Bols Zeer Oude Genever

Nose: Bright, almost floral top notes of juniper and pine above a deeper caramel-cereal foundation. Oak casks and malt spirit are present. The aroma is sweet, lightly spiced, and alluring, with hints of wheat-grain whisky and corn new-make, yet it remains composed and refined, showing no raw character. The dry glass reveals intriguing scents of salt flats and estuaries at low tide—I can practically hear the curlews calling! Palate: A rich, sweet, oily, and malty initial impression. As it develops, notes of treacle, a hint of licorice, and botanical complexity emerge. A subtle suggestion of sea salt appears, but there is no smoke whatsoever. The texture is chewy, yet the sensation of a robust but crisp gin is never far off, though juniper itself isn't clearly discernible. Finish: Medium in length. Slightly salty and earthy. Malt and cereal recede into a sweet aftertaste reminiscent of sunsets over tranquil coastal scenery. Oude genever is better suited for sipping neat compared to jonge genever; it has a higher malt content and is surprisingly more akin to tasting young whisky than gin. The official tasting notes describe this as "Rich," and I find that to be a very accurate description. It evokes images of ornate drawing rooms with heavy velvet curtains and portraits whose subjects peer out from layers of sfumato as courtiers sip herbal liqueurs. It is dense, fragrant, and elegant. If whisky didn't exist, this would be my preferred spirit. The official notes align perfectly here. This is a smooth, mellow, and comforting spirit that can best be understood as a spiced cereal new-make that has undergone some barrel conditioning. It is excellent for sipping neat and also works well as a delightful mixer. However, oude genever is less interchangeable with London dry gin than jonge genever, and mixing it feels like a waste of a spirit that merits appreciation on its own. I have just purchased two more bottles. At its current price, it's a bargain. "Very Good": 85/100 (4 stars)

Slightly improved. It has the character and body of gin with some malt notes.

Smooth, sweet, tastes of seaweed and malt.

Spiti Kerkyra