Nose: Oak sideboards polished with beeswax, herbal pomander, diesel fuel, rotting apples, baked pears, kerosene, freshly scraped vanilla pods, chinchona bark, turpentine, fresh thyme, malt extract, treacle and brass polish. After resting in the glass for a while an array of baking spice aromas is revealed. By all the gods, that's what I call a nose! Astonishingly, the dry-glass aroma is very similar to some bourbon but there is a top-note of herbal honey. Palate: Rich, thick and engulfing - very sweet but also spicy on the arrival with more warm baking spices and herbal oaky tones. Some liquorice, anise and clove appear as it develops, along with a medley of herbal pot-pourri. An expansive and earthy palate that never becomes cloying - the sweetness is perfectly balanced by woody and earthy herbal tones. Finish: Medium/short. Sweet, herbal and grassy. Very satisfying with lingering woody notes. The nose and palate of this aged corenwijn are quite distinct, but not at odds. They're like a set of twins - each with its own personality but unmistakably very similar. The nose is momentous and not at all like gin, it more closely resembles some scotch whiskies (there is a similarity to Auchentoshan). The palate is entrancing with each sip. It starts out sweet and benign then suddenly turns herbal, grassy and piney, but almost immediately subsides into a warm malty blanket. It takes me by surprise every time. Imagine green Chartreuse, Auchentoshan 12 and Buffalo Trace colliding head-on at full speed. I'd encourage every serious spirits enthusiast to try this at least once, and if you do please taste it neat and give it time to reveal itself. This is absolutely not something to waste on shots or as a mixer. "Very Good" : 87/100 (4.25 stars)
About this bottle
This genever is a corenwyn which means that the malt-wine portion of the product exceeds 50% of the spirit. Though not required for this category, this genever is aged. It spends six years in two types of casks: French Limousin and American oak. This product is available primarily in the Netherlands, but does exist in other parts of Europe. It is bottled at 40% ABV.
How it tastes
Measured across 14 flavor axes. Tap a note to find other bottles that lead with it.
Reviews
Showing the most detailed of 2 parsed reviews.
Cascode has nailed this one in his review. Very herbal, aniseed. Wine cooler crossed with sparkling apple juice as well. I'd say not one for me but I won't rate as not an expert in this stuff. Thanks anyhow cascode!
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