Ever wondered how a humble oil mill transformed into a monument of French distilling history? The story of Distillerie Claeyssens is one of ingenuity. It is one of regional pride. Right here in Wambrechies stands one of France’s last jenever distilleries.
Distillerie Claeyssens began its journey in 1789 in Lille. The Claeyssens family relocated 30 years later. They chose Wambrechies because of its superior resources. The Deûle canal offered easy cereal transport. A water mill simplified flour production. A groundwater table provided pure water. Neighboring farmers ensured simple disposal of the solid residues from the distillation.
Henri Lenssen was an engineer. He was also a friend of the Claeyssens family. Lenssen designed an automated production process in 1817. This was a remarkable feat for its time. Later, the Industrial Revolution improved the distillery. Steam-powered machines perfected the process further in the mid-19th century.
By 1999, the entire site earned historical recognition. The buildings, machines, and production process were classified as historical monuments. This classification did not include the jenever.
Jenever became a symbol for local workers. Miners and textile workers favored the drink. Its popularity grew. Production peaked in the 1930s. Locals enjoyed it as “bistouille.” Bistouille is jenever mixed with coffee. Everyone had their own method. Some drank it before coffee. Others mixed it half-and-half. Some poured jenever into their coffee cup after finishing the coffee.
There was the Genièvre de Loos. This was a sweet wheat-based variety at 42 degrees. The Wambrechies version used rye and malt. It was drier with 49 degrees.
The Belgian group Grande Distillerie de Charleroi acquired Claeyssens in 1998. In 2000, they acquired “Le Genièvre de Loos”. It was produced in Loos-lez-Lille since 1816. Production moved to Wambrechies. Both brands are now produced here.
The decline of textile and mining industries impacted jenever production. Many distilleries closed. From about a hundred in 1900, only two remained a century later. Claeyssens in Wambrechies and Persyn in Houlle. These distilleries uphold regional tradition.
Distillerie Claeyssens is more than a distillery. It is a living museum. It is a testament to Northern France’s industrial heritage. It is a place where tradition meets innovation. The Claeyssens distillery continues to operate. It keeps the legacy of jenever alive.