Jenever

Genever is a malt whiskey enhanced with botanicals. Instead of starting with a neutral spirit like vodka and infusing it with botanicals to make gin, we make a flavor-rich whiskey and add herbs, roots, and other botanicals. Unlike gin, which is predominantly spiced with juniper berries, genever is more balanced, using many ingredients to make a complex spirit.

Popular in the pre-Prohibition United States, genever was imported from western Europe 4:1 over its younger cousin, gin, and was the spirit used to develop most cocktails that we now make with that relative, like the Tom Collins or even the Martini.

Extremely flexible, due to its profile, it can stand as a replacement for both gin and whiskey in many cocktails. Echo Spirits Genever is very approachable and will appeal to drinkers of both of its cousin spirits.

Available NOW, ONLY IN THE SPIRIT SHOP AT ECHO SPIRITS

Tasting Notes

Cereal Grains
Dill
Caraway

When we started working on our genever, we quickly realized we could use some help. While our distillers are adept at creating rich and interesting spirits, botanical notes and infusions are best left to a trained palate. Enter the bartenders of Columbus.

Echo Spirits Distilling Co. has been fortunate enough to get to know some of the most talented bartenders in the city, so we decided to lean on these friendships. We reached out, explained genever-making, and waited. One by one, each of these individuals trickled into our distillery to show off what they had made. Each person came in with a unique and exciting infusion, and we were absolutely blown away, once again, by the quality of what we received.

Taking each of these infusions, we set to work like mad scientists, blending and tasting until our palates were raw. We tore apart what we received and brought together all of the best elements to create the Echo Spirits Genever. 

The names of everyone who helped us figure out how to make our genever are listed on the inside of every bottle of Echo Spirits Genever and always will be.

This product, much like Echo Spirits itself, would be nothing if not for the community surrounding it. We proudly present to you the creators of our genever, The Genever Convention. 

The original boilermaker, kopstoot translates to "little headbutt" and is one of the simplest ways to drink genever. A shot of genever is sipped alongside a small beer (or large beer, no judgement), normally a lighter style like a pilsner or lager.

Stir ingredients with ice. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with an orange twist.

Kick your feet up.

Prepare the honey syrup with equal parts honey and water, heated to blend.

Combine ingredients in a pot. Heat over the stove until mixture is warm (don't boil). Pour into a heat-safe glass and garnish with a cinnamon stick.

Snuggle your face down into the glass and take a few deep breaths.

Flavor Profile: Grainy but Refreshing
Complexity: Simple

Combine genever, lime juice, and simple syrup in a highball or wine glass. Stir to incorporate. Fill glass with ice and add tonic water. Give a quick stir to mix. Garnish with a lime wedge and your favorite botanicals like juniper, star anise, or cardamom seeds.

Flavor Profile: Vegetal & Botanical
Complexity: Intermediate

Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass. Add ice and stir. Strain into a cocktail glass and express a lemon peel. Served up.

Flavor Profile: Malt in the Tropics
Complexity: Advanced

Combine all ingredients in a shaker tin. Add ice and shake. Double strain into a Collins glass over fresh ice. Garnish with Caraway flower/seeds.

Have a cocktail you think would be perfect for Echo Spirits Genever? Send it over to Joe and Nikhil, and we'll give it a try.

If we like it, we'll include it in our suggested cocktails.