Bols Around The World

BOLS GENEVER

THE 9TH INSTALLATION

Lucas Bols is one of the oldest distilling brands in the world. Having spent more than 400 years producing, distributing and selling eponymous liqueur under their prestigious banner, the team launched their cocktail competition in 2007. The idea was simple, put bartenders against each other to weed out the best of the best, and name that person the Bols Genever Pioneer! Read on to find out more about the 9th installation.

Jessica Mili from Canada crowned Bols Genever champion

This year saw more than two thousand people from across 75 countries entering the Bols Bartending World Championship. During three heats, the competitors were tested on their ability to predict future cocktail trends, recite and apply brand knowledge, and show off their practical skills by hosting a Bols Genever evening at their place of work.

The latter was arguably the most difficult task, with each competitor’s managerial skills under close watch from a panel of highly respected judges. This included, but was not limited to, cocktail historian David Wondrich, journalist and consultant Jim Meehan, and master bartender Kate Gerwin. It was tough goings with only seven competitors selected to move on to the final round.

The finals took place in the beautiful city of Amsterdam, and each competitor was given the opportunity to showcase his or her Bols Genever concept in one of the local bars.

“This format allowed the finalists to not only demonstrate their cocktail creating skills, but also their hospitality in a real-life setting,” said Huub van Doorne, Lucas Bols CEO.

After a long and challenging final round, Jessica Mili from Canada won the competition with her delicious ‘Still Life’ cocktail and impressive managerial skills. According to Lucas Bols brand ambassador, Malika Saidi, “Jessica’s hospitality shone through. Her drink was delicious and accessible for everyone, and she brought her concept to life throughout the entire evening.”

It wasn’t easy for Jessica either, with her competitors putting up a fight. Among them was Masaki Ishimura from Bar Private Pod in Japan. For Masaki, the most memorable part of the competition was the third and final round, as he found it both challenging and rewarding working in a venue much bigger than his own.

“My bar is very small in Japan, and I serve cocktails to one person at a time. I have never experienced serving as many people as I did in the final challenge, and I was very impressed with my efforts,’ he said.

Masaki’s cocktail concept, ‘Genever Meets Japan,’ also paid homage to the historical influence the Dutch has had on his home country.

“I wanted to express my appreciation and celebrate our relationship with the Netherlands,’ he said.

Furthermore, Ronald Wai from Hong Kong was a finalist in the Asia competition, and when asked about his experience as a contender in the Asia final, he added “It was a very humbling experience. Bols Around The World is such a respected bartending competition with many great names taking part in past years. To be part of this year’s edition was a great privilege”.

Drinks World would like to congratulate all who competed in this year’s Bols Bartending World Championship. We also look forward to what’s in store for the 10th installation!