“Dutch were the first liqueur producers in the world?” That’s just one of the surprising facts connected to De Ooievaar. This is no ordinary liquor store. It is a piece of Amsterdam’s distilling history.
De Ooievaar, founded in 1782, stands as the last remaining distillery in Amsterdam. Imagine Amsterdam with forty distilleries. Now only De Ooievaar remains. It is family run to this day.
In the Golden Age Amsterdam was a vital European port. Dutch distillers pioneered malt wines from grain. From these malt wines they distilled genever. The distillers constantly improved their spirits with new ingredients. By the 17th century genever became quite popular.
De Ooievaar resides in the Jordaan neighborhood. This spot in Driehoekstraat has seen centuries of distilling tradition. The location reflects the enduring spirit of Dutch craftsmanship.
Step inside De Ooievaar and discover a world of flavors. A comprehensive range of old Dutch liqueurs is available here. De Ooievaar distills over sixty liquors. They also make eighteen kinds of genevers.
Genever is an age-old Dutch product. It is distilled from malt wine with juniper berries. The berries were added to broaden the taste. People once believed juniper had medicinal qualities. Genever was originally consumed as a medicine.
A. van Wees distilleerderij De Ooievaar uses only natural ingredients. Original recipes ensure authentic flavors. No artificial aromas or flavors are ever added to the products. This commitment to quality sets De Ooievaar apart.
The Netherlands were once leaders in distilling. Dutch distillers were highly skilled. They created distilled products from various agricultural items. Their techniques were copied worldwide.
Depending on the type genevers are stored in oak casks. The basement provides the perfect environment for aging. The art is to bottle the genever at the perfect flavor balance. Beside genevers, other products also mature in casks. The cinnamon liqueur ages for ten years. Rums age for two to fifteen years.
Bottling at De Ooievaar is a special process. Products are bottled manually or semi-automatically. Finishing touches are done by hand. Corks screw caps ribbons shrink caps labels and wax seals are all carefully applied.
The good taste of the Dutch was lost by mass production. The Netherlands lost its trademark. De Ooievaar preserves the original Dutch taste. The distillery uses traditional distilling techniques. Authentic recipes and kettles ensure quality. They cherish the excellent taste of the past. This taste is a heritage that they are proud of.
So as you savor a sip remember its rich history. You are experiencing a taste of Amsterdam’s heritage. De Ooievaar is more than a liquor store. It is a living testament to Dutch distilling tradition.