DeKuyper
Encyclopedia
DeKuyper Royal Distillers is a privately held Dutch company in the business of manufacturing and marketing distilled spirits
and liqueurs.
The company was begun in 1695 by Petrus De Kuyper as a manufacturer of barrels and casks
used in the transportation of spirits and beer. By 1752, the family owned a distillery in Schiedam
which was then the leading center for the production of Dutch gin
or genever. In the 19th century, the company expanded its export business throughout Europe, Great Britain and Canada. In 1911, a new distillery was built in Schiedam and thereafter the production of liqueur
began. The roster of flavors slowly expanded, and partnerships were formed with distillers in Canada (1932) and the United States (1934, strategically at the end of Prohibition
). By the 1960s the production of liqueurs had overtaken the production of genever as drinks tastes changed and the promotion of liqueurs for use in cocktails induced a surge in sales.
In 1966, De Kuyper sold the right to manufacture and market their brands in the United States to Jim Beam Brands
under a perpetual agreement. American consumers know the brand as John DeKuyper & Son, which makes generally inexpensive liqueurs such as Triple Sec
and various flavors of Schnapps
such as Pucker
, generally for consumption in sweet cocktails or shots.
In 1995, on the occasion of its 300th anniversary, the company received the title “Royal” from Queen Beatrix
of the Netherlands. This led to the company changing its name from Johannes de Kuyper & Zoon to De Kuyper Royal Distillers. In the same year, Erven Warnink - the leading producer of advocaat
and cream liqueurs – was taken over by De Kuyper Royal Distillers.
, Anisette
, Blue Curaçao
, Cactus Juice Margarita, Coconut Amaretto, Coffee, Crème de cacao (Dark and White), Hazelnut, Mad Melon, Melon, Orange Curaçao
, Razzmatazz, San Tropique Tropical Rum, Sloe gin
, Thrilla Vanilla French Vanilla, Triple sec
, Wild Strawberry.
Schnapps
Apple Barrel, BluesBerry, ButterShots, Cinnamon, Crantasia, HotDamn! 100 Proof Cinnamon, HotDamn! 30 Proof Cinnamon, Key Largo Tropical, Mountain Strawberry, Old Tavern Rootbeer, Peachtree, Peppermint, Spearmint, Tropical Pineapple, and WilderBerry; as well as the tart Puckers line, which includes Berry Fusions, Strawberry Passions, Cheri-Beris, Grapes, Island Blues, Peaches, Raspberrys, Sour Apples, Watermelons and Kamikaze Shots.
Distilled beverage
A distilled beverage, liquor, or spirit is an alcoholic beverage containing ethanol that is produced by distilling ethanol produced by means of fermenting grain, fruit, or vegetables...
and liqueurs.
The company was begun in 1695 by Petrus De Kuyper as a manufacturer of barrels and casks
Cooper (profession)
Traditionally, a cooper is someone who makes wooden staved vessels of a conical form, of greater length than breadth, bound together with hoops and possessing flat ends or heads...
used in the transportation of spirits and beer. By 1752, the family owned a distillery in Schiedam
Schiedam
Schiedam is a city and municipality in the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. It is part of the Rotterdam metropolitan area. The city is located west of Rotterdam, east of Vlaardingen and south of Delft...
which was then the leading center for the production of Dutch gin
Jenever
Jenever , is the juniper-flavored and strongly alcoholic traditional liquor of the Netherlands and Belgium, from which gin evolved...
or genever. In the 19th century, the company expanded its export business throughout Europe, Great Britain and Canada. In 1911, a new distillery was built in Schiedam and thereafter the production of liqueur
Liqueur
A liqueur is an alcoholic beverage that has been flavored with fruit, herbs, nuts, spices, flowers, or cream and bottled with added sugar. Liqueurs are typically quite sweet; they are usually not aged for long but may have resting periods during their production to allow flavors to marry.The...
began. The roster of flavors slowly expanded, and partnerships were formed with distillers in Canada (1932) and the United States (1934, strategically at the end of Prohibition
Prohibition in the United States
Prohibition in the United States was a national ban on the sale, manufacture, and transportation of alcohol, in place from 1920 to 1933. The ban was mandated by the Eighteenth Amendment to the Constitution, and the Volstead Act set down the rules for enforcing the ban, as well as defining which...
