Hold on to your cocktail shakers. Don’t rattle your ice. After a year in the US, gracing the likes NoMad, Dante and Dead Rabbit’s bars, Old Duff Genever is hitting the UK bar scene in partnership with Speciality Drinks.
Founded by international bartender and Imbibe regular Philip Duff, the range incorporates classic Old Duff Genever and a limited-edition Old Duff 100% Maltwine Genever. If you’re not familiar with the Dutch spirit, Duff’s words of guidance are that ‘genever isn’t like gin, not at all. Never trust someone who tells you it is’.
Old Duff is made with two-thirds rye grain, one-third malted barley, and is fermented for five days and thrice distilled. The classic contains juniper, orange peel, lemon peel, star anise, liquorice and coriander, no added sugar and clocks in at 40% abv. Meanwhile, the limited-edition single malt contains juniper and bramling hops, and packs a 45% abv.
It was warmly received by the New York bartending community when it introduced there last September.
‘These days, we rarely see a new product that actually fills the void,’ said Meaghan Dorman of Raines Law Room, Dear Irving and The Bennett. ‘Bartenders love to introduce guests to new products and flavours, and the malt body and botanical flavour of Old Duff Genever certainly fits the bill.’
‘I can’t wait to start experimenting with Old Duff Genever in cocktails,’ said Dead Rabbit’s beverage director Jillian Vose.
It is being launched in the UK market in partnership on 29 October at the Beaufort Bar, The Savoy. A portion of the profits from sales of Old Duff Genever in the UK will go to The Benevolent, directly benefitting bartenders and the hospitality industry.
Original, RRP £23.96 ex VAT; Malt Wine, £29.21 ex VAT; Speciality Drinks, 020 8838 9444
