Booze News: Bols Genever and a Super-Premium Rye
By James Oliver Cury
Bols Genever:
Chances are you've never heard of Bols Genever, but that's probably because you don't live in the Netherlands (where Genever is the top-selling spirit). This newly reintroduced gin-like hooch, also known as jenever and Holland gin, is made with maltwine (distilled from corn, rye, and wheat), and various botanicals (including ginger, coriander, and, of course, juniper berries). Though new to Americans, it's a fairly time-tested product: The Lucas Bols family distillery was established in 1575 and its recipe dates back to 1820. Further street cred: Legendary bartender Jerry Thomas featured the spirit in his 1862 "Bar-Tender's Guide."
Ideal cocktail: A Collins (with 2 shots of Genever, 1 shot of lemon juice and a 1/2 shot of simple syrup, soda water splash is optional).
In the brown spirits corner, coming in at a strong 46% alcohol by volume, is a new superpremium rye confusingly labeled as (ri)1 but pronounced "Rye One." How do you know it's super? The $46 price tag is a start. Beam Global Spirits, the company behind Jim Beam, Booker's, Baker's, Maker's Mark, and Knob Creek (among other brands), didn't have a high-end rye in its catalog, so voila! In a taste test, the honey-orange spirit came across as light (perhaps even thin), with notes of cinnamon and pepper.
Ideal cocktail: A Manhattan (with 2 ounces of rye, 1 ounce of vermouth, dash of bitters, and a cherry garnish).
Previously: When Will Wine Prices Go Down?
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