Bols
The Amsterdam brand behind genever, Corenwyn, Bols Blue and dozens of liqueurs. Everything about the varieties, the taste, the kopstoot, the cocktails and the right glass for them.
The world's oldest spirits brand comes from Amsterdam
In 1575, Lucas Bols started a distillery in Amsterdam, outside the city walls because of the fire hazard. This makes Bols the world's oldest surviving spirits brand. Through the VOC, Bols gained access to spices and fruit from around the world, and the brand grew into the leading maker of liqueurs and genever.
Today, Bols still makes genever (young, old, Corenwyn and the modern Bols Genever), Bols Vodka and a range of more than thirty liqueurs, from Bols Blue and Triple Sec to Peach and Strawberry. Bartenders around the world use these liqueurs as building blocks for cocktails. In Amsterdam, you can visit the brand at the House of Bols near Museumplein.
In brief
What types of Bols are there?
Bols has a whole range. These are the bottles you come across most often.
Bols Genever 21
The modern genever in the jug-shaped bottle: the 21st Century edition with slightly less malt wine than the Original (42%). Lightly malty, sweet and made for cocktails.
Bols Jonge Jenever
The neutral, refreshing tipple with a light touch of juniper. Ice-cold from the freezer, in a glass filled to the brim.
Bols Zeer Oude Genever
More malt wine and a softer, rounder taste of grain, light fruit and juniper. At room temperature or lightly chilled.
Bols Corenwyn
Corenwyn is genever with at least 51% malt wine, aged in oak. Full-bodied, smooth and almost whisky-like, in the familiar stoneware jug.
Bols Blue
The world's best-known blue curaçao: bright blue, with the taste of orange peel. Adds color to any cocktail.
Bols Triple Sec
Crystal-clear orange liqueur, drier and stronger than Bols Blue. The affordable alternative to Cointreau.
Bols Peach
Sweet peach liqueur for fruity long drinks. One of more than thirty Bols liqueurs, alongside Strawberry, Banana, Lychee and more.
For drinks: Young Genever. For cocktails: Bols Blue or Triple Sec.
From malty grain to sweet orange
Grain & juniper
Bols Genever smells of fresh bread and malt, with a light note of juniper and citrus. Young genever is more neutral and fresher.
Round and grain-sweet
Full and smooth from the malt wine, with a hint of sweetness and a spicy note. Corenwyn is the roundest, young genever the driest.
Warm and long
A warm, long finish of grain and spices. The liqueurs are sweet and fruity, made for mixing.
Flavor profile of Bols Genever. Liqueurs such as Bols Blue and Peach are sweet (4/5) and fruity, with much less intensity.
Three ways to drink Bols
Genever is drunk neat from a small glass, ice-cold or at room temperature. The liqueurs are made for cocktails and long drinks.
Kopstoot
A shot glass filled to the brim with young genever next to a small glass of pilsner. You lean forward for the first sip of genever, followed by the beer. The Amsterdam classic.
Go to the recipe →Blue Lagoon
50 ml vodka, 20 ml Bols Blue and 100 ml lemonade or 7-Up in a highball glass full of ice, with a lemon slice. Bright blue and refreshing.
Go to the recipe →Amsterdam Sour
50 ml Bols Genever, 25 ml lemon juice, 15 ml sugar syrup and egg white, shaken hard and strained into a coupe. The Dutch version of the Whiskey Sour.
Go to the recipe →The best cocktails with Bols
Blue Lagoon
Vodka, Bols Blue and lemonade over ice. The most famous blue cocktail.
Amsterdam Sour
Genever, lemon, sugar and egg white. A sour with an Amsterdam foundation.
Kopstoot
A shot glass of genever next to a beer. Not a cocktail, but a tradition.
Blue curaçao cocktails
All blue cocktails in one overview: from Blue Hawaii to Swimming Pool.The right glass for Bols
A genuine drinking glass for jenever, a highball glass for the Blue Lagoon, a coupe for the Amsterdam Sour and a margarita glass for Triple Sec. These are the glasses we recommend ourselves.
Everything you still wanted to know about Bols
Is your question not listed? Check out our cocktail recipes or get in touch.
To the cocktail recipes →