Genevieve Genever Gin 750ML

Genevieve Genever Gin 750ML is a pot-distilled American genever from Hotaling & Co. in San Francisco, bottled at 47.3% ABV (94.6 proof) in a 750ml bottle. It earned a Gold Medal from the International Review of Spirits and 90 points from the Beverage Testing Institute, recognition that underscores its faithful revival of 17th-century Dutch gin-making traditions.

Quick Facts: ABV: 47.3%  |  Origin: San Francisco, California, USA  |  Style: Genever (Malt-Forward Gin)  |  Distillery: Hotaling & Co.

Production & Heritage

Hotaling & Co., originally founded as Anchor Distilling Company in San Francisco, pioneered the American craft distilling movement. Genevieve is distilled in copper pot stills from a grain mash of wheat, barley, and rye malts — a deliberate recreation of pre-industrial genever production that predates the column-still London dry gins most drinkers know today. The botanical bill mirrors that of the distillery's acclaimed Junipero Gin, but the malt-heavy base spirit transforms the character entirely, producing something closer to an unaged whiskey crossed with a botanical spirit than a conventional gin.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with a rush of sweet malt — reviewers compare it to walking through a working brewery. Flour, frosted pastries, and peppercorns emerge alongside fig jam and a pungent, fresh quality that suggests it rolled straight off the still.

Taste: The palate is rich and grain-forward, with wheat and rye malt providing a soft, silky body that lands between dry and fruity. Juniper and the supporting botanicals take on a deliberately subdued role here, woven into the cereal backbone rather than dominating it. The 47.3% ABV delivers noticeable warmth without harshness.

Finish: The finish is dry, warm, and moderately long, carrying spicy juniper, a cool menthol lift, and a mineral undercurrent. A subtle hint of anise lingers at the very end, adding an aromatic complexity that invites another sip.

How to Drink Genevieve

Genevieve rewards neat sipping or service over a single large ice cube, where the grain character opens gradually as the spirit dilutes. Its malty weight and botanical depth also make it a compelling cocktail base in the following:

• Holland House Cocktail: A classic genever cocktail where the malt richness pairs naturally with dry vermouth and maraschino liqueur.
• Improved Genever Cocktail: Genevieve's grain-forward profile stands up to absinthe rinse and sugar, amplifying the spirit's anise and herbal notes.
• John Collins: The original Collins recipe called for genever, not London dry — Genevieve's body and warmth deliver the historical version with authority.

Best For

• Gin enthusiasts looking to explore the malt-driven ancestor of modern gin
• Whiskey drinkers curious about unaged grain spirits with botanical complexity
• Pre-Prohibition cocktail enthusiasts recreating 19th-century recipes that called for genever
• Gifting a craft spirits collector who values historically inspired American distilling

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Genevieve taste like? Genevieve is dominated by rich grain and malt flavors — wheat, barley, and rye — with juniper and botanicals playing a supporting role beneath a warm, spicy framework with notes of menthol and anise.

How does Genevieve compare to Bols Genever? Both are malt-based genevers, but Genevieve leans more heavily into its cereal grain character and higher proof (47.3% ABV vs. Bols' 42%), resulting in a more robust, beer-like maltiness. Bols Genever offers a slightly softer, more rounded profile that some find more approachable as an introduction to the category.

Is Genevieve good for sipping neat? Yes — the malty body, moderate complexity, and 47.3% ABV make it well-suited to neat service, particularly for drinkers who enjoy the grain-forward character of unaged whiskey or white dog spirits.

Where is Genevieve made? Genevieve is distilled at Hotaling & Co. (formerly Anchor Distilling Company) in San Francisco, California, one of the pioneering craft distilleries in the United States.

What foods pair well with Genevieve? Smoked salmon and rye bread complement the grain-forward maltiness. Aged Dutch cheeses like Gouda echo the spirit's Old World genever roots. Charcuterie with mustard highlights the peppery rye notes. Pork belly or duck confit match the spirit's weight and warmth. Dark chocolate with sea salt draws out the mineral finish.

What sizes does Genevieve come in? Genevieve Genever Gin is available in the standard 750ml bottle size.

Is Genevieve worth the price? Genevieve positions as a premium craft spirit within the small but growing American genever category, where few domestic competitors exist at this quality level. The copper pot-still production from an all-grain mash is labor-intensive, and the 90-point BTI score and Gold Medal from the International Review of Spirits support its standing as a serious expression of the style.

Why Genevieve?

Genevieve is one of very few American-made genevers distilled entirely from a grain mash in copper pot stills, making it a genuine rarity in the domestic spirits landscape. Its production method deliberately mirrors 17th-century Dutch techniques that predate the invention of the column still and the clean, juniper-forward London dry style that now defines the category for most consumers. The 90-point rating from the Beverage Testing Institute and an International Review of Spirits Gold Medal confirm that this historical ambition translates into measurable quality. For anyone who has only known gin as a clear, botanical-driven spirit, Genevieve provides a malty, grain-rich counterpoint that fundamentally reframes what the word "gin" can mean.