Bols unveils Honey liqueur developed by bartenders

Inspired by the success of honey-flavoured whiskey in the US, Dutch liqueurs company Bols has created a honey liqueur aimed specifically at bartenders.

Designed to “answer a problem” bartenders have when mixing with real honey, Bols Honey liqueur features a blend of honey from “different landscapes”, including manuka, acacia and blossom.

The group has developed the new release with input from 20,000 bartenders over the course of six months, to “ensure the flavour lives up to the liqueur they have been calling for”.

“The explosion of honey-flavoured spirits, including Bourbon, seems to be a trend that will continue and stick, which is the reason why we have been looking at honey,” explained Huub van Doorne, CEO of Bols. “Sugar will always be used in cocktails and as this is a natural product, it’s giving bartenders an alternative that’s traditionally difficult to make.”

With a 17% abv, Bols Honey has buttery, vanilla and malt notes with a hint of orange peel on the nose.

“Bols Honey answers a convenience question of how bartenders can get honey into cocktails,” said John Clay, UK brand ambassador. “Bartenders have been calling for this flavour in a liqueur to solve the issue of honey sticking to the bottom of a glass.”

The new edition will be launched in 15 markets, including Holland, the UK, Scandinavia and Poland in September, with an RRP of around £13.

In March, Dewar’s became the latest spirit brand – and the first Scotch brand – to announce the launch of a honey-flavoured extension, with the release of Dewar’s Highlander Honey.