What Genever Should Come Back from Amsterdam with me?

[rlh]

Just getting to know (and enjoy) the world of Dutch gins - I have Bols Genever (unaged) at home and really enjoy it in several cocktails. It's the only Genever I've seen readily available for sale around Boston. I plan a visit to House of Bols.

The only other brand I know is Boomsma, and I intend to sample both Jongen and Oude varieties.

What are others I should try and consider bringing home from my trip? Do you have any specific cocktail recipes to pair with them?

[VeroniqueB]

You can now find Diep 9, an award winning Belgian Genever in Boston. Available in Old, Young and all natural infusions. Gezondheid!

[EvergreenDan]

Chocolate genever ? Well at least Root would go with it. ;)

[rlh]

Thanks very much - something new and exciting for me to search for!

[jacquesf]

Oops, this reply went into the wrong thread. Sorry.

[Dapuma]

You must stop at Wynand Fockink - i was there this summer and it was a lot of fun

it has been around for around 400 years - they have quite a few varieties and you can sample everything they make there

Tasting Room is open 3-9 every day and you can buy whatever you like

[yarm]

Wynand Fockink is the one my friends speak of too. I had one of the genevers they brought back that was aged and brown like a fine scotch. Many distilleries make a wide range of genevers so if that is not your thing, there will be younger as well as less malty choices. The WF Creme de Violette I tried was the best one I have ever tasted which is a testament for how good the distillery is.

http://cocktailvirgin.blogspot.com

[Dapuma]

i tried 3 when i was there, the oldest one tasted like gasoline but i drank it heh i dont recall which one it was, he said it was most like a rye whiksey but gin obviously

I liked the middle aged one the best, it was smooth drinkable straight

the mrs liked a currant flavored one, which was very tasty - and they have a lot of different flavors to try flavored or not if you dont want genevere

they also have some draft beers on tap there as well, had a cech beer called budweiser but it wasnt budweiser from the us - the bar guy (who was friendly and hilarious) found a lot of humor serving a yank budweiser in Amsterdam

[rlh]

Thanks for the advice - WF was not open as they claim for an English tour at 12:30p on Sat, however, I went back to the tasting room after 3p and thoroughly enjoyed the experience as well as several of their genever offerings and specialty liqueurs (brought home rose, ginger, and a mix of apricot/citrus flavors that was totally new and interesting to me - their products dominated what I was able to fit in my luggage for the return - see photo.

I highly recommend this as a destination for any spirits enthusiast visiting Amsterdam (along with making a reservation and going to door-74 for carefully crafted, innovative cocktails - such as their oyster mushroom-infused bourbon Old Fashioned - details in photo)

[Dapuma]

glad you liked it

next time i go back will make a reservation for sure for the cocktails

[sakeandgin]

Bourdain was drinking and discussing some on the Layover last night. Take a look at the rerun I'm sure its on this week

[davis_sq_pro]

Definitely an interesting episode. I had trouble figuring out whether he hated the city or was just too stoned to be very effusive in his praise.