Sipping delights for the festive season

Aged genevers are perfect companions for the cosy, wintery festive period – especially if they matured in former sherry or port casks. We’ve compiled three excellent examples to keep you warm and comfy.

Rutte Fino Sherry Cask

Dutch botanical distiller Rutte presents the second in a series of four sherry cask matured genevers. Rutte Fino Sherry

Cask has aged for six years in American oak casks previously containing Fino, a dry and white sherry wine. This rich genever is not unlike a well-aged whisky but has extra complexity because of botanicals such as juniper, coriander, orris root and liquorice root. The sherry adds nutty flavours.

Zuidam Oude Genever 11 Years Old Pedro Ximénez Cask

The aged stocks of Dutch family-owned distillery Zuidam are among the most comprehensive in the industry. The 11-years-old Pedro Ximénez Cask matured genever is a prime example. Distilled from rye, corn and malted barley and flavoured with herbs like aniseed, juniper and liquorice root, this is rich but balanced – a perfect digestive.

Smeets Port Cask Finish

Based in the genever capital of Belgium, Smeets produces original Hasseltse genever, a style protected by its own AOC. All Hasseltse genever matures for at least six months in Hasselts territory. The maturation in Porto Cruz barrels takes a total of 12 months and gives the Port Cask Finish a balanced, dry and fruity taste, highlighted by a touch of raisins on the palate.