Opius Distillery | Our story

For some, drinking is more than alcohol. It’s an art. An obsession. It’s our culture.

Mission

OPIUS was founded in 2020 by two restless cocktail enthusiasts, Leander Beuckels and Lucas Lambrechts. They were brought together by the shared belief that an exciting drink shouldn’t always be alcoholic. That, above all, a drink should be bold and magical. Ever since, they‘re on a mission to bring people together and redefine their perception of “spirits”.

A New Chapter

The art of making cocktails, an obsession for many all over the world - and part of our culture since the early ages. However, recently, a revolution has started. Rooted in a shared belief that exciting drinks shouldn’t always be alcoholic, OPIUS means the dawn of a new chapter. A range of fine spirits created through a special formulation of plants and herbs capturing all the experience and sensation - without a drop of alcohol.

A range of fine spirits created through a special formulation of plants and herbs.

In Alchemy Veritas

OPIUS originates from secret techniques used in the world of alchemy. From reviving old lost methods and deciphering ancient manuscripts. Our master distiller, professor at the university of Ghent, spent his life studying long forgotten alchemical techniques. He created our unique triple phased method which normal souls can’t even begin to comprehend. To create the worlds best NA spirits, you need exceptional ingredients. We source only the best botanicals and spices known by alchemist for their stimulating effects. Every batch, 200 bottles at a time, is handcrafted with an obsession for temperatures and timings. This results in our unique taste profile with a unique body and after-bite.

Our Roots

To most of us, the word “alchemy” calls up the picture of a medieval and sinister laboratory in which an aged and black-robed wizard is trying to discover the Philosopher’s Stone, and with that the transmutation of metals into gold. But one cannot dismiss the science — or art – that won the lifelong devotion of men from every race and culture over a period of thousands of years. The motive behind their constant strivings and never-failing patience in the unravelling of the mysteries, however, is something far greater than a mere desire to make gold. These were men inspired by a vision of man made perfect, freed from the limitations of both the mental and physical body: the creation of the “Elixir of Life”. The alchemical term used to describe the chemical phases linked to creating the elixir of life is referred to as the “Magnum Opus”. There was, untill now, no clarity on the exact processes within the Magnum Opus. This is due to the obscurity in alchemical communication where alchemists devised many ways to hide their precious findings. They used codes and symbols to conceal the identity of key ingredients and techniques.

The Four Phases in Alchemy.

Nigredo, or "blackness" in latin, is referred to as the first step in the process to create the "Elixir of Life". In laboratory work, the "Nigredo" is a time when the subject begins to decompose or rot. This phase, symbolized by the black raven, is considered to be the most time consuming and difficult phase of the Magnum Opus. Nigredo from a psychological view refers to a time when we must let all the impurities drop away. It is described as a time when we are forced to confront all that is dark within ourselves, and ultimately to let go all that is false, inauthentic, and releasing the past. In short, the Nigredo is about getting lost.

Following the Nigredo stage, alchemists performed a purification process in Albedo (= whiteness) phase, where they washed away all "impurities". In this process of "separation" we are tasked with determining which parts of our shadow (cfr. Nigredo) are worth saving. Albedo, symbolised by the white queen, is also referred to the the stage of "illumination". According to Jung, this stage is where, through our darkness, we begin to see light.

The third Amaro, or "Yellow" stage, represents the process of transformation and growth. This is considered as a phase in which a person's soul has become wise. Alchemists used the "wise old man" as a symbol for this process. In laboratories it involved the union of the purified elements and involved the ascent of the 'subject' to a higher, more refined state.

The fourth and final stage of the Magnum Opus is called "Rubedo" (Redness). This stage, often associated with the color red, was symbolised by the Phoenix. Rubedo signaled "a state of unity" and "alchemical success". It is often associated with achieving the ultimate goal — creation of the "philosopher's stone" or "elixir of life".

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