Before creating his famous liqueur, François-Xavier de Beukelaer was active as a wine merchant in Antwerp. His training in medicine and pharmacy gave him an unusual understanding of botanicals, flavour compounds, and extraction techniques — skills he channelled into years of experimentation with herbs, roots, and citrus peels sourced from around the world.
The Breakthrough of 1863
On 19th March 1863, in the early hours of the morning, de Beukelaer finalised the recipe that would define his legacy. Working at Paardenmarkt in Antwerp, he had developed a complex blend of 32 herbs, spices, roots, and citrus peels that, when macerated, distilled, and matured in oak, produced a golden-amber liqueur of extraordinary depth and balance.
The recipe was — and remains — a closely guarded secret, passed down through the family line. What is known is that the botanicals are sourced from around the world and that the production process takes approximately five months from start to finish.
Building an Empire
De Beukelaer personally managed the business for decades, building it from a single workshop into an internationally recognised distillery. By 1870 he had moved to larger premises at Bredastraat to meet growing demand, and by the 1890s the operation had outgrown that space too.
In 1894, he commissioned architect Jules Hofman to design grand new premises at Haantjeslei in Antwerp's elegant Zuid neighbourhood. Built in the Flemish neo-Renaissance style, the buildings are themselves a landmark — reflecting both the commercial success and the cultural ambition of their founder. They still stand today and serve as the distillery's home.
Family and Legacy
When the company was officially incorporated in 1909, it was registered under the names of his wife and their two sons, Emile and Louis-Xavier de Beukelaer. The family tradition has continued through multiple generations, with each steward maintaining the founder's uncompromising commitment to quality.
The distillery remains a family business to this day, now under the stewardship of the Nolet de Brauwere family. They continue to produce Elixir d'Anvers using the same unchanged recipe and the same artisanal methods that F.X. de Beukelaer himself established over 160 years ago.
Learn more about the de Beukelaer heritage at fxdebeukelaer.com, or explore the full history of Elixir d'Anvers.