Juniper malt spirit, sipped from a tulip glass filled to the brim so the first sip is taken bent over the bar. Dutch physicians described it in the sixteenth century, and English soldiers in the Low Countries took it home, where it became gin.
Distilling is illegal without a licence, and jenever is a protected designation with a legally defined malt-wine content.
What goes into it
- moutwijn — malt wine, distilled from rye, maize and malted barley
- juniper berries
- other botanicals
- water
How it is made
A malt wine is distilled from a grain mash in pot stills — this is the part that separates jenever from gin, which starts from neutral spirit. Juniper and other botanicals are then distilled with it or with a portion of it, and the two are blended. Oude jenever carries more malt wine and is often aged in oak; jonge carries less.
How long it takes: days to distil; oude styles spend a year or more in oak
How it is eaten
In a tulip glass filled to the meniscus, room temperature or from the freezer, with a beer alongside as a kopstootje.
History
Malt-wine spirit flavoured with juniper, described by Dutch physicians in the sixteenth century; English soldiers in the Low Countries took it home as gin.
Frequently asked questions
What is Jenever?
Jenever is a wine & spirit from Netherlands: juniper malt spirit sipped brim-full from tulip glasses. Malt-wine spirit flavoured with juniper, described by Dutch physicians in the sixteenth century; English soldiers in the Low Countries took it home as gin.
How is Jenever made?
A malt wine is distilled from a grain mash in pot stills — this is the part that separates jenever from gin, which starts from neutral spirit. Juniper and other botanicals are then distilled with it or with a portion of it, and the two are blended. Oude jenever carries more malt wine and is often aged in oak; jonge carries less. It takes days to distil; oude styles spend a year or more in oak.
Can I make Jenever at home?
No, and the atlas gives no method for it. Distilling is illegal without a licence, and jenever is a protected designation with a legally defined malt-wine content.
What goes into Jenever?
Moutwijn — malt wine, distilled from rye, maize and malted barley, juniper berries, other botanicals, water.
How is Jenever eaten?
In a tulip glass filled to the meniscus, room temperature or from the freezer, with a beer alongside as a kopstootje.