). By the 1960s the production of liqueurs had overtaken the production of genever as drinks tastes changed and the promotion of liqueurs for use in cocktails induced a surge in sales.
In 1966, De Kuyper sold the right to manufacture and market their brands in the United States to Jim Beam Brands
Fortune Brands
Fortune Brands was a holding company founded in 1969 as American Brands and later renamed in 1997 and split apart in 2011. The corporate headquarters was in Deerfield, Illinois in the United States. The company historically had a significant diversity of product offerings...
under a perpetual agreement. American consumers know the brand as John DeKuyper & Son, which makes generally inexpensive liqueurs such as Triple Sec
Triple sec
Triple sec, originally Curaçao triple sec, is a variety of Curaçao liqueur, an orange-flavoured liqueur made from the dried peels of bitter and sweet orange....
and various flavors of Schnapps
Schnapps
Schnapps is a type of distilled alcoholic beverage. The English word schnapps is derived from the German Schnaps , which can refer to any strong alcoholic drink but particularly those containing at least 32% ABV...
such as Pucker
Pucker
Pucker is a sour apple liqueur, similar in taste to both granny smith apples and green apple flavored candy. Made by the DeKuyper company it is just one of many in their line of fruit schnapps. By volume it is 35% alcohol and is often used in mixed drinks such as apple martinis.Pucker is also an...
, generally for consumption in sweet cocktails or shots.
In 1995, on the occasion of its 300th anniversary, the company received the title “Royal” from Queen Beatrix
Beatrix of the Netherlands
Beatrix is the Queen regnant of the Kingdom of the Netherlands comprising the Netherlands, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, and Aruba. She is the first daughter of Queen Juliana of the Netherlands and Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld. She studied law at Leiden University...
of the Netherlands. This led to the company changing its name from Johannes de Kuyper & Zoon to De Kuyper Royal Distillers. In the same year, Erven Warnink - the leading producer of advocaat
Advocaat
Advocaat is a rich and creamy liqueur made from eggs, sugar and brandy. It has a smooth, custard-like flavor and is similar to eggnog. In English-speaking countries it generally contains 15% alcohol , but in Continental Europe the typical alcohol content differs from country to country and is...
and cream liqueurs – was taken over by De Kuyper Royal Distillers.
Liqueurs
Almond, AmarettoAmaretto
Amaretto is an Italian sweet almond-flavoured liqueur. It is made from a base of apricot or almond pits, sometimes both.-Etymology:The name is a diminutive of the Italian amaro, meaning "bitter," indicating the distinctive flavour lent by the mandorla amara--the bitter almond or the drupe kernel...
, Anisette
Anisette
Anisette is an anise-flavored liqueur that is consumed mainly in France, Italy, Portugal, and Spain. It is colorless and, unlike some other anise-based liqueurs, contains no licorice.True anisette is produced by means of distilling aniseed...
, Blue Curaçao
Curaçao liqueur
Curaçao is a liqueur flavoured with the dried peel of the laraha citrus fruit, grown on the island of Curaçao. A non-native plant similar to an orange, the laraha developed from the sweet Valencia orange transplanted by Spanish explorers. The nutrient-poor soil and arid climate of Curaçao proved...
, Cactus Juice Margarita, Coconut Amaretto, Coffee, Crème de cacao (Dark and White), Hazelnut, Mad Melon, Melon, Orange Curaçao
Curaçao liqueur
Curaçao is a liqueur flavoured with the dried peel of the laraha citrus fruit, grown on the island of Curaçao. A non-native plant similar to an orange, the laraha developed from the sweet Valencia orange transplanted by Spanish explorers. The nutrient-poor soil and arid climate of Curaçao proved...
, Razzmatazz, San Tropique Tropical Rum, Sloe gin
Sloe gin
Sloe gin is a red liqueur flavoured with sloe berries, which are a small fruit relative of the plum. Sloe gin has an alcohol content between 15 and 30 percent by volume. The traditional way of making sloe gin is to infuse gin with the berries. Sugar is required to ensure the sloe juices are...
, Thrilla Vanilla French Vanilla, Triple sec
Triple sec
Triple sec, originally Curaçao triple sec, is a variety of Curaçao liqueur, an orange-flavoured liqueur made from the dried peels of bitter and sweet orange....
, Wild Strawberry.