PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
Bols is genuinely the world's oldest distilled spirit brand, with a remarkable 450-year history dating back to 1575 in Amsterdam — older than whiskey production in either Scotland or Ireland. Genever itself predates gin by more than 150 years, originally produced as medicine in the late 1500s by a Dutch chemist, distilled from malt wine that was strong and not particularly pleasant on its own, until juniper berries and other herbs were added to improve the flavor. That genever base eventually crossed to England and became the direct template for modern-day gin — meaning virtually every gin on the shelf today owes its existence to exactly this style of spirit.
This bottling is based on Bols' own original 1820 recipe, blending a triple-distilled malt wine — made from long-fermented rye, corn, and wheat, with a touch of barley, distilled in copper pot stills — with a separate juniper distillate and botanical distillate. That roughly 50-50 malt-wine-to-neutral-spirit ratio genuinely sets Bols Genever apart from older, heavier "Oude" style genevers, giving it a lighter body and real versatility in classic cocktails. Genever made its way to America in 1823 and played a foundational role in the emergence of American cocktail culture — in Jerry Thomas' 1862 Bartender's Guide, the very first cocktail recipe book ever published, one in four recipes were built on Dutch genever, including the enduringly popular Holland Gin cocktail. Genever disappeared from American shelves after Prohibition, and Bols was genuinely the first to bring it back stateside in 2008.
Gin Foundry's independent tasting found "strong grain and malt tones" on the nose, "complemented by sweet subdued juniper, honeysuckle and citrus notes," describing the liquid as "rich and smooth on the palate," "a vibrant, younger type of genever, complex and full of depth." Gear Patrol's own tasting found the flavor "rich" and "sweeter than today's gins, with a thick, malty backbone that's similar to white whiskey," noting the "light background of botanicals, including a slight juniper note, plus some fruit and bark, keep it from becoming too sweet." Curiada's tasting adds "the malty character lingers, gradually giving way to a gentle warmth," with "subtle herbal notes of angelica and hops," and "a faint bitterness, similar to unsweetened cocoa," rounding "out the experience, leaving a clean, slightly dry sensation." This is genuinely historic spirit — a real taste of gin's own direct ancestor, essential for anyone building authentic classic cocktails.
Bols Genever is produced by Lucas Bols, founded in 1575 in Amsterdam, Netherlands — the world's oldest distilled spirit brand. This bottling, re-launched in 2008, is based on an original Bols recipe dating to 1820. The malt wine, comprising over 50% of the final product, is created from long-fermented rye, corn, and wheat, with a small amount of barley, triple-distilled in copper pot stills. This malt wine is then blended with a separate juniper distillate and botanical distillate.
Genever made its way to America in 1823, playing a foundational role in the emergence of American cocktail culture — by the 1862 publication of Jerry Thomas' Bartender's Guide, one in four cocktail recipes were built on Dutch genever. Bottled at 42% ABV, 750ml.
Gin Foundry (extended independent review):
"On the nose Bols Genever has strong grain and malt tones, complemented by sweet subdued juniper, honeysuckle and citrus notes. Rich and smooth on the palate, the liquid is a vibrant, younger type of genever, complex and full of depth. The 50-50(ish)-production process makes it lighter in body and more versatile than an Oude Genevers and it is easy to see how it could be used in classic cocktails like a Martinez."
Gear Patrol (extended tasting note):
"The result is a flavor rich spirit that's sweeter than today's gins, with a thick, malty backbone that's similar to white whiskey. The light background of botanicals, including a slight juniper note, plus some fruit and bark, keep it from becoming too sweet."
Curiada (extended tasting note):
"The malty character lingers, gradually giving way to a gentle warmth. Subtle herbal notes of angelica and hops appear. A faint bitterness, similar to unsweetened cocoa, rounds out the experience, leaving a clean, slightly dry sensation."
Bols / Edrington (official tasting note):
"Nose: Rich and aromatic, with notes of juniper, herbs, and a hint of malt. Palate: Smooth and full-bodied, showcasing a perfect balance of maltiness and botanical brightness. Finish: Long and warming, with a lingering herbal and juniper aftertaste. Its smooth malty palate features subtle apricot notes and hints of juniper."
Nose
Strong grain and malt tones lead, complemented by sweet, subdued juniper, honeysuckle, and citrus notes, alongside herbs and a hint of dried fruit.
Palate
Rich and smooth, with a thick, malty backbone reminiscent of white whiskey, balanced by juniper, apricot, angelica, and hops.
Finish
Long and warming, closing with a faint bitterness reminiscent of unsweetened cocoa, alongside lingering herbal and juniper character — clean and slightly dry.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Style | Genever (Dutch, the ancestor of Gin) |
| ABV | 42% |
| Base | Malt wine (50%+) — rye, corn, wheat, barley, triple-distilled |
| Botanicals | Juniper distillate + separate botanical distillate |
| Recipe | Based on an original 1820 formula |
| Producer | Lucas Bols — Amsterdam, Netherlands |
| Founded | 1575 — the world's oldest distilled spirit brand |
| Re-Launched | 2008 (first genever to return to the US market post-Prohibition) |
| Style / Identity | The genuine historical ancestor of modern gin — malty, rich, and complex |
| Aromas & Flavors | Malt, juniper, honeysuckle, citrus, dried fruit, apricot |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
Best enjoyed neat in a small tulip glass at room temperature or slightly chilled, in the traditional Dutch style, or used as a genuine historical base for classic cocktails like the Martinez.
Bottle Size: All bottles are 750ML/700ML unless otherwise noted.
21 and Over: Adult Signature Required
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