Considered to be a predecessor to gin, jenever is a Dutch spirit that was originally distilled from malt wine. Since the drink had a sharp and unusual flavor, it was often infused with various herbs, including juniper – which eventually led to the creation of the name jenever.

Two distinct styles that exist nowadays are old (oude) and young (jonge) jenever. The former is similar to the original jenever and is mainly distilled from malt, with a small proportion of neutral alcohol, while the young style has a higher concentration of a neutral spirit and it's especially suitable as a cocktail ingredient.

Oude jenever is drunk as a digestive, while the jonge jenever is drunk as an aperitif. The drink can be enjoyed at room temperature or well-chilled, and it is traditionally served neat, preferably in tulip glasses. The glasses are typically filled to the rim, so you shouldn't pick up the glass with your hands but bend over or bow down and try to get the first sip without touching the tulip glass.