The discovery of gin
In the 15th century it was discovered in the Netherlands and Belgium that the use of juniper berries improved the taste of their grain distillate. This resulted in what we now know as jenever.
Genever has been a popular drink for more than 500 years. But did you also know that jenever is a typical product of the Low Countries? Distilling alcohol blew over from the East during the Middle Ages and soon spread further across Europe.
Did you know?
Besides being beneficial, the juniper also turned out to be tasty. The first written jenever recipe can be found in 'Een Constelijck Distiller Boec' and dates back to 1552! A recipe for juniper water and the basis of the recipe as we still know jenever today.
During the latter part of the 15e century jenever not only had a medicinal function, but also a social function. The rise of sociability in the bottle was unstoppable: by the middle of the 16e century there were hundreds of distilleries in the Low Countries that produced jenever.
