Corsair Genever Gin 750ML

Corsair Genever Gin 750ML is a Holland-style, malt-based gin from Corsair Artisan Distillery, bottled at 44% ABV (88 proof) in a 750ml format. It earned a Double Gold medal at the 2014 San Francisco World Spirits Competition and has collected multiple awards since, including Gold at the 2014 American Craft Spirits Association and Gold at the 2015 American Distilling Institute.

Quick Facts: ABV: 44% (88 Proof)  |  Origin: United States  |  Holland-Style Gin  |  Distillery: Corsair Artisan Distillery

Production & Heritage

Corsair Artisan Distillery built its reputation on experimental, boundary-pushing spirits. This expression draws inspiration from the Dutch genever tradition but is produced in the United States, so it does not carry the protected genever designation—a geographic indication limited to specific regions in the Netherlands, Belgium, and parts of France and Germany. The spirit begins with a malted barley base, giving it a rich, grain-forward foundation more commonly associated with whiskey. That malt wine–style base is then infused with a botanical bill of juniper, ginger, sweet orange peel, orris root, licorice, and cardamom, bridging the gap between a traditional London dry gin and a malty Dutch genever.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Warm maltiness greets the nose first, followed by sweet spice, fresh ginger, and bright citrus peel. There is an underlying breadiness that signals the barley base before juniper and cardamom emerge.

Taste: The entry is full and grain-forward, almost like warm bread or fresh-baked pastry, which transitions into vibrant citrus and orange peel at mid-palate. As it develops, layers of cardamom, cinnamon, and juniper build alongside subtle floral undertones and a ginger spice kick that adds brightness and lift.

Finish: Medium-long, with a pleasant warmth that carries lingering notes of malt, sweet spice, and dried citrus peel. The yeasty, bready character persists gently alongside a clean juniper fade.

How to Drink Corsair Genever

Neat or with a single large ice cube is the best way to appreciate the interplay between the malty base and the botanical overlay—the slight dilution opens up the ginger and citrus. In cocktails, the barley backbone gives this gin a weight and complexity that standard London dry styles cannot replicate. A Dutch-style Collins highlights the malt and citrus beautifully with lemon juice and soda. A Genever Old Fashioned leverages the whiskey-like body, pairing rich malt against a sugar cube and orange bitters. A Improved Holland Gin Cocktail—the classic nineteenth-century recipe with maraschino liqueur and absinthe—showcases the spirit's historical inspiration.

Best For

• Whiskey drinkers curious about exploring gin through a malt-forward entry point
• Craft spirits collectors seeking award-winning American artisan distillery releases
• Home bartenders building a cocktail library of historically inspired spirits
• Gifting an adventurous spirits enthusiast who values unusual production methods

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Corsair Genever taste like? It leads with warm, bready malt notes reminiscent of fresh pastry, then opens into bright orange peel, juniper, cardamom, and ginger spice. The overall profile sits between a rich gin and a light, unaged whiskey.

How does Corsair Genever compare to Bols Genever? Bols Genever is produced in the Netherlands under the protected genever appellation with a traditional malt wine base, while Corsair is an American-made, Holland-style interpretation that cannot legally be called genever. Corsair tends toward bolder ginger and cardamom spice with a drier finish, whereas Bols leans more heavily into its malt wine sweetness and classic juniper profile.

Is Corsair Genever good for cocktails? Yes—its malt-forward weight and 44% ABV give it the structure to stand up in stirred and shaken cocktails alike. It works especially well in pre-Prohibition recipes that originally called for Holland gin or genever.

Where is Corsair Genever made? It is produced by Corsair Artisan Distillery in the United States. Corsair operates distilleries in Nashville, Tennessee, and Bowling Green, Kentucky, both known for their experimental approach to small-batch spirits.

What foods pair well with Corsair Genever? Smoked salmon or gravlax accentuates the malty backbone. Aged Gouda complements the warm bread and spice notes. Ginger-glazed pork belly echoes the ginger botanical. Citrus-dressed salads mirror the orange peel brightness. Dark chocolate with cardamom creates a rich dessert pairing.

What sizes does Corsair Genever come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle.

Is Corsair Genever worth the price? It positions as a craft-tier, small-batch spirit in the specialty gin category. Given its Double Gold from the San Francisco World Spirits Competition and multiple additional medals, it represents strong value for drinkers seeking something outside the mainstream gin landscape.

Why Corsair Genever?

Few American distilleries have attempted to interpret the Dutch genever tradition, and Corsair's version stands out by anchoring itself in a genuine malted barley base rather than simply adding malt flavoring to a neutral grain spirit. That production choice gives the gin a body and depth that earned it a Double Gold at the 2014 San Francisco World Spirits Competition—one of the industry's most rigorous blind-tasting evaluations. The botanical bill of juniper, ginger, sweet orange peel, orris root, licorice, and cardamom adds complexity without masking the grain character, resulting in a spirit that genuinely bridges the gin and whiskey categories. For anyone looking beyond conventional dry gins, this remains one of the most distinctive American-made expressions in the Holland-style space.