How much alcohol is in advocaat?

Advocaat contains at least 14 percent ABV; this is laid down in Annex I, category 39 of Regulation (EU) 2019/787.

Article 2 of the same regulation sets the lower limit for spirit drinks at 15 percent ABV and names category 39 as the only exception to it.

The actual strength of a bottle is on the label, in the same field of vision as the name and the net quantity. That is the only place where you can read it with certainty.

Category 39 is the only category in Regulation (EU) 2019/787 with its own lower limit; all other spirit drinks start at 15 percent ABV.

The regulation mainly sets requirements for advocaat's composition rather than its alcohol content: quality egg yolk, egg white and sugar or honey are prescribed ingredients.

Anyone who comes across a bottle with less than 14 percent ABV is not holding advocaat but another product. What it is instead is stated in the name on the label.

Advocaat contains at least 140 grams of quality egg yolk and at least 150 grams of sugar or honey per litre, expressed as invert sugar.

Egg white is also part of it. If eggs from a chicken species other than Gallus gallus are used, this must be stated on the label.

In the preparation of advocaat, only flavouring foodstuffs, flavouring substances and flavouring preparations may be used. Dairy products are permitted.

Liqueur with egg is a separate category with at least 15 percent ABV and at least 70 grams of egg yolk per litre, half of what advocaat must contain.

The sugar requirement is the same for both: at least 150 grams per litre, expressed as invert sugar. Only natural flavouring substances may be used in liqueur with egg.

The name on the label tells you which of the two you have in your hands. Egg liqueur, advocaat, avocat and advokat belong to the same category.

The alcoholic strength by volume must be stated on the label, together with the name and the net quantity, in the same field of vision.

That rule comes from Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 on food information. The name and address of the producer or importer and a lot number must also be on it.

For drinks under 10 percent ABV, a date of minimum durability is added. At 14 percent ABV, advocaat is above that limit.

Jenever contains at least 30 percent ABV, more than double the 14 percent ABV that applies to advocaat.

For young and old jenever the lower limit is even 35 percent ABV. That difference explains why an opened bottle of advocaat goes in the fridge and a bottle of jenever can stay in the cupboard.

Beide zijn gedistilleerde dranken in de zin van Verordening (EU) 2019/787, en voor beide geldt NIX18 bij de verkoop.