The Belgian festival where the fountains flow with gin

In Belgium, jenever, the juniper-infused gin prototype, is still a popular tipple and is celebrated each October with a riotous festival in the town of Hasselt

All hail jenever – the precursor to gin that began the British love affair with juniper-infused hooch when it was brought to England by mercenaries from the Low Countries in the 17th century (hence the term “Dutch courage” for a pre-conflict snifter).

For a blast of jenever pleasure today, head one hour by train east of Brussels to Hasselt, which hosts Belgium’s national jenever festival every October.