Craft Distillery · Betuwe, Netherlands

Lubberhuizen & Co

Varik, Gelderland · Est. 2003

Published on tessender.com
Last updated: 2025

Lubberhuizen & Co is the oldest craft eau-de-vie distillery in the Netherlands dedicated exclusively to fruit spirits. Founded in 2003 and nestled in Varik on the river Waal, it draws on the Betuwe’s centuries-old fruit-growing heritage to produce fully artisanal eaux-de-vie — hand-distilled from fermented fruit mash, never blended from industrial alcohol. In 2025, following the retirement of co-founder Bas Lubberhuizen, the distillery became Lubberhuizen & Co under new shared ownership.

Place & Terroir

The Betuwe — the fertile river-clay peninsula between the Waal, Nederrijn, and Lek — has been the Netherlands’ foremost fruit-growing region since the 19th century. Its soils proved ideal for apple, pear, cherry, and plum cultivation, and the landscape transformed dramatically after the mid-1800s as orchards spread across former farmsteads. Mid-20th century ruilverkavelingen (land consolidation schemes) accelerated a shift from traditional high-stem trees to more productive low-stem cultivation. Lubberhuizen reverses that direction, championing heritage high-stem varieties and sourcing fruit from small orchards and private gardens across the region.

Varik, the distillery’s home village on the Waal, has a documented history stretching back to the 10th century, when a farmstead called Feldrike occupied the site. Its iconic tower dates to around 1300. The distillery sits on Waalbanddijk, the dike road that runs along the river — a location that puts the raw material, the fruit orchards, within a few kilometres of the copper still.

The Buildings

The distillery occupies two adjacent historic buildings on Waalbanddijk in Varik. Number 12 is the former parish clerk house and schoolhouse, built around 1841 and designated as national monument 30361. Number 10 is the former fire engine house, dating from 1885, listed as a municipal monument. Together they house the production facility and Proeflokaal ‘d Oude School, the on-site tasting room.

Craft & Philosophy

Lubberhuizen distils exclusively from fermented whole fruit — no industrial neutral spirit, no flavour additions. Fruit arrives from small orchards and private growers across the Betuwe; some varieties, such as the Varikse Zwarte cherry or the Kroos (cherry plum), come from single orchards or the last surviving trees of their kind. The copper pot still is manufactured by Müller Brennereianlagen in Germany. Wooden casks come from Tonnellerie Saury and Tonnellerie de Jarnac in Bordeaux, as well as from Château des Jacques (Beaujolais) and Château Maucamps (Médoc).

The malt for the jenever range is provided by Vloermouterij Masterveld, the Netherlands’ only artisanal floor-malthouse.

Slow Food Presidium for Dutch Eau de Vie

Lubberhuizen participates in the Slow Food Presidium that recognises traditional Dutch eau-de-vie production. Presidium membership requires a maximum of 5,000 bottles per year, traditional distillation from natural locally sourced fruit, and use of varieties from the Ark of Taste where applicable.

Ark of Taste varieties used at Lubberhuizen: Notarisappel · Kroos (cherry plum) · Kwets (prune plum) · Morel (Morello cherry) · Varikse Zwarte (black cherry).

Genootschap der Warme Stokers

As a founding member of the Society of Warm Distillers, Lubberhuizen adheres to a charter of small-scale, natural fruit distillation using traditional copper kettles.

The Products

Lubberhuizen produces four distinct lines, all bottled in 35 cl. Quantities are small; some expressions run to only a few hundred bottles per vintage.

Klassiekers — Classic Collection

The backbone range, built around the Betuwe’s traditional cultivated fruits.

Betuws Goud	Heritage high-stem apples (Alkmene, Notarisappel, Sterappel, Bellefleur) with some pear; matured in Bordeaux casks. Calvados in character.
Peer Conference	The Netherlands’ most widely grown pear. Approximately 4 kg of fruit per bottle.
Peer Gieser Wildeman	Traditional Dutch cooking pear, bred in the 1850s.
Betuwer Appel (Goudrenet)	Belle de Boskoop apple; approximately 5 kg per bottle.
Framboos	Kwanza raspberries macerated in grain alcohol; over 2 kg of berries per litre.
Betuwer Pruim	Opal, wijnpruim, and Reine Victoria plums; Bordeaux cask maturation. Comparable to La Vieille Prune.
Betuwer Kers	Mixed cherry varieties including the heritage Varikse Zwarte.

