The scent of juniper berries hangs heavy in the air. This is the Fovel Distillery. Right here in Brussels.
Fovel Distillery is more than just a distillery. It’s a living testament to a family legacy. A legacy stretching back to 1864 when Joseph Fovel founded this establishment. It’s the only distillery still operating in the entire Brussels region.
For generations the Fovel family has crafted jenevers and spirits. Their Brussels Manneken-Pis jenever is a local favourite. So too are their Hasselt jenever and Schaerbeek morello cherry jenever. They even produce a Grand-Place orange liqueur. Every year over 100000 bottles leave this very building.
The process is fascinating. They use 96% pure alcohol. This is blended with water and flavour extracts. Juniper berries create that classic gin taste. Amazingly eighty litres of extracts yield 30000 litres of spirits.
Did you know that during World War I the copper stills were buried? Thierry Fovel the current owner is the fifth generation. He protects this family heritage. He told me that the stills were dug up after the war. They’re still used today. Even the layout hasn’t changed much since 1920.
The distillery has seen incredible change. In 1975 twelve people worked here. Today only three remain. One person handles all the production. Before it was a distillery the building was a vinegar factory.
The morello cherries are a special touch. They come from the director’s own property. Smaller than regular cherries they’re trickier to harvest. It’s a labour of love. A dedication to quality that defines this place.
So here we stand. At the heart of Brussels. At the heart of the Fovel Distillery. A place where history tradition and exceptional craftsmanship come together in every bottle. A true Brussels treasure.