Tyler was speaking with me the other day, mentioned that he makes his own bitters. I was quite impressed - given his real-time job as haberdasher, not mixologist. Shortly thereafter I was contacted by House of Bols’ Sam. Just how coincidental is that!
You know me and my history with House of Bols. OK that was limited to one visit. It is still extraordinary. We never did make it to the Rijksmuseum in the great city of Amsterdam, but I am sure glad we made it to the House of Bols “museum,” bar and cocktail lounge.
Getting back to the discussion that Sam and I had (ok I just made that up, but I like to think Sam would speak with me about bitters). He divulged to me his secret recipe for making bitters. I am going to plagiarize what Sam wrote and said to me and I am going to divulge a secret so you too can carry on with making bitters. It’s not as difficult as you might think; by that I mean, the ingredients you can pretty much obtain at your local exotic grocery store. OK may be a big one not a small one. The process is interesting too. Sam goes into some great depth explaining it. Removing some of the mystique behind bitters that caused you to have to spend all your hard-earned euros, pounds, and cents for this exceedingly small bottle of bitters that now - the secret – you will be able to do yourself.
This link will take you to the Bols.com site for more information on bitters and the how-to when accompanied by Sam’s recipe. Which I have “plagiarized” for you below. As well sign up for the email notices. Please keep this secret as well.
So here it is – Sam's secret recipe from the House of Bols for making bitters. And you heard it from where? Constantine the SpiritSnob.
Sam de Meijer, Lucas Bols Bar Manager
Amazing Bitter Recipe
Sam’s own version of Angostura aromatic bitters. Great for spicing up a wide variety of drinks. AND a wonderful way to impress your date!
200ml of high proof whiskey
1 teaspoon of gentian root
1 teaspoon of juniper berries
2 cardamom pods
3 peels of lemon
2 peels of grapefruit
1 teaspoon of lavender flower buds
 |
| Classic Bitter Bottle |
So, sit back, relax, let the ingredients meld together. Send a note of appreciation to Sam or better yet - visit him in Amsterdam. That will be the land of the Dutch or is that the Netherlands or is it Holland? Fused about that all the time. And do not even get me started on how many languages they speak in that country.
Prost!
Aller en Boîte!
Cocktail
Singapore Sling
60 ml Damrak Gin
15 ml Bols Cherry Brandy
10 ml Bols Triple Sec
10 ml Grenadine syrup
10 ml D.O.M Benedictine
Appetizer: Leek and Mushroom Puff Pastry
Music: Alex Van Halen
Acknowledgment – special thanks to Bols Marketing and the Bar.
You can reach out to Sam and his friends by signing up for emails and notices from Bols. On their website. Please go to the bottom of the site and you will see the login for emails. You will not be disappointed.
