Diep9®, an authentic genever handcrafted in 52 gallon batches from grain to drop in East-Flanders, Belgium, delivers an award-winning taste truly characteristic of the country from which it hails.

Diep9 (pronounced “deep nine”) inherits its name from the deep 500 year-old history of genever, and from the nine botanicals immersed in its unique distillation process. Diep9 genever is double distilled in an authentic copper pot still from rye, wheat, malted barley, and nine botanicals at Stokerij De Moor, Belgium’s smallest active grain distillery founded in 1910. Aromatic and malty in taste, Diep9 has opened the doors for a new cocktail experience as well as giving us a taste of the past.

Genever (pronounced “juh-nee-ver”) has been Belgium’s national spirit for over 500 years. Credited as the grandfather of gin, genever is a juniper-flavored spirit produced by the blending of neutral alcohol and malt wine, whereas gin doesn’t contain any malt wine at all. Genever derives its predominant flavor by pot-distilling a fermented grain mash (malt wine) giving its traditional malty grain taste and very recognizable smell similar to wheat bread. Unlike gin, genever does not have to have an apparent juniper aroma or taste to it. This unique spirit secured a place at America's early cocktail bars. If you were having a cocktail party in the 1800s you were shaking up genever cocktails. Recognized for its historic and cultural contribution, the European Union protected genever with 11 appellations or AOC’s of which most are exclusive to Belgium.

Mixologists are celebrating the return of genever, a lost spirit category that is now making a resurgence in restaurants and bars, with customers asking for more unique and complex cocktails. Quite popular in the U.S. during the 19th century, before prohibition in 1920 brought legal liquor consumption to a halt, the import of genever to the U.S. was six times greater than gin. Many of today's classic cocktails were originally made with genever. At the same time, prohibition was also enacted in Belgium, prohibiting the serving of distilled spirits in public places. Belgium's strong beers owe something to this period: many brewers upped the alcohol content to console drinkers forced to give up genever.

For centuries genever has been bottled in jugs handcrafted from clay. The clay jug doesn’t alter the taste of genever, is impervious to light and provides an excellent protection against temperature fluctuations. Its iconic shape is recognizable and unique to genever. Diep9 genever is bottled by hand in these historic handcrafted clay jugs which can still be found in old shipwrecks. Check out the bottles’ imperfections, as every jug is unique. Even though the disposal of these pieces of art is still extremely environmentally friendly, reuse the jugs for olive oil containers, flower vases, candle holders, or art projects.