First Impressions
Zuidam Zeer Oude Genever is a traditional Dutch spirit that bridges the world between gin and whisky. A malt wine of equal parts corn, rye and malted barley is triple-distilled, then distilled a fourth time with botanicals — juniper, liquorice root, aniseed — before ageing three years in virgin American oak barrels. The result is closer to whisky than gin.
Tasting
The nose shows active virgin oak with vanilla, fudge and caramel, wood shavings with very faint delicate juniper. On the palate, very creamy with oak, vanilla and fudge, plus room for cloves, pine and liquorice. The malt wine gives whisky-like body. The finish carries oranges, caramel and aniseed with toffee and rye bread earthiness.
The Bottom Line
Zuidam Zeer Oude Genever earns an 8 for an outstanding expression of the genever tradition. The virgin American oak is very dominant but creates a spirit that whisky lovers will immediately understand and gin lovers should explore. At around £40, genuine craft genever from one of the Netherlands' finest family distillers.
