4 minute read
Bols Around The World
This year Bols Around the World celebrates its 9th anniversary and goes back to its roots: the Dutch spirit Bols Genever. Here are the three leading contenders from Hong Kong sharing their BATW experience.
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RONALD WAI, VEA Restaurant & Lounge
DRINKS WORLD: What influenced you to enter the Bols Around the World competition?
RONALD WAI: I’ve had colleagues and friends in the industry who have been part of BATW in some form or another over the last few years, and all of them spoke of a fantastic experience. Not just learning about Bols and the bartending craft, but the amount of fun they had meeting bartenders from around the world. That, in addition to the chance to learn about Genever as a spirit, was a big driving force.
DW: What was the inspiration behind your Bols cocktail creation?
RW: My New Holland Gin Cocktail was inspired by Genever’s legacy in cocktail history. Back in the day, The Original Gin Cocktail was the go-to cocktail for a quick fix – so much so that Jerry Thomas chose it for special attention in his Improved Holland Gin Cocktail. Given Genever’s relaunch into a new age of bartending interest, I wanted to bring those classic cocktail flavours into the modern era. I used modern bartending technology and scientific ingredients to re-interpret the classic Original Gin Cocktail and Improved Holland Gin Cocktail flavours, to create a contemporary Genever cocktail.
DW: Why would you recommend bartenders to enter the competition next year?
RW: Bols is a historical titan in the spirits industry – learning about their heritage and products is a great addition to any bartender’s knowledge base. Also, the competition is very well structured – each stage teaches you about a different facet of being a bartender, be it mixology, knowledge, creativity, or personality. It’s an experience that tests you from all directions, and is great fun as well.
RED REMEDY
Ingredients:
45ml Bols Genever 45ml Homemade Tomato Cordial 10ml Pickle Juice
Garnish: Basil Sprig
Method:
Add all ingredients to a Perlini Shaker. Shake and served over crushed ice
HO WING CHEONG, Mamasita’s Cantina
Drinks World: What influenced you to enter the Bols Around the World competition?
HO WING CHEONG: I like the Bols story, from how Lucas Bols brought back the “forgotten spirits” to nowadays where this brand is all around the world. That’s why I believe that this competition will be challenging and a chance to improve myself. I think with the malty flavour, Bols Genever is an interesting spirit to make cocktails with, or even for a G&T. I want to learn the story and use good spirits that’s why I choose to the Bols Around the World competition.
DW: What was the inspiration behind your Bols cocktail creation?
HWC: I created what I call a “Bloody Victoria”, because I want everyone in this world to be able to make and drink this cocktail. It’s a twist on a Red Snapper and Bloody Mary. People will drink this kind of drink in the early morning to cure hangovers, drink it at brunch, or even during nights and at parties. The malty flavour of Bols Genever helps to bring up the tomato juice. And also I’m choosing the anchovy, Chinese cooking wine (Hua Tiao) with chili, and Kaffir lime leaves to bring a Hong Kong traditional flavour to the drink and help compliment the flavour of Bols Genever.
DW: What is your one tip to a bartender looking to enter the Bols around the world competition?
HWC: Think of yourself as an all-round bartender. You need to have the knowledge, bartending skills and be humble enough to ask your friends or colleagues questions. And the important thing is you need to understand and be conscious of the guests’ experience. Being a bartender not just behind the bar, but also with how you communicate with your guests.
BLOODY VICTORIA
Ingredients:
• 45ml Bols Genever • 10ml Chinese rice wine Huadiao infused with
Kaffir lime leaves and chili pepper • 20ml Lemon juice • 100ml Tomato juice
Garnish: Piece of toast with fresh tomato slice and piece of anchovy. Rim glass with dehydrated anchovy, chili pepper, black salt and sugar.
ALEX CHAN, Champ Kitchen and Bar
Drinks World: What influenced you to enter the Bols Around the World competition?
ALEX CHAN: As Bols Around The World is an international competition, it’s a great chance to meet the top bartenders in the world, and to get experience from them to improve my own skills.
DW: Why would you recommend bartenders to enter the competition next year?
AC: Bols Around The World is more than a classic cocktail competition, it has cocktail performance, decoration, presentation, knowledge etc., so this is a very challenging competition and makes you push yourself to the limit.
DW: What has been the biggest highlight for you so far in the competition?
AC: The biggest highlight for me was Heat 2, because we needed to prepare the knowledge kit and answer online questions with very little time to think. It’s very exciting.
DW: What is your one tip to a bartender looking to enter the Bols Around The World competition?
AC: Improve your liquor knowledge and English.
INHERITANCE
Ingredients:
• 60ml Bols Genever • 10ml Bols Elder Flower • 15ml Lemon Juice • 5ml Lemongrass syrup • 1 x Dash Jerry Thomas Bitters • 1 Egg White
Garnish: Dried orange and spices
Method: Shake
