Gin 1689 unveils its newest creation: 1689 Dutch Orange Gin
In 2016, founders Alexander Janssens and Patrick van der Peet discovered that gin originally comes from the Netherlands. Fascinated by this forgotten piece of history, they delved into the archives of the British Library. After eighteen months of research, they uncovered one of the very first gin recipes. “It was a true pinch‑me moment,” Alexander recalls.
In 2018, Gin 1689 was launched, created in collaboration with one of the oldest distilleries in the Netherlands. Using only ingredients from the original recipe, they developed the award‑winning Dutch Dry Gin, followed by Dutch Pink Gin.
With Dutch Orange Gin, the founders further expand their range. During distillation, carefully selected oranges are added, resulting in a smooth, fruity, and perfectly balanced gin without overpowering sweetness. Ideal for a classic Gin & Tonic with a refreshing twist.
Dutch Orange Gin is made for sunny gatherings, long shared tables, and orange‑themed moments such as King’s Day and international sporting events. The new edition will be available from mid‑March.
Alexander: “With Dutch Orange Gin, we’re not just serving a flavourful spirit — we’re letting people taste history. The authentic 300‑year‑old recipe lives on in every glass. That, to me, is the essence of Gin 1689.”
About Gin 1689:Gin 1689 is a premium gin brand from Amsterdam that brings a three‑century‑old recipe back to life. The brand is internationally awarded and available in more than 30 countries, including Germany, the United Kingdom, Singapore, and via Amsterdam Airport Schiphol.
Gin 1689 Full brand story:
Other gins have a story. We have a legend.
It begins in 1689 with William of Orange who travelled to London from the Netherlands, bringing a Dutch drink – gin – with him.
It was a hit. A BIG hit. You might have heard of it.
You might not think that the founders of Gin 1689 would have much in common with King William. He was, after all, a 17th century monarch; we are two 21st century friends from Amsterdam, but fast-forward to 2016 and we embarked on the same journey – inspired to make the same gin, with the original 1689 recipe; a hit all over again.
Following an 18-month quest, we rediscovered one of the earliest gin recipes in the rare books section of the British Library (Just call us Gindiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Recipe).
But there was a problem. All the ingredients were listed there, right in front of us… but the quantities were in code.
That’s right: code.
The authors of the book – The Guild Company of Distillers – had encrypted the recipe to ensure that only its members could recreate it. Great news for gin-makers of 1689; bad news for us more than three centuries later.
What followed was a high-stakes race to crack the code. Could it ever be solved? Has the secret disappeared into history? Would the world ever be able to taste the gin that started it all…?
Not ones to be defeated, we headed back to Holland – the birthplace of gin – and enlisted one of The Netherlands’ oldest and most experienced distilleries to use their centuries of spirits knowledge to recreate the gin from only the 1689 ingredients list.
The result was 1689 Dutch Dry Gin. History repeating itself… in a really, really good way.
A true original, it combines juniper with delicate botanicals including red quince, apple, lemon and orange peel, nutmeg, aniseed and clove.
Next came our pink gin, the Pink Gin Edition, distilled with added strawberries and raspberries, following a recipe also found on the coded document. They are both well worth the 330-year wait, we promise.
Try it and be part of our kind of history. Taste the legacy. This is Gin 1689.