Eventually, the bottled dried and slowly I forgot the time, and other matters healed up all the hurt. As I put my glass away I’d run my tongue around the rim excited by the bitter taste of the committing of sin or cleaning out the residue with an extended finger I’d hold it up beneath my nose to let smell linger. That is the type of obsession Gin 1689 has created. Gin 1689 Pink Gin was launched in the summer of 2019, but is secretly the oldest pink gin in the world! The recipe comes from a book from the year 1700. The result is Gin 1689, a tribute to the Dutch craftsmanship of over three centuries ago. A beautiful combination of juniper and dried quince and pippin (apple), lemon and orange peel, nutmeg, aniseed, and clove.
Alexander Janssen is the founder of Gin 1689 Pink Gin. A few years ago living in London, he got the idea of what life would be like if he followed his passion. Alexander realized that he would enjoy having his own alcohol company that produces nothing short of a masterpiece one to be enjoyed with friends and family.
Follow us as we allow Alexander to take us through his long adventurous journey of finding a centuries-old recipe
SNM: What your backgrounds and what are your roles at Gin 1689?
Alexander Janssen: My background is in marketing and advertising and I started my career at Vodafone followed by several Silicon Valley companies.
My brother started his own chocolate factory and I saw how cool and exciting it is to make a product you can touch, see, and taste. This is when the journey started, and I start thinking of the products I felt passionate about. Of course, I like chocolate, but my brother is already making this. I like beer too but there is already so much competition plus the product itself is complex to make.
I was living in London and many friends and colleagues were drinking Gin & tonics. I was fascinated by the taste and even more so when I learned that gin originated from Holland. In 1689, shortly after the Dutch King William III – better known as William of Orange – was proclaimed King of England, Ireland, and Scotland, he made gin, a traditionally Dutch drink; popular with the British people. More than 3 centuries later I decided to search for the original recipe and bring it back to the market. In my search for the authentic recipe, I met my business partner Patrick van der Peet and we decided to join forces to make the brand successful as most great companies have 2 founders or more!
SNM: How long have you been distilling and what made you choose it as a career?
Alexander Janssen: To be honest, we never distilled before ourselves, but we were so intrigued by the fact that gin originated in Holland (and not the UK) that we decided to find a distillery with the experience and pedigree to bring the authentic recipe back to life! Our search brought us to Herman Jansen Distilleries based in Schiedam, near Rotterdam; who have been distilling since 1777. With their centuries-long experience and know-how, we couldn’t have found a better partner!
SNM: What is the inspiration behind the name Gin 1689?
Alexander Janssen: Fascinated by the royal Dutch-Anglo heritage of this spirit, we decided to trace its history and discovered the original 1689 recipe that ignited the craze.
SNM: What’s your favorite part of making gin?
Alexander Janssen: I most enjoy organizing tastings and hearing the feedback on how smooth the gin tastes. Of course, we hoped the gin would taste great but after 3 centuries, you never know and we are delighted how much people love our gin and the story behind it.
SNM: From a flavor perspective, what do you think makes Gin 1689 stand out?
Alexander Janssen: Gin1689 beautifully combines juniper with dried quince and pippin (apple), lemon and orange peel, nutmeg, aniseed, and clove. Due to its heritage, our gin is heavy on juniper, giving it a traditional gin taste which makes the spirit so unique. 1689 also has a smooth aftertaste, so smooth, you can even drink Gin 1689 straight!
SNM: How long did it take you to find and fine-tune your recipe?
Alexander Janssen: This intensive 18-month search for the recipe culminated in the discovery of a secret recipe buried in a dark corner of the Royal British Library’s rare book section. After acquiring the rights of the recipe, we found the perfect partner to help recreate the delicate flavors of the original 350-year-old recipe: Herman Jansen, one of Hollands finest distillers, founded in 1777 and based in the Dutch Gin & Genever capital, Schiedam. The result was Gin 1689 – a gin that fuses Dutch and English culture, produced by one of Holland’s oldest distillers. The whole process took 3 amazing years. Years which were fun, but also challenging!
SNM: The perfect way to drink Gin 1689 is?
Alexander Janssen: I am a big fan of a refreshing Gin & Tonic so my perfect serve is with lots of ice and a slice of orange or strawberry. In 2019 we launched the first Dutch Pink gin, “The Queen Mary” edition; named after the wife of William of Orange. This fruity gin, distilled with strawberries and raspberries; is perfect for cocktails, ‘The Bramble’ being my personal favourite.
SNM: What have been the biggest achievements so far for your brand
Alexander Janssen: Since our launch, we have won many accolades with the highlight being Gold in the premium category at the ‘Gin Masters in London’. That is our proudest moment to date and confirmation from the market that our gin is a top-quality spirit. Last summer we launched the first Dutch Pink gin with great coverage in National newspapers and last month we were named in the top 3 best pink gins in the UK: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/food-and-drink/gin/best-pinks-gins-buy-now/
SNM: What’s next for Gin 1689 – any exciting plans?
Alexander Janssen: Absolutely! We are working on the launch of a non-alcohol gin as we see increasing market demand for this. As we are very keen to give everyone the opportunity to enjoy our unique, authentic gin we are also planning to launch in Australia, South-Africa, Asia and the Americas! The Gin 1689 journey has only
