Bols introduces watermelon liqueur to US bars

Lucas Bols, the cocktail liqueur and spirit producer, has launched Bols Watermelon liqueur in the US. The introduction comes on the heels of the liqueur’s success in Europe, where light, refreshing Bols Watermelon spritzers and martinis have been enjoyed since 2012.

Bols Watermelon comes in a 1L bottle and is now available through trade channels across the US.

With the latest additions like Watermelon, Elderflower, and Bols Yogurt to Bols’ already extensive range of more than 30 liqueurs, Lucas Bols is strengthening its position in the US’s growing premium liqueur category.

Lucas Bols master distiller Piet van Leijenhorst says: “Bols Watermelon showcases fruity, sweet and juicy flavour with a hint of marzipan. It has a deliciously refreshing, well-balanced taste with a surprising, long finish. With its juicy red colour and distinctive, mouth-watering fragrance, it can be used to add flavour to a wide variety of cocktails.”

Joseph Biolatto of Paris’ Le Forum Bar has been using Bols Watermelon since it launched in France twoyears ago: “Extracting the taste of watermelon, which has a very delicate flavour and mostly consists of water, seems like a real challenge. But I take my hat off for the Lucas Bols master distiller – Bols Watermelon is a win! I use it to bring freshness and express summer in a drink.” 

“Light, fresh cocktails like watermelon spritzers are some of the most popular summer drinks and have the added benefit of being extremely low-cost to the bar and having a high reorder rate for patrons,” added Lucas Bols brand ambassador and portfolio mixologist Anthony Pullen. “The second round of drinks is where bars and bartenders make their money. Cocktails made with Bols Watermelon liqueur are tailor made to secure that second round.”

Paloma y Sandia Mule by Joseph Biolatto (Le Forum Bar, Paris)
·      0.75 oz Tequila Blanco
·      1oz Bols Watermelon
·      1oz fresh pink grapefruit juice
·      Ginger beer

Shake first three ingredients with ice, and strain into a Collins glass filled with ice. Top with ginger beer, crown with crushed ice and angostura bitters. Garnish with grapefruit wedge and mint sprig

Watermelon Margarita
·      1.5 oz Tequila
·      1 oz fresh lime juice
·      0.5 oz Bols Triple Sec
·      0.5 oz Bols Watermelon
Blend all ingredients with a scoop of crushed ice until smooth and pour into a glass. Garnish with a wedge of lemon.

Watermelon Old Fashioned
·      0.75 oz Bols Watermelon
·      2 oz of vodka
·      0.25 oz sugar syrup
·      2 dashes of lime juice
·      1 dash of Angostura bitters
·      1 dash of orange bitters
Stir all ingredients with ice until well chilled. Garnish with an orange twist.

Watermelon Cosmo
·      1.5 oz Bols Watermelon
·      0.75 oz vodka
·      0.75 oz cranberry juice
·      0.25 oz sugar syrup, fresh lime squeeze.
Shake all ingredients with ice and strain into a martini glass

13 July 2014 - Felicity Murray The Drinks Report, editor