FIRST JOURNEYS - EUROPEAN EXPEDITION- PIN 38(stop2) OF 40
BELGIN GIN - Belgium
A ROAD TRIP WHERE EVERY STOP HAS A STORY
I have two Belgian stops today, and my second takes me to Aalst and Stokerij Van der Schueren, a family distillery with roots dating back to 1928.
Known locally as Stokerij VdS, the distillery has remained a family business through generations, producing its own range of spirits as well as creating products for other brands, including Belgin.
Belgin Amalfi Dry Gin caught my attention because of its Mediterranean-inspired profile. Although created in Belgium, it takes inspiration from the Amalfi coast, with fresh Amalfi lemon peel alongside other botanicals including verbena and lemongrass. The citrus peel is carefully prepared to preserve the aromatic oils before being combined with the remaining botanicals.
If you love citrus-forward gins, then this is definitely one to try. The lemongrass and verbena are particularly noticeable, giving it a bright and refreshing character, with the lemon bringing a sunny Mediterranean feel. It is a dry style of gin, with a clean finish and a lovely freshness that makes it ideal for lighter serves.
The citrus notes immediately made me think of ginger, so I decided to turn this into a gin version of a classic Mule.
The story behind the Moscow Mule is almost as interesting as the drink itself.
According to cocktail folklore, it was created in the 1940s when John G. Martin, who had acquired the US rights to Smirnoff vodka, was struggling to persuade Americans to drink vodka. At the same time, Jack Morgan, owner of the Cock ‘n Bull restaurant in Hollywood, was trying to popularise his own ginger beer.
The story goes that Sophie Berezinski, a Russian immigrant carrying copper mugs designed by her family’s copper business, arrived at just the right moment. Together, the trio experimented with combining vodka, ginger beer and lime, creating the Moscow Mule and its now-iconic copper mug presentation.
Like many great cocktail stories, there is some debate over exactly how much of this tale is fact and how much has grown through years of retelling, but there is no denying the impact of the drink. The copper mug became part of the identity of the Mule and remains one of the most recognisable cocktail serves today.
“From Flemish stills to Amalfi sunshine — a citrus gin with a cocktail legend on the side.”
My version swaps vodka for gin:
Belgian Gin Mule
50ml Belgin Amalfi Dry Gin
Fresh lime juice
A little sugar syrup if required
Top with ginger beer
Mint garnish
Served alongside Belgian chocolate-dipped Florentines — because every good cocktail deserves a little something sweet on the side.
"Show me a bottle and I’ll tell you a story."