smell Blue Dot.

Procera vs gins you already know

If you usually drink…	Procera will feel…	My move
Hendrick’s	More juniper-forward, less floral	Use Blue Dot for martinis; keep Hendrick’s for G&Ts
Monkey 47	Less herbal; more pine and pepper	Switch to Procera for a clearer terroir story
Beefeater	Fuller and oilier	Use Blue neat; keep Beefeater for highballs

Prestige context: You can find Procera at famous bars like Duke’s and the Savoy in London. These bars sell serious martinis, and it shows that Blue Dot targets the same crowd that pays for top-shelf spirits.

Where to buy Procera gin in the US

Official orders go through Flaviar for a flat $20 shipping fee. They ship to most states, but they currently exclude Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Hawaii, Mississippi, South Dakota, and Utah. You can also find it in specialty shops in New York and Massachusetts.

You won't find this in a supermarket. With a small daily output and a high price tag, it's strictly a specialty shop or online purchase.

Worth-it verdict

Yes for Blue Dot at $90 if you care about martinis and want to try a unique African gin. The bottle looks great and the liquid earns the awards it has won.

Yes for Red Dot at $150 if you want a gin that doesn't disappear in a Negroni.

Maybe for Green Dot at $240. It's brilliant if you collect terroir spirits, but it's hard to justify as your first bottle.

Skip the whole line if you want a cheap mixer. Buy Tanqueray and come back to Procera when you're ready to pay for fresh juniper.

FAQ

What is Procera gin?

Procera gin is a Kenyan craft gin from Nairobi Distillers made from fresh African juniper (Juniperus procera) and sugar cane. The range includes Blue Dot, Red Dot, and Green Dot, all sold in hand-blown bottles with matching botanical salts.

What does Procera gin taste like?

Blue Dot tastes like fresh pine and citrus with an oily mouthfeel and a peppery finish. Red Dot is bottled at 51% ABV and has a savory, pepper-heavy profile for cocktails. Green Dot uses only the berries, foliage, and toasted wood from a single juniper tree for an earthy, umami character.

Which Procera gin should I buy first?

Start with Blue Dot. It is the signature 44% bottling and costs about $90. It works best in martinis or for sipping neat. Buy Red Dot if you mainly drink Negronis, and save Green Dot for when you want to try a single-tree vintage.

Is Procera gin good in a martini?

Yes, Blue Dot is widely praised for martinis because of its oily texture and fresh juniper notes. Top bars like Duke’s and the Savoy in London use it specifically for their martini service.

Blue Dot vs Red Dot vs Green Dot—what is the difference?

Blue Dot ($90) is the flagship with 11 African botanicals. Red Dot ($150) is higher proof and spicier for cocktails like the Negroni. Green Dot ($240) is a limited release made entirely from a single juniper tree.

How much does Procera gin cost in the US?

As of 2026, Blue Dot is $90, Red Dot is $150, and Green Dot is $240. You can buy them through the official site or Flaviar, with flat shipping around $20 to most states.