First Impressions
Zuidam Korenwijn is a traditional Dutch grain wine — the style that preceded gin. A malt wine of barley, rye and corn is distilled four times, paired with juniper, liquorice and aniseed, then aged in oak for at least twelve months. Korenwijn sits between genever and whisky, predating both in historical terms.
Tasting
The nose shows porridge with clear oak presence, vanilla notes and pine needles with subtle juniper. On the palate, fairly sweet with warming baking spices — mainly cinnamon — soft pepper, toffee and coriander with a whisper of crisp green apple. The finish is drying and spicy, balanced, complex and very inviting.
The Bottom Line
Zuidam Korenwijn earns a 7 for what one reviewer called the best one-year-old spirit they have encountered. The four distillations create remarkable smoothness for the age, and the juniper-liquorice-aniseed combination provides enough botanical interest to distinguish it from simple young whisky. A fascinating piece of Dutch spirits history.
