Jenever: Timeless Craftsmanship
The history of jenever has been going back centuries, all the way down to medieval times. In the 17th century Hasselt became the place to be for the creation and distillation of Jenever, evolving in a noble skill. The industrial revolution made that Jenever became the main driver for the Limburgian economy.
This rich history is still very much alive in the Jenevermuseum in Hasselt. As a working museum they produce several types of Hasselt’s most iconic drink according to 19th century recipes and practices.
In 2020 we first capture this process with Master Distiller Jan and his apprentice Steven. However, in 2024 a new Master Distiller took over control of the museum: Maarten. Since he is the new face of the museum we got the rare chance to revisit what we created before, and bring in four more years of honed skills.
We descended upon the museum for a six day photoshoot where we captured the entire process from research until degustation, as well as their six iconic products.
Cheers!

Research in the in-house library

Drying barley on the kiln floor

Milling the barley

Mash tun

Fermentation vats

Low wines distillation

Refined distillation

Ageing on oak barrels

Tax documentation

The laboratory where the secret flavour recipes are created

Bottling the jenever

Degustation
The House Products






Behind The Scenes
Credits
Photographer: Kris Van de Sande
Client: Jenevermuseum - Stad Hasselt
Assistants: Alana Hurxkens, Kristof Reynders
F&B Styling: Anja Spriet - The Baking Foodstylist
Executive Producer: Davy Jacobs
Key Art Retouching: Studio Fourside
Camera: Hasselblad X2D
Lighting: Profoto
Master & Apprentice
The original project we shot in 2020.









