Gin of the month June
VAN LINSCHOTEN
ROTTERDAM GIN
Butcher’s spice, smoked orange, Rotterdam soul.
Some gins arrive with flowers.
Some with melon or raspberries.
Van Linschoten Gin arrives with a butcher’s cleaver on the label.
And that already tells you this is not trying to be just another pretty gin on the shelf.
This is Rotterdam, direct. practical, a little bold.
With a story that smells faintly of spice, citrus, old maps and a good piece of meat waiting for the grill.
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Van Linschoten Gin is inspired by the house-made steak spices of the Van Linschoten butcher family.
A family business with roots going back to 1908 in Rotterdam.
So yes, this gin has juniper, it has citrus, but underneath that there is something else.
Something savoury, something peppery, Something that says: it knows where the kitchen is.
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But the name reaches further back than the butcher’s block.
Jan Huygen van Linschoten was born in 1563 and became known for his travels, maps and writings.
His copied Portuguese sea charts helped open the VOC routes towards India, China and Japan.
Adventure, trade routes, spices, discovery. All the ingredients for a gin story i so really love.
And then there is the distillery.
Van Linschoten Gin is distilled by Distilleerderij Onder de Boompjes, one of the oldest distilleries in the Netherlands, privately owned since 1658.
So what you get is not just a modern Rotterdam gin with a clever label.
You get old Dutch distilling heritage, a butcher’s spice cabinet, a maritime story and a garnish that actually matters.
Because with every bottle comes the Van Linschoten smoked orange.
Freshly sliced, dried with hot air, then briefly smoked over oak wood.
That little slice is not just there to look good in the glass, although it absolutely does that too.
It brings aroma, texture, a little smoke, a little citrus oil, a little fire.
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this makes a gin and tonic feel less like “I poured something after work” and more like “I meant to do this”.
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June is a good month for this gin.
The evenings are longer, the barbecue starts appearing in gardens, people suddenly remember they own outdoor chairs.
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That is where this gin starts talking.
VAN LINSCHOTEN
ROTTERDAM GIN
From butcher’s block to copa glass.
Spiced, lightly savoury.
Tasting notes
When I open it:
Juniper comes first; Clean, familiar, straight to the point.
Then citrus follows; Not candy orange, not perfume, but a drier orange peel freshness.
Behind that there is a herbal lift and a subtle peppery edge.
And then, when the smoked orange comes near the glass, the whole thing changes slightly.
The gin becomes warmer.
More aromatic.
Almost like citrus passing briefly over glowing oak.
When I taste it:
Balanced.
The juniper keeps the structure, the citrus keeps it bright, and the spice gives it character.
There is a savoury note here that makes Van Linschoten different from many soft, sweet, easy gins.
Not heavy, not strange, but enough to remind you of its butcher’s heritage.
A little pepper.
A little herb.
A little dry spice.
It says, this gin would be very happy next to grilled meat, roasted vegetables, smoked almonds, or anything coming from a barbecue that has been taken seriously.
When I swallow it:
Dry, clean and lightly warming.
The citrus fades slowly, the spice stays a little longer, and the juniper comes back at the end.
With the smoked orange garnish, the finish gets an extra aromatic layer.
A little more depth.
A little more story.
A little more no-nonsense Rotterdam.
Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied.
Clean, structured and refreshing.
It is not a thick or sweet gin.
It stays sharp enough for tonic, but has enough flavour to stand up to ginger beer, grapefruit or a more playful serve.
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Best serve suggestion
The classic.
Gin, Indian tonic, Van Linschoten smoked orange.
Fill a copa glass generously with ice.
Add 35 ml Van Linschoten Gin.
Top with a premium Indian tonic.
Add one slice of the smoked orange.
Stir gently.
Then give the glass a minute.
Let the orange wake up.
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But this is a versatile gin:
a fresher herbal direction, Mediterranean tonic with the smoked orange.
a little more kick, Ginger beer and lime.
a summer terrace serve, Sparkling pink grapefruit and fresh grapefruit.
for someone who says they “don’t really drink gin”: Raspberry and rhubarb tonic with red fruit, then watch them become suspiciously quiet after the first sip.
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​​Gin.whis notes
What I like about Van Linschoten Gin is that it has a clear idea.
Rotterdam.
Butcher’s spice.
Old Dutch distilling.
A smoked orange garnish that actually adds something, and a story that is easy to tell while making the drink.
That matters. (at least it does to me and to my friend who prefer the gin i serve to come with a story)
Because a good gin does not only need to taste good, it needs to create a moment.
It gives you something to pour, something to smell, something to explain, and something to remember.
Is it the softest gin?
No.
Good.
Is it the most floral?
Also no.
Even better.
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Van Linschoten Gin has a bit of backbone.
A bit of spice.
A bit of smoke.
And enough character to make a simple gin and tonic feel like it belongs to a place.
This gin can hold a conversation, preferably next to the grill.
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Producer: Van Linschoten Gin
Distilled by: Distilleerderij Onder de Boompjes
Style: Dutch / Rotterdam Gin
ABV: 40%
Origin: Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Perfect serve: Indian tonic and Van Linschoten smoked orange
Garnish: dried and oak-smoked orange slice