June 9, 2017 · Team HG
At the Jenever & Gin Festival on June 23 and 24 in the Der Aa-kerk in Groningen, the five largest jenever distilleries in the Netherlands and dozens of smaller brands will present themselves to both enthusiasts and professionals.
The festival is part of Groninginnedag and is organized by Boilermaker and Mister Cocktail, who has already organized the successful Gin Festival in Amsterdam twice. Bartender of the Year 2015 and Hooghoudt Taste Maker Lennart Deddens, together with a team of professional national and international bartenders, reveals the art of mixology. This takes place behind an impressive, must-see show bar.
Dozens of varieties of gin and jenever are ready to be tasted; neat, mixed, or in a beautiful cocktail. During the festival, visitors will discover everything about the role of jenever in cocktail bars and how this typically Dutch drink acquires its characteristic flavor. In the evening, discover the pop-up speakeasy bar on the water – for true enthusiasts.
Once, long ago, in the Netherlands, for the first time gin made. Originally, it was drunk as a medicine, but soon this fine drink was thoroughly enjoyed. Later, the English adopted this from us by also starting to distill with juniper berries. They used only neutral alcohol, whereas jenever is made from malt wine. That is how gin originated. We all know gin, and the good news is that jenever is also making a worldwide comeback. Our national drink is now nearly 400 years old. Once the most consumed drink in the world, now a revelation for the connoisseur.
Part of the Der Aa-Kerk is transformed into a Michelin-starred restaurant on Friday and Saturday evenings. This special edition of Chef’s Table is organized by High holds in collaboration with two Michelin chefs. Chef Steven Klein Nijenhuis of Herberg Onder de Linden in Aduard and fellow chef and owner Jeroen Sportel of Bistro Vive la Vie in Groningen, prepare a high-quality culinary experience that is entirely inspired by jenever.
The Jenever & Gin Festival takes place in the Der Aa-kerk in Groningen; the city to be in this summer when it comes to jenever. A food truck square will be set up around the church. Tickets include a glass and the opportunity to taste all the drinks.
On Friday, June 23 The festival starts at 6:00 PM and lasts until 10:30 PM. [SOLD OUT]
On Saturday, June 24 There are two sessions: from 13:00 to 17:30 and from 18:30 to 23:00.
Ticket sales per session: Friday evening [SOLD OUT], Saturday afternoon and Saturday evening.
Early Bird (the first 200 tickets): €20
Pre-sale: €22.50
At the door: €25.00
Chef’s Table: €99.00
The Jenever & Gin Festival coincides with the first edition of Groningen DayA kind of Queen's Day, but Gronings style: with dried sausage, aaaaaierballen, Hooghoudt gin, and partying until the very early hours. Because everyone who has left home knows: nowhere are the nights as heroic as in Groningen. In addition to the Jenever & Gin Festival, there are plenty of other Groningen activities to experience in the city on Groninginnedag.
