You don't have to look far for premium spirits. In Belgium, too, there are plenty of talented producers creating delicious whisky, rum, vodka, gin, beer and much more. As a Belgian drinks shop, we value the local story and like to highlight homegrown products. In this blog, we already present six Belgian spirits that are absolutely worth tasting!
Ardent/Pastis Ardent
Laurence Dupont and Roberto Fernandez, two passionate lovers of natural products, joined forces in 2016 and opened Les Vintrépides, a cosy organic wine shop in the heart of Liège, in the En Neuvice. Two years later, their passion took on a new dimension. First, they created 'Gin Apotek' together with Bernard Zacharias' Radermacher distillery. Then, under the name 'Ardent Spirits' - a nod to Liege's nickname, 'la cité ardente' - they developed a range of variants with the Noblesse 1882 distillery in Sprimont. In producing one of their top products, Pastis Ardent, they use a careful process. They start with 96% organic wheat alcohol, which is distilled six times in France. Then they add Belgian spring water and a mix of herbs and spices. The aniseed and liquorice base is complemented by delicate aromas of mugwort, cardamom, angelica and coriander, giving this pastis its unique flavour profile. The range also includes Gins, Rum, Vodka, Whisky and Amaro.
So'Rhumantic
Source photo: @Sorhumantic.co.uk
So Rhumantic started from a simple idea: to give arranged rum a new dimension by adding a personal touch. Fabian Pierre, the man behind the brand, wanted to bring out the sweetness of arranged rum, but in a pure way - through the natural maceration of fruits, without relying on excess added sugars. So Rhumantic's first creations were a hit. Since then, the brand continues to grow, driven by the ambition to brew unique, gourmet recipes again and again. The key to this success lies in the carefully selected fruits and spices, which Fabian personally chooses during meetings with passionate farmers. Each bottle is handcrafted, making them all slightly unique - no two are exactly the same. Some of these creations are inspired by Belgium's rich culture and know-how. Fabian uses typically Belgian ingredients to develop original rum recipes that pay homage to the flat land he is so proud of.
Want to know more about So'Rhumantic? You can do so here.
Dada Chapel
Dada Chapel is a unique distillery in the heart of Ghent that caters to free spirits and dissenters. The project began several years ago in the Zandberg, a historic location in Ghent with a rich and diverse history. The distillery is located in a building that has had many different functions over the centuries. Cédric Heymans, a 29-year-old civil engineer who was once an intern at Duvel, has been involved in the project since day one. Today, he is master distiller and quality manager at Liefmans Brewery. Together with Mathieu Van den Briel, a 37-year-old commercial marketer with extensive experience in the FMCG sector, he forms the complementary duo behind Dada Chapel. Together, they bring together their expertise and passion to run a distillery that colours completely outside the lines. Inspired by Dadaism, a revolutionary art movement of the early 20th century, they strive to challenge and redefine established norms within the distilling world.
"Dada Chapel is a creative haven, where thinking differently is a lifestyle, critical experimentation a must with the sacred credo: 'In Odd We Trust'." - Cédric & Mathieu
Want to know more about Dada Chapel? You can read about it here!
Maredsous
Adrien Desclée de Maredsous, a descendant of the founders of Maredsous Abbey, decided in 2016 to make the most of the family soil in Maredsous. After a career in brewing, he founded the Maredsous Distillery in 2018. Working with the monks of Maredsous, Adrien joined forces to create spirits with a focus on medicinal plants. Since 2023, the distillery has moved into a former farmhouse of the abbey. Maredsous Distillery's drinks are made by infusing medicinal plants into a distillate of organic grains. The process involves double distillation where only the heart of the distillate is retained, ensuring a pure and rich flavour. Plants are selected according to strict criteria: environment, botany and pharmacognosy.
Curious about the full history of Maredsous Abbey? You can read it here.
https://www.maredsous-distillery.com/nl/
Massy
With more than 115 years on the clock, Distillery Massy is the oldest distillery in Limburg.
The story began in 1905, when Lambert Massy started as a lemonade manufacturer and worked with quality aromas and extracts. Lambert decided to use those same extracts in alcohol, and it turned out to be a golden move. Soon his three sons joined the family business, and in 1949 his youngest son, Julien, took the helm. In 1994, the third generation took over and in 2004 they launched Hasselt M - Massy grain gin and fruit genevers.
Today, Massy distils not only genevers but also gin under their own brand, M-gin, and offers entrepreneurs the chance to have their own personalised gin made.
Recently, the company took another step in its history. Peter Beerten bought out his partner Ronny Wouters and is now the sole shareholder. With great passion, he continues the family business, together with his daughter Lien, who has worked in the company for many years and manages production and quality. Lien grew up among the herbs and fruits and inherited her grandfather Julien Massy's knowledge and secrets.
https://www.distillerymassy.be/
No Ordinary Gin & (R)Asta Morris
Source photo: @Asta-morris.co.uk
Bert Bruyneel once started bottling whisky, but his passion for quality and diversity soon led to a wider range of spirits.
Under the label Rasta Morris, he markets rums, while with Asta Maurice he offers French classics such as calvados, Armagnac and cognac. Finally, with Asta Morris, it also markets superb independent whisky bottlings.
A special project by Bert is the NOG! gin, which stands for No Ordinary Gin. This luxurious gin has something special: it matures in barrels previously used for bottling Asta Morris spirits. This makes each batch unique-sometimes the gin matures on a rum cask, other times on a whisky cask.
Thanks to his extensive knowledge of whisky, Bert knows exactly which casks to choose, resulting in a gin with surprising depth and flavour. With carefully selected botanicals such as hops, fennel, and cocoa, and a six-month maturation in a whisky cask, the gin takes on a rich complexity with subtle vanilla notes.
Marketing • Blogger
As a creative jack-of-all-trades in the marketing world, I also bring that imaginative flair to my drink choices. Whether on a night out, sunny vacation or social gathering with girlfriends, I'm always in my element with a refreshing cocktail in hand. Cocktails have stolen my heart because of the endless possibilities to experiment and explore. My favorite cocktail of the moment is the "Lazy Red Cheeks"! A delicious cocktail using vodka as a base. I love vodka because it mixes perfectly with non-alcoholic drinks. My favorite spirit? Rum!
