Jenever · Explainer
What is the difference between jenever and korenwijn?
Korenwijn is a Dutch reserved designation: the alcohol component consists of at least 51 percent malt wine, the alcohol content is at least 38 percent and no more than 20 grams of sugar per litre is allowed. Jenever, as a European geographical indication, needs only 1.5 percent malt wine and at least 30 percent alcohol. Oude jenever is at 15 percent malt wine and 35 percent alcohol.
In brief
The key figures
| Korenwijn, malt wine | At least 51 percent of the alcohol component |
|---|---|
| Korenwijn, alcohol | At least 38 percent vol |
| Korenwijn, sugar | At most 20 grams per litre |
| Jenever, moutwijn | At least 1.5 percent of the pure alcohol volume |
| Jenever, alcohol | At least 30 percent vol |
| Old jenever | At least 15 percent malt wine and 35 percent vol |
| Young jenever | Less than 15 percent malt wine, at most 10 grams of sugar per litre |
| Where regulated | Korenwijn in the Warenwetbesluit, jenever in the European product dossier |
What is malt wine and why does it count?
Malt wine is a grain distillate of wheat, rye, barley, maize, oats, buckwheat or triticale, distilled at between 40 and 80 percent alcohol.
The product specification for jenever calls malt wine the traditional name for such grain distillates. The share of malt wine in the alcohol determines how much grain character the drink gets.
For jenever, 1.5 percent malt wine is enough, for oude jenever 15 percent, and for korenwijn more than half of the alcohol must come from malt wine.
What requirements does the law set for korenwijn?
Article 7h of the Warenwetbesluit Gereserveerde aanduidingen permits the name korenwijn only at a minimum of 38 percent alcohol and 51 percent malt wine in the alcohol component.
The decree allows that malt wine to be redistilled up to 70 percent, and it limits the sugar content to at most 20 grams per litre.
In addition, the ethyl alcohol must come from grain, only natural flavourings may be used and only caramel may serve as colouring. The drink is colourless, light yellow or light brown.
What requirements does Europe set for jenever?
The European product specification for jenever requires at least 30 percent alcohol, at least 1.5 percent malt wine in the pure alcohol volume and at most 20 grams of sugar per litre.
The file also fixes the area: Belgium, the Netherlands, the French departments Nord and Pas-de-Calais and the German states North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony.
For old genever the bar is higher, at 35 percent alcohol and 15 percent malt wine, made in Belgium or the Netherlands. Young genever stays below 15 percent malt wine and at most 10 grams of sugar per litre.
Is korenwijn matured in wood?
Wood maturation is not in the legal requirements for korenwijn, but in practice distilleries often leave korenwijn in oak casks for years.
The decree prescribes only the colour: colourless, light yellow or light brown, with caramel permitted as a colouring.
If you want to know whether a bottle has been in a cask, check the label or just ask at the counter.
How do you read the label of a jenever?
The label of a jenever shows the legal name, and that name tells you straight away which class the bottle belongs to.
If it says old jenever, it contains at least 15 percent malt wine in the pure alcohol volume. If it says young jenever, that share stays below 15 percent and the sugar content is at most 10 grams per litre.
If it says korenwijn, it concerns at least 51 percent moutwijn and at least 38 percent alcohol. Our corenwijns have a shop page of their own. We do not sell strong spirits to people under 18.
From the shop in Bathmen
Which oude jenevers and corenwijns are in stock in Bathmen?
The shop in Bathmen has 54 old jenevers and corenwijns from 17 different brands from 3 countries. Prices range from € 11.99 to € 175.00. The alcohol percentage ranges from 35% to 45%.
- A. v. Wees De Ooievaar Zeer Oude Genever 10 jaar 42% · 70 cl · Netherlands
- A. v. Wees De Ooievaar Zeer Oude Genever 15 jaar 42% · 70 cl · Netherlands
- Blankenheym Oude Genever 38% · 100 cl · Netherlands
- Bokma Oude Genever 38% · 50 cl · Netherlands
- Bols Corenwijn 2 jaar Vatgerijpt 38% · 100 cl · Netherlands
- Bols Corenwijn 6 Jaar Gelagerd 40% · 70 cl · Netherlands
- Bols Zeer Oude Genever 35% · 50 cl · Netherlands
- Bols Zeer Oude Genever 35% · 100 cl · Netherlands
- Boompjes Korenwijn 42% · 70 cl · Netherlands
- Boompjes Old Dutch genever 38% · 70 cl · Netherlands
Related questions
What is malt wine?Which cocktails can you make with jenever?Which jenever makes a good gift?
Short answer
Short answers to related questions
- Does oude jenever mean the bottle is old?
- No. Oud refers to the style: at least 15 percent malt wine in the pure alcohol volume and at least 35 percent alcohol.
- Is korenwijn the same as grain jenever?
- No. Graanjenever must contain at least 1.5 percent malt wine; korenwijn at least 51 percent malt wine in the alcohol component.
- How much sugar is allowed in korenwijn?
- At most 20 grams per litre, according to Article 7h of the Warenwetbesluit Gereserveerde aanduidingen.
- Do you write it as korenwijn or as corenwijn?
- The decree uses korenwijn. Corenwijn is the spelling that several distilleries use on their label.
The reasoning
Sources
- Warenwetbesluit Gereserveerde aanduidingen, artikel 7h korenwijn, Overheid.nl (accessed 2026-09-07)
- Productdossier jenever, Netherlands Enterprise Agency (accessed 7 September 2026)
- Productdossier oude jenever, Rijksdienst voor Ondernemend Nederland (accessed 2026-09-07)
- Productdossier jonge jenever, Rijksdienst voor Ondernemend Nederland (accessed 2026-09-07)
- Europese bescherming voor gedistilleerde dranken, Rijksdienst voor Ondernemend Nederland (accessed 2026-09-07)
- Regulation (EU) 2019/787 on spirit drinks, EUR-Lex (accessed 2026-09-07)
This page was written and checked by ’t Bockje Bathmen, wine & spirits shop at Brink 2 in Bathmen. Last updated on 26 September 2026.
Verkoop van alcohol onder de 18 jaar is verboden. NIX18.