During the First World War, however, grain imports struggled. Therefore, producers turned to distilling alcohol from other ingredients such as sugar beet molasses and potatoes. As a result, this became known as “jonge” or “new style” jenever. Genever is a grain based distillate, so you need according to the historical recipes the following grains for the grainbill; There are many different “jenever cities” in the Netherlands like Schiedam which is perfect for a daytrip, Groningen, Delft, and (of course) Amsterdam. After learning about the history, let’s talk a bit about the taste. What is it like and where do those flavours come from? Since we are better at drinking than investigating on this one, we’ve asked for a little bit of help and teamed up with Damrak Gin! When life gives you lemons (or oranges in this case) make a G&T. Image: Damrak Gin Jang HD, Hong JY, Han K, et al. Relationship between bone mineral density and alcohol intake: A nationwide health survey analysis of postmenopausal women. PLoS One. 2017;12(6):e0180132. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0180132 Nowadays, jenever is served from the freezer like vodka. However, jonge jenever used to be drunk at room temperature with sugar and a spoon similar to absinthe.

Dutch gin's character is inherently linked to its terroir – the grains, water, and even the air of the Low Countries contribute to its unique taste. As such, jenever is not merely a spirit but an expression of Dutch culture and ingenuity. Historically, jenever was believed to have medicinal properties and was prescribed by doctors for a variety of ailments. This medicinal link is credited with helping to spread its popularity across Europe, particularly as a soldier's comfort during times of war, leading to the term "Dutch Courage."How jenever is made depends largely upon the intended type as those described above. Overall, however, the manufacturing process isn’t altogether different than gin save from a few techniques that are reminiscent of whisky. As Dutch gin enjoys a revival among spirits enthusiasts and mixologists worldwide, it remains a symbol of the Dutch spirit of innovation, craftsmanship, and cultural pride. With every sip of jenever, one is not just enjoying a drink but partaking in a centuries-old tradition that has shaped the landscape of spirits and continues to evolve and inspire. Whether one is sipping on a classic oude jenever or exploring the nuances of a craft jonge expression, Dutch gin offers a complexity and richness that is as enduring as the Dutch spirit itself. The tall, slender jenever glass needs to be filled up with jenever so much that it has a so-called ‘head’ (de ‘kop’). The ‘head’ can only be drunk by leaning towards the glass, to avoid spilling the precious drink. 8. ‘Dutch courage’

Find sources: "Jenever"– news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR ( December 2022) ( Learn how and when to remove this template message)Blaine SK, Milivojevic V, Fox H, Sinha R. Alcohol effects on stress pathways: impact on craving and relapse risk. Can J Psychiatry. 2016;61(3):145-153. doi:10.1177/0706743716632512

Interested in tasting some different jenevers? In Amsterdam, several jenever distilleries are open to the public. Here you can drink a real Dutch gin or buy a bottle of Dutch gin in Amsterdam. The maltwine is then re-distilled in the “Distilleerderij” (Distillery) in combination with Juniper berries and other botanicals into Genever. There are four different types of gin: London dry gin, old Tom, Plymouth and navy strength gin. Is gin gluten-free?Alexander: " In Holland we see the same trend as in the UK but only a couple of years later. Since recentlymany new craft distilleries started in Holland and consumers are asking more and more for local craft gins." The duo is determined to ‘preserve the essence of Hermit Gin while introducing modern innovations to attract a new generation of gin enthusiasts’.

Smoking juniper berries and juniper wood was used to disinfect a room infested with the plague. 3. Oude jenever and Jonge jenever Genever vs Gin and Whiskey: Just because it is juniper-dominated, don’t go thinking of genever as “Dutch gin”, and do not use it as a substitute for gin. The malty flavors of genever are more reminiscent of whisky than gin, so refrain from using genever to mix a Vesper or a Gin & Tonic. Well, genever is actually the ancestor of gin. HERE you can read about the evolution of gin from Genever. Although they are both spirits accented by juniper, they are very different animals. Gin is created by mixing a neutral spirit base with a blend of botanicals, predominantly juniper. Genever has a completely different base – malt wine (distillate of rye, corn, and wheat), which is more representative of a blended bourbon or light scotch. The base is whiskey-like. The malt wine is then blended with a neutral spirit and a botanical mix to craft a spirit that tastes like the love child of gin and whiskey. Steiner JL, Crowell KT, Lang CH. Impact of alcohol on glycemic control and insulin action. Biomolecules. 2015;5(4):2223–2246. Published 2015 Sep 29. doi:10.3390/biom5042223 Pedeliento G, Andreini D, Dalli D. From mother’s ruin to ginaissance: Emergence, settlement and resettlement of the gin category. Org Studies. 2020;41(7):969-992. doi:10.1177/0170840619883366Apart from oude and jonge Jenever, there are different distillation processes and ingredients for gin. Korenwijn (grain wine) for example has matured in an oak cask for some years. If you are looking for the best Dutch gin brands, here are the 3 best results from a tasting session: Nowadays all that remains is the Amsterdam gin distillery in the Pijlsteeg. At the charmingly small decorated tasting room you can try their many liqueurs and jenevers. On Saturday you can tour the distillery. Estruch R, Sacanella E, Badia E, et al. Different effects of red wine and gin consumption on inflammatory biomarkers of atherosclerosis: a prospective randomized crossover trial. Effects of wine on inflammatory markers. Atherosclerosis. 2004;175(1):117-23. doi:10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2004.03.006