The story of Tanneke Sconyncx
The story behind our gin: a tribute to Tanneke Sconyncx
Tanneke Sconyncx, a woman from Gottem, fell victim to superstition and injustice in 1602. In an era when strong and independent women were viewed with suspicion, she was accused of witchcraft. On Christmas Eve, she was arrested in Tielt and imprisoned in the city jail. Despite her denials and the lack of evidence, she was subjected to torture by the Ghent executioner Baudewijn Waelspeck. She held out for days, but under inhuman pressure, she was finally forced to confess. In 1603, she was executed, and her body was buried in unconsecrated ground in Gottem, near the pond still called the "witches' well" today.
Her story symbolizes injustice and the fear of women who dared to choose their own path. Tanneke was likely a woman with knowledge of herbs and folk medicine—a science considered suspect in her time.
Four centuries later, her story takes on a new chapter...
From legend to gin
How an age-old story became the basis for a contemporary creation.
After years of silence, Tanneke's name unexpectedly got a second life — not in a history book, but in a glass.
When Filip Van Meenen was searching for a way to bring Gottem's heritage to life, he came across her story. The strength, the injustice, and the herbs that once cast her as suspect became his inspiration. From that fascination grew the idea to create something tangible that connects the past and the present. Not a stone monument, but an ode to taste.
At first, beer seemed like a logical choice, but it didn't feel right.
Gin offered the freedom to work with herbs, scents and aromas — exactly what Tanneke's story called for.
What followed was a months-long search: testing, tasting and adjusting, until one recipe captured Tanneke's soul.
What makes this gin unique? Local and natural ingredients, completely sugar-free. The herbs, inspired by traditional medicine of the past, are optimally expressed through an extremely slow distillation. Because the slower the process, the softer and more complex the flavor—almost balsamic. This gin is not only an ode to Tanneke, but also to craftsmanship, purity, and skill.
"An ode to Tanneke, to craftsmanship and to the power of simplicity."
The art of Tanneke Gin
Behind every bottle of Tanneke lies a story, but also the hands and hearts of the people who bring it to life.
Behind Tanneke Gin are Filip Van Meenen and Marianne Braet — two people with a shared love for pure flavors and honest products.
Together with The Bassets Craft Distillery, they create a gin where every detail matters: from the choice of herbs to the speed of distillation. Each batch is handcrafted in small quantities, using herbs reminiscent of traditional folk medicine.
The slow distillation slowly brings those natural aromas to life, resulting in a smooth, almost balsamic taste.
Tanneke Gin is completely sugar-free, made with local and natural ingredients.
No excess, no artifice — just the pure essence of what Tanneke once embodied: knowledge, courage and authenticity.