Exclusiviteiten — Specialty & Rare Fruit

Unusual, endangered, or highly demanding fruits — several sourced from a single location.

Hulstbes (Holly Berry)	Hand-harvested from the churchyard in Ophemert. Silver medal, Destillata 2019.
Kroos (Cherry Plum)	From the last surviving Prunus cerasifera orchard; listed on the Ark of Taste.
Kweepeer (Quince)	Winner of Edelbrand des Jahres, Destillata 2009. Low sugar content makes fermentation exceptionally difficult. Approximately 8 kg of fruit per 35 cl bottle.
Kwets (Prune Plum / Damson)	High-stem orchards near Varik. Comparable to German Zwetschgenwasser, Swiss Pflümli, Eastern European slivovitz.
Mispel (Medlar)	One of the few medieval winter fruits; edible only after bletting (partial decomposition).
Moerbei (Mulberry)	White and black mulberries combined.
Betuwer Kers — Morel	Morello cherries; character close to traditional Kirsch.
Rijks Eau de Vie	Exclusive to RIJKS restaurant, Amsterdam. A blend of cherries, medlars, pears, and quinces inspired by Coenraet Roepel’s 1721 painting Still Life with Fruit (Rijksmuseum collection).

Beyond Eau-de-Vie

Spirits that draw on Dutch and European traditions beyond the fruit distillate.

Varickse Echte	Unaged 100% malt wine distillate (Edelkorn style). Malt from Vloermouterij Masterveld.
Varickse Jonge	Young jenever.
Varickse Oude	Oak-aged 100% malt wine. Label features a lithograph by Varik painter Willem den Ouden (1928–2025).
Pomona	Comparable to Norman Pommeau: Betuws Goud eau-de-vie blended with freshly pressed Betuwe apple juice, matured on oak. 18% ABV, no added sugar.
Waalbitter	Spices macerated in grain alcohol with Betuwe apple juice.
Eau de Bière	Distilled from craft beer; aged in Oloroso Sherry casks.
Betuwe Dry Gin	Juniper berries, coriander seeds, and fresh lemon peel.

Likeurcollectie — Liqueurs

Launched in 2019 in collaboration with Jacob Hooy, Amsterdam. Each liqueur uses Lubberhuizen’s own eaux-de-vie and locally sourced fruit.

Waalnoot	Walnut liqueur; comparable to Italian Nocino.
Waalbehagen	Blackberry liqueur.
Waalgevormd	Pear liqueur.
Waalbemind	Cherry liqueur.
Waallust	Raspberry liqueur.

Awards & Recognition

Destillata 2009 — Edelbrand des Jahres	Quince eau-de-vie. First Dutch distillery to receive this award. Austria’s foremost spirits competition.
Destillata 2019 — Silver Medal	Holly berry (Hulstbes) eau-de-vie.

The People

Later arrivals

Ylva Raaff (from 2010)	Joined and gradually assumed day-to-day operations.
Joost Lubberhuizen (from 2018)	Joined when Henk Raaff (b. 1938) retired.
Michiel Spoor & Nick Sluijter (from 2025)	New partners (Spoor via Mobipers) following Bas Lubberhuizen’s retirement. Prompted the name change to Lubberhuizen & Co.

Equipment & Production

The copper pot still is manufactured by Müller Brennereianlagen in Germany (Light Line 2/2940 model; 148 L capacity, 220 L water bath). Wooden casks are sourced from Tonnellerie Saury (Barrique Saury Classic) and Tonnellerie de Jarnac in Bordeaux, and from Château des Jacques in Beaujolais and Château Maucamps in the Médoc. Malt for the jenever range is floor-malted at Vloermouterij Masterveld, the Netherlands’ only artisanal malthouse.

Press & Media Archive

Complete inventory of known press coverage and media appearances. Unless noted, all articles are in Dutch.

Downloadable PDFs of selected articles are available on lubberhuizen.nl.

Where to Buy & Connect

• Online via Pasteuning’s webshop (linked from lubberhuizen.nl)
• Select restaurants and specialty wine merchants throughout the Netherlands
• On-site: Proeflokaal ‘d Oude School, Waalbanddijk 12, Varik
• Instagram / Facebook / LinkedIn: @stokerijlubberhuizen