Utrecht-based Must Have Malts has secured 314 of the 587 remaining whisky casks from the permanently closed 137-year-old Hooghoudt Distillery, making it the largest single acquirer of the Dutch spirit. The casks, containing single malt whisky aged between three and twenty-nine years, were released to market by La Martiniquaise-Benelux, the new brand owner of Hooghoudt.
The acquisition represents more than 53% of the total available volume from the Groningen-based distillery, which was renowned for its well-aged genever throughout its nearly century-and-a-half history.
“When we noticed them coming to auction on a cask-by-cask basis, we were afraid that this Dutch legacy would get split up and disappear silently, as if it had never existed in the first place,” said Alwin Kuiken, co-founder of Must Have Malts. “That’s why we placed a bid on these casks.”
Signup now to make sure you don't miss out on the latest whiskey news and deals.
By Signing up, you accept and agree to our Terms of Services and you acknowledge our Privacy Statement. The Whiskey Wash is protected by reCAPTCHA, and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Signup now to make sure you don't miss out on the latest whiskey news and deals.
By Signing up, you accept and agree to our Terms of Services and you acknowledge our Privacy Statement. The Whiskey Wash is protected by reCAPTCHA, and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Kuiken described the purchase as a preservation effort rather than a purely commercial move. “We approach the acquisition as a long-term safekeeping of Dutch whisky heritage,” he said. “Our goal is to refine and release them with patience and precision, to ensure that the Hooghoudt flavor profile will be remembered for decades to come.”
Trending Content
All 314 casks contain single malt whisky matured in Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez sherry casks. The whisky in the oldest cask, if bottled today, would mark the oldest Dutch single malt whisky ever released.
The casks matured in an unusually dry warehouse environment, where nearly half of the original content evaporated over three decades. Alcohol strength in some cases rose by more than fifteen percentage points. Such behavior is rare in Northern Europe and more reminiscent of extreme maturation conditions seen in Kentucky or India, similar to releases like Amrut’s Greedy Angels.
Every Kirkland Bourbon Ranked, From Worst to Best
READ THE STORYBilly Walker, a leading figure in the world of single malt whisky, originally selected the oldest casks for Hooghoudt’s maturation program in the 1990s. Walker’s connection to the Netherlands predates his whisky career. He previously worked as a chemist at Organon in the Netherlands, a role that frequently brought him to Groningen.
Nearly three decades after selecting the casks, Walker tasted samples of the Hooghoudt whiskies. He described the spirit as powerful and distinctive but noted that its journey was not yet complete. The dry storage conditions had diminished some of the depth one would expect after such a long maturation.
Walker recommended an additional six to twelve months in fresh American oak to restore balance and enhance roundness. Must Have Malts will initiate a controlled finishing trial in line with this recommendation, after which Walker will re-evaluate the results.
In accordance with regulatory conditions, the Hooghoudt name will not be used commercially in future releases. Provenance will be communicated transparently within applicable legal frameworks.
Hooghoudt was a family-owned distillery since its founding and stood as one of the Netherlands’ most enduring spirits producers. Its closure marks the end of 137 years of distilling craftsmanship in Groningen, a city with deep roots in Dutch genever production.
Must Have Malts was founded in 2014 by Kuiken, Pim Wijers, and Thomas Verbeek, who remain at the helm. The company operates internationally as an online retailer and wholesaler of rare and limited whiskies, while selectively acquiring casks of historical and long-term significance.
