Wees Jonge

Jenever is the Dutch ancestor of gin, and jonge is the modern style: less malt wine in the blend than the old oude recipes, which makes it lighter, cleaner and closer to a vodka with juniper than to anything English. Van Wees distil in Amsterdam and are among the last independents doing it properly. Clear and softly grainy, with restrained juniper, a little cereal sweetness and a clean finish. The Dutch drink it ice cold in a tulip glass filled to the brim, bending to the first sip. Do that.