Hooghoudt
The Groningen family distillery behind the genever, beerenburg and vieux found on every table in the north. Everything about the varieties, alcohol percentages, how to drink them and the right glass to serve them in.
A Groningen distillery since 1888
Hooghoudt was founded in Groningen in 1888 and is still a family business. The distillery began with genever, the Dutch grain spirit flavored with juniper berries, and expanded into beerenburg, vieux and liqueurs. In the north of the Netherlands, the brand is a household name: at drinks gatherings, the bottle sits on the table as naturally as coffee does afterward.
The range runs from light young genever at 35% to Aged Genever at 40%, aged for six years in sherry casks. The beerenburg comes in two versions, made with 74 and 77 herbs respectively, and the orange liqueur is also known as Wilhelmus. What they have in common is that they’re at their best served ice-cold.
In brief
What types of Hooghoudt are there?
Young genever
Distilled twice and smooth, with an extract of twelve herbs, including wormwood, fruit peel and orange peel. The classic Dutch after-dinner drink.
Premium Korenwijn
Korenwijn made from wheat, rye, and corn: full of grain flavor, intense yet very smooth, with juniper in the background.
Aged Genever 6 Years
Malt wine aged for six years in first-fill Oloroso sherry casks, with raspberry, white grape, and cacao distillates. Rich and elegant.
Beerenburg 74 Herbs
Slightly bitter, warm, and robustly spiced, with bay leaf, licorice, rosemary, nettle, and gentian root.
Calamus Beerenburg
More refined than the 74-herb version, with cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger, plus the gentle touch of calamus root.
Vieux
Made with two wine distillates from the Cognac region and an addition of pure eau-de-vie. Round and smooth.
Orange Liqueur
The refreshingly sweet orange liqueur, also known as Wilhelmus. Enjoy it neat over ice or mixed with sparkling drinks.
Start with the young jenever; Aged Genever is the bottle for a special occasion.
From smooth grain to robust spices
Grain & juniper
The young jenever is light and smooth, with grain, juniper, and a hint of citrus peel. The korenwijn is fuller and maltier.
Spicy and slightly bitter
Bay leaf, licorice, gentian, and nettle make the Beerenburg warm and bitter-spiced without making it harsh.
Round and sweet
The vieux is smooth and full-bodied thanks to the French wine distillates; the orange liqueur is refreshingly sweet and fruity.
Average flavor profile of Hooghoudt jenever and Beerenburg. The orange liqueur scores 4/5 for sweetness and fruitiness.
Three ways to drink Hooghoudt
Jenever and Beerenburg are best enjoyed ice-cold and neat, in a small glass filled to the brim. Set the tulip glass on the table and take the first sip without picking it up.
Ice-cold from the freezer
Put the bottle in the freezer for a few hours and fill a jenever glass to the brim. Lean forward and take the first sip without lifting the glass: it’s all part of the ritual.
Glass: jenever glass →As a kopstoot
A small glass of ice-cold young jenever alongside a small glass of lager. First a sip of jenever, then a sip of beer: the Dutch combination that has stood the test of time for centuries.
To the recipe →In an Amsterdam Sour
Shake 50 ml young genever, 25 ml lemon juice, 15 ml sugar syrup, and a dash of egg white vigorously, then strain into a coupe. The Dutch version of the Whiskey Sour.
To the recipe →The best cocktails with Hooghoudt
Kopstoot
A little glass of genever alongside a small beer. It doesn’t get any simpler or more Dutch than that.
Amsterdam Sour
Genever, lemon, sugar, and egg white. The Dutch counterpart to the Whiskey Sour.
Tom Collins
Lemon, sugar, and soda. Using genever instead of gin gives you a fuller, grainier version.
Orange cocktails
All the orange recipes in one place. Orange liqueur is the natural choice as a base here.The right glass for Hooghoudt
An Old Dutch roemer or a stemmed shot glass for genever and beerenburg, and a long drink glass or coupe for cocktails. These are the glasses we recommend ourselves.
Everything you wanted to know about Hooghoudt
Can’t find your question here? Check out our cocktail recipes or get in touch.
To the cocktail recipes →What is the alcohol content of Hooghoudt?
What’s the difference between young and old genever?
What exactly is beerenburg?
How do you drink jenever?
Is Hooghoudt the same as Wilhelmus?
Where does Hooghoudt come from?
Buy Hooghoudt
Want the bottle delivered straight to your door? Order Hooghoudt online from Gall & Gall. Gall & Gall has 10 products, 4 of which are on sale.
Prices as of November 3, 2026, as provided by Gall & Gall. You can see the current price and stock at Gall & Gall. Glazen.nl receives a small commission if you buy something through these links; it costs you nothing extra. No 18, no alcohol.
