Bobby's Schiedam Dry Gin is one of those bottles that tells you exactly where it comes from before you've even cracked the seal. Produced at the Herman Jansen Distillery in Schiedam — the historic heart of Dutch genever production — this is a spirit with genuine provenance. Schiedam isn't just a postcode; it's a statement of intent. For centuries, this small city near Rotterdam was the engine room of the Dutch spirits trade, and any distillery still operating there carries the weight of that heritage.
A Bridge Between Worlds
What makes Bobby's particularly interesting from an industry perspective is the botanical bill. You have your expected European anchors — juniper, coriander seed, rose hips — but then lemongrass, cloves, and cubeb pepper arrive and shift the entire proposition. This is clearly a gin that draws on Indonesian spice trade influences, which is historically coherent given the deep ties between the Netherlands and Southeast Asia. The inclusion of malt wine in the base spirit is the giveaway that we're operating in genever territory, lending a richness and grain-forward character that sets it apart from the London Dry category entirely.
Where It Sits in the Market
At £38 and 42% ABV, Bobby's occupies a sensible mid-premium bracket. It's priced competitively against the wave of contemporary gins flooding the market, but it has something most of them lack: a genuine story rooted in distilling tradition rather than marketing invention. The genever category has been quietly rebuilding its reputation among bartenders and spirits enthusiasts, and Bobby's is one of the bottles doing the heavy lifting. It doesn't demand that you understand Dutch distilling history to enjoy it, but it rewards you if you do.
The fennel seed is an astute inclusion — it brings a subtle anise-like sweetness that works beautifully alongside the warmth of cloves and the citrus lift of lemongrass. This is a botanically complex gin that manages not to feel cluttered, which is harder to achieve than most consumers realise.
I'm giving Bobby's Schiedam Dry Gin an 8.5 out of 10. It's a confident, well-constructed spirit that honours its Schiedam roots while reaching outward with its botanical palette. The malt wine base gives it a depth that rewards slower drinking, and the spice profile is distinctive without being gimmicky.
Best served: This works brilliantly in a Dutch-style highball — lengthened with a quality tonic and garnished with a thin slice of ginger and a clove or two. Bartenders looking for a genever-adjacent option that doesn't alienate gin drinkers should have this on their back bar. It also holds its own in a Negroni variation where you want that malty richness to push back against the Campari.
