Bols New Red Light Negroni

 

Bols comes out with a new, premixed line of cocktails. I am impressed with the Negroni!

Here on the links in Scotland and I’m thinking about how to break the news to you. I’m interrupting the “sojourn with Jane”, I was supposed to be writing about the selection of appropriate glassware. However, much to my dramatic surprise, I received from my old friend Sam at "Bols" and his mate Giele the new… are you ready for this? Red Light Negroni from the House of Bols in Amsterdam. 

House of Bols
The new "Red Light Negroni"

You know how I like Negroni. It is my fave, I am quite sure. And they have just recently released it in the Colonies, and no, I am not referring to Scotland – 

It is an exotic-looking bottle that matches my Bols Red Light "bulb" serving container. How is that, Bols! so delightful in sending me some of the “bulbs.” I use them of course to serve Negronis. That is what it was created for. And I hope you have put two and two together about the "red light" and Amsterdam. Need I say more? 

So, it is a delightful mixture of product from Amsterdam. 

It is an exotic kind of concoction that serves 3 to 4 cocktails. The label indicates that it is made with Bols Genever, Bols's Galiano orange curacao liqueur with no preservatives added. A mild cocktail of 21.9% alcohol by volume. 

The exciting thing is that it gives you the opportunity to try Bols Genever. Genever - as you have read from me previously - is the original gin. I gather the British tired of having to buy Genever from the Dutch for so many centuries, decided to go it alone, and using the juniper berry, created what we now know as "gin". And if memory serves me correctly – which I read at the Bols Amsterdam Museum - yes, there is a museum, Genever at one point in time was the largest-selling alcohol in the world. Now you’d be hard pressed to find someone who can tell you what Genever is. Unless of course you are in the land of the Dutch.  

You can learn more about the different cocktails that Bols is now packaging both in a 200 mL, thin container or the 375 mL bottle. And they have quite a selection of a diverse number of cocktails. Easing the conduct of cocktail parties, helping those who travel on airplanes and don't have any airplane cocktails. Or at the beach. How cool is that! So, I hope you will take an opportunity to learn more about Bols and go to Bols.com. This new series also includes the Bols rendition of Very Old Fashion, Espresso Martini, Margarita Azul Multi, Pornstar Martini. 

 

And I would be remiss if I did not give a plug for the Bols triple sec, which comes in a higher strength of alcohol, meaning that it has more of an orange flavor, than your average triple sec or curacao. And it is an excellent price point, which I always find to be of value. 

So let us hurry on down to your local SPAR store in Dublin Town and in Paris’ Monoprix, and pick up an assortment of this exotic elixir! 

  

    Slante!

  

Cocktail 

Red Light Negroni (bottle) 

Pour over ice 1-2 cubes 

add a slice of orange 

  

Appetizer: Croquettes (Kroketten) 

Music: Van Halen 

  

Bols The Original Since 1575 

House of Bols on Paulus Potterstrat (down from the little museum) 

 Amsterdam, The Netherlands 

  

Editor’s Note – to avoid any misinterpretation, Constantine is not in Scotland, though he wishes he were; but he plans on being there next year. 

Editor 

A Conversation with Jane - "What to Do with a Poorly Tasting Cocktail?"

  

Sometimes people call upon me for advice, dating hints, cooking recipes .... in this case Jane asked for my help with what to do if you do not like a cocktail you are served? OK so in all honesty, I had created a magnificent Negroni. Served in one of my "House of Bols" of Amsterdam, exclusive collection of Red-Light Bulbs (you get it? Amsterdam!). 

        So, thus started my soliloquy ... she became bored and spoke -

"Constantine, can you just write this down for me?" 

Jane and I have been close buddies for several years now. So, it was not surprising to me that she would learn of my cocktail delivery service. I like to refer to it as - “Cocktails On the Go." I think of it as a subsidiary of my Spirit Snob Enterprises.  

 

It was not surprising to me when Jane asked me one day, how about I give her a sample of one of my cocktails? So, I did. I made her a Negroni. Just maybe for somebody who is not accustomed to drinking cocktails frequently, this might have been a poorly considered choice on my part. Might have been better to start off with a Manhattan. Something simple. Just almost pure whiskey, but with bitters.  You may recall my girlfriend's specialty cocktail.

 

Jane being the lovely and truly kind and considerate young lady from Massachusetts - Just happens my mother was from Massachusetts, and I am very fond of her.  

 

Jane asked me about the Negroni. Which I took as being she found it not as enticing as she might have thought. 

 

Which led me to discuss the subject of “what do you do if you don't like the cocktail you're served”? 

 

So, what do you do if you do not like the cocktail you are served? 

 

First, if at the bar, I would consider asking the Bartender to adjust the cocktail a little bit. Make a little sweeter, Make it a little bit lemonier, Make it a little bit boozier, whatever you are feeling. Assuming that the cocktail was not objectionable to you. If it was, then you should ask him to take it back and you should order a different cocktail. But you only do this once. You cannot order the second cocktail and say, "well, I do not like this one either". And I have experienced that, in earlier days of my Hospitality Years. 

 

So, this further led me to engage with Jane about what does she like as far as cocktails are concerned. What cocktail glasses does she have that she can use? I embarked upon bringing Jane up to speed. On the cocktail “Scene". In the next chapter of this (yes, there will be a next chapter). I will embark on glassware. The whys and wherefores, of using the appropriate glassware...to match...the cocktail you are making. So, stay tuned.  

The Negroni Cocktail

 

Slainte' Sarah Jane

Boire.

 

Negroni 

Campari 2 ounces. 

Gin 2 ounces. 

Italian vermouth. Sweet. 2 ounces. 

Garnish with an orange peel and serve in an Old Fashioned glass.  

Following the well shaken cocktail. 

 

Appetizer:  Kalamata olives accompanied by toast points. Garlic oil spread.

Music: Botticelli album