Travel

4 spots to sample Amsterdam’s flourishing cocktail scene

So you want to get your buzz on in Amsterdam.

Sure, you can drop by one of those notorious coffeeshops and request a weed menu, and there’s no shortage of beer — Heineken and Amstel are headquartered here.

But Amsterdam is also where genever, one of the world’s first spirits, originated in the 16th century.

Never heard of it? Not surprising — this bourbon-like distillate of rye, wheat and corn flavored with juniper is hardly known outside Holland. But you’ll find genever, along with its English descendent, gin, in cocktail bars around the city. Here are four places to try.

The Butcher

In the tradition of New York’s PDT, this speakeasy is tucked away at the back of a burger joint, which, in enigmatic fashion, resembles a butcher shop from the outside (look for the hanging cow in the window).

The ButcherAntonio Ribeiro

With a reservation and the right meat-centric password (hit up your concierge), a statuesque hostess will usher you through the unmarked metal door and into the dim inner sanctum. Chances are the beautiful people will already be settled in and smoking around the handful of tables, but the U-shaped bar is just as inviting — and better to watch the mixologists ply their trade.

No genever-based concoctions here, but gin is roundly championed: it “makes the world go round and is extremely good for you,” notes the clever, concise cocktail menu. With that in mind, try the Highland Gem, made with Scottish Blackwoods gin, fresh grapefruit and elderflower liqueur, or the Captain’s Brew, a blend of Plymouth gin, Earl Grey tea and lemon.

Be prepared to shell out for the privilege of exclusivity; mixed drinks average $26. the-butcher.com

SkyLounge

SkyLoungeSkyLounge

No doubt you’ll have the best view of Amsterdam while enjoying a libation on this 11th-floor indoor/outdoor lounge atop the DoubleTree hotel — fortunately the cocktails are pretty good, too; it won the Best Hotel Bar award last year.

Fruity drinks are the choice of refreshment at the indoor/outdoor SkyLounge.SkyLounge

The sprawling drinks menu favors the sweet and fruity — rum-based tiki cocktails, sugary slings and tea-based tipples — beautifully garnished with fresh fruit and edible flowers.

Gin lovers can spice things up with three takes on the simple G&T (the Mombasa features cinnamon sticks and apple slices) or try the Rha No: 2 Martini with Edinburgh gin, homemade rhubarb syrup, rhubarb bitters and a splash of sparkling wine ($16.50).

Genever aficionados will appreciate the Dutch Sky, with Zuidam Corenwyn (a six-year-old genever) and Grand Marnier shaken with cranberry and lime juices and topped with ginger ale ($16.50). doubletree3.hilton.com

House of Bols

So you’ve fallen hard for genever and want to know everything there is to know about the spirit.

Head to the House of Bols, a brand that’s been producing genever and liqueurs since 1575. Far from being a dry history lesson, the tour, chock-full of interactive elements, feels more like an amusement park dedicated to drinking (you must be 18 to enter). In the rainbow-hued Hall of Taste (which is actually more about smell), sniff atomizers filled with 36 candy-colored liqueurs and guess the flavors inside.

The Flair Booth lets you star in your own “Cocktail”-inspired video, based on the movie, and post it on Facebook.

House of Bols cocktail barHOB

Then it’s time for the real tasting part: Pick a cocktail using a touch screen, print out the recipe and head over to the Mirror Bar where a bartender will whip up the concoction of your choice. (Mine was the High Five, with Bols Genever 21, honey liqueur, lime juice and mint.)

If you want to try your hand at making cocktails, sign up for the Bols Cocktail Workshop, set in a private upstairs bar. (Tour with two shots and one cocktail, $20, Fridays starting at 5 p.m., discounted to $12.50; workshop, $55; houseofbols.com)

Lion Noir

On a street overflowing with Asian eateries, Lion Noir stands out not only for its French menu, but also for its eclectic interior: assorted taxidermy (a peacock over the fireplace, a row of tiny stuffed parakeets, a cow head fashioned into a light), framed tapestries of forest scenes and a mix of leather, wood and metal furnishings decorate the first-floor bar.

Lion NoirAntonio Ribeiro

The artfully designed cocktail menu is divided into Martinis, Rocks, Aperitifs and Medicine, which includes shots and genever “slurpers” (see below for correct technique).

Upon presenting a purple-tinged shot — genever, lychee and rose/violet/vanilla liqueur — with a Szechuan button on the side, the young bearded bartender advises: “Chew the button and let it coat your mouth for about 10 seconds before you drink.”

That tiny yellow bud looks innocent, but it packs a crazy spicy/peppery wallop; the sweet chaser is the perfect antidote ($8.50). Also try the Dutch Garden, a refreshing blend of genever, lychee liqueur, sweet and sour mix, club soda and a cucumber garnish ($8.50). lionnoir.nl


Slurp like a local

Genever isn’t just pounded like a tequila shot: There’s an art to downing the drink, which is served in a tulip-shaped glass filled slightly higher than the brim and often paired with beer — a ritual known as Kopstootje (“little head butt,” in Dutch).

1. Don’t touch the glass! Lean over and take a few slurps off the top — best to put your hands behind your back to avoid temptation.

2. Straighten up, pick up the glass and, without spilling, down it in one go.

3. If you’ve got a beer chaser, time to chase it!