Lucas Bols raises the sport for blue drinks behind the bar with its award-winning Bols Blue 1575 liqueur.
In at present’s age of social media and visible gratification, blue cocktails have stepped again into the limelight, however with a caveat: craftsmanship.
“Blue drinks at all times acquired consideration, however with the fitting flavour and craftsmanship, they’ve abruptly turn into subtle,” notes Ivar de Lange, the worldwide training and engagement director at Lucas Bols. The Amsterdam-based spirits producer has been on the forefront of cocktail tradition for greater than 450 years, celebrating passing that historic milestone in April 2025. In tandem with the anniversary celebrations was the disclosing of the corporate’s revamped Bols Blue 1575 liqueur.
“We wished to create a blue liqueur bartenders can be proud to make use of,” says Monique ten Kortenaar, the corporate’s grasp distiller. This may imply making just a few alterations to authentic blue curaçao liqueur from 1912 to satisfy the necessities of the trendy bar.
With the addition of a spiced rum mix, the reinvented recipe evolves previous the same old citrus-centric fashion of blue curaçaos, making a richer and extra distinctive flavour. It’s made with Laraha orange – the historic Curaçao citrus – then layered with botanicals similar to cardamom for delicate spice, grains of paradise for a peppery carry, and vanilla for mushy, rounded sweetness. Rum brings construction and depth, whereas the botanicals are macerated like a tea to create a flavour profile that’s as advanced as it’s vibrant.
The liqueur nonetheless sports activities that eye-catching shade of tropical blue and reminds drinkers of holidays, however Bols Blue 1575 can be constructed for contemporary cocktail tradition. At 29.5% ABV, it could actually match up with stronger spirits and likewise shine in all types of serves and kinds – from a Blue Spritz to a Margarita Azul, a rum-based remix on one of many world’s top-selling cocktails.
Using rum as the bottom additionally offers outdated favourites just like the Blue Hawaii a premium really feel, one thing in demand with at present’s drinkers, whereas enabling Bols Blue to play into traditional rum cocktails like Blue Daiquiris, Blue Mojitos and Blue Mai Tais.
Lucas Bols cites suggestions from a bartender: “It behaves like no different blue liqueur – lastly a blue that works in critical cocktails.”
The concept of premiumisation extends to the bottle too. Particular care has additionally been paid to updating the Bols Blue design, which is drum-inspired and constituted of 50% recycled glass. The revamped bottle gained a Grasp medal at The Spirits Enterprise’ Design & Packaging Masters 2025, the competitors’s high honour. Bols Blue now carries a recognition for not solely being greatest in school, however as a benchmark for the brand new premium wave of blue cocktails and drinks.
Associated information
Sazerac Home creates six liqueurs for cocktails
World Spirits Report 2025: Liqueurs & speciality spirits
Liqueurs: innovation and flexibility spearhead success
