Woodford Reserve Old Fashioned Week

14 Nov Woodford Reserve Old Fashioned Week

Few cocktails are as iconic as the Old Fashioned.
This seemingly simple mix of “a spirit, sugar, bitters and water” was first described in a newspaper on May 13, 1806.
Not surprisingly, May 13 is World Cocktail Day.
For over 200 years, a cocktail has been made this way “The Old Fashioned Way”: liquor, sugar, bitters and water (ice).
Virtually any spirit can be used for this, but Bourbon and Rye Whiskey are really the most popular drinks to take as a base.
American brand Woodford Reserve is hosting Old Fashioned Week from Nov. 14 through Nov. 20.
Together with one of the leading bars in the Netherlands they honor this cocktail.
In over 40 bars throughout the Netherlands you can drink special variations on the Old Fashioned this week.
Of course all prepared with Woodford Reserve.
Therefore we have highlighted a few bars with their own creations.
We have the full list of participating bars for you here: Amsterdam: Axis Lobby, Bar 27, Bar Americain, Bar Mokum, Baut, Bluespoon, Café Panache, Ceppi’s, Cielo, Colima, Door 74, Dutch Courage, Feijoa, Five Brothers fat (all locations), Fitz’s, Flying Dutchmen Cocktails, JD William’s, Kampai! Labyrinth, Lotti’s, Malabar, NJOY, Pikoteo, Pulitzer’s Bar, Salmuera, Sins of Sal, Super Lyan, Tales & Spirits, Vesper and Vessel.
Rotterdam: Amehoela, Botanero, Café Annabel, George, The Rumah and Spikizi.
The Hague: Brick’s, Five Points, SpeakEasy and Ultramarijn.
Around the Netherlands: Founders Bar (Maastricht) Mr. Smith (Maastricht), Peacock/The Dublin House (Zwolle), CouCou (Vught), Bar Glitch (Nijmegen) and Vane (Eindhoven)

Super Lyan – Amsterdam

Near Amsterdam’s central train station is Super Lyan.
This bar was founded about 3 years ago by the Kimpton DeWitt hotel, in collaboration with Ryan Chetiyawardana (a.k.a. Mister Lyan).
An eclectic bar has been erected in a 17th century building that is a crossover between 1950s neon burger bar, 1970s plush and 2050s design.
A case of: you have to see this.
Of course, Super Lyan is not missing from the list of bars supporting Old Fashioned Week.
Their version is called the Expanded Old Fashioned and includes Woodford Reserve Bourbon, monocot syrup and unripe passionfruit bitters.  

Fitz’s Bar – Amsterdam

This bar is so new that they haven’t even had an official opening yet.
For over 2 years work was done on the Pillows Grand Boutique Hotel on Mauritskade.
Right next to the Tropenmuseum, this beautiful new hotel has now opened.
Of course with accompanying cocktail bar.
This was set up by no less a bartender than Nick Vrielink.
He was previously at the helm of Juniper & Kin (which unfortunately did not survive Corona) and UltraMarijn in The Hague.
Earlier this year he became Dutch cocktail shaking champion during the NBC finals.
Fortunately, they do immediately join Old Fashioned Week.
So the perfect opportunity to quietly admire this new bar.
Their signature cocktail this week is the Gold Fashioned.
The ingredients are Woodford Reserve Bourbon, Tempus Fugit Caco a la Vanille, Tonka Bean, Angostura Orange & Aromatic Bitters.
The garnish is Millionaire’s shortbread: cookie, dulce de leche, chocolate and gold spray.  

Flying Dutchmen Cocktails – Amsterdam

Ever since its opening, this bar has been a leader in the Netherlands.
So no Old Fashioned Week is complete without them joining in so!
Flying Dutchmen Cocktails (FDC) is a fan of exotic ingredients and also in their version of the Old Fashioned these are not missing.
Starting today, you can enjoy the Bonne Bouche made with Woodford Reserve Bourbon, Canisius Rinse Apple Syrup and Juttertje Kruidenbitter.
In addition, FDC is hosting a special event on Wednesday, Nov. 16.
That’s because Scottish bar Panda & Sons is sending Sean Moggach over to perform his skills there.
What he will do is still shrouded in Scottish mists, but I’m sure it will be titillating.
Reserve your spot at FDC here: https://www.flyingdutchmencocktails.shop/reservations

 

The Peacock Bar – Zwolle

Cocktail bars have long since ceased to be the exclusive preserve of cities in the Randstad.
They are no longer a unique phenomenon outside the Netherlands either.
In Groningen and Maastricht, for example, they have been a staple for years.
In the far north you have The Stockroom and Cylinder and in the deep south Mr. Smith.
These three bars also participate in the Old Fashioned Week.
In Zwolle, The Peacock Bar recently opened, a cocktail bar that would not be out of place in London or New York.
We can’t find much information about it yet and even their address is still a bit of a secret.
You can probably ask for that if you make a reservation via whatsapp at 06-13652929.
They also have a special variation on the Old Fashioned, with Woodford Reserve Bourbon, Bittermens Xocolatl Bitters and Pear-Rosemary Syrup.

Amehoela – Rotterdam

In Rotterdam, this non-nonsense neo-tiki bar is a 3-minute walk from the central station.
Here mixologist extraordinaire cum race entertainer Caco Mosan a.k.a. Cacotails is ready to serve you the most delicious and beautiful creations.
By the way, you don’t have to expect any sugary sweetness with umbrellas here.
At Amehoela they serve the real thing, but with the wink that Tiki has in it.
Amehoela has a double meaning.
The first is a reference to this Rotterdam term for “what a nonsense” or “just act normal” and on the other hand the Polynesian dance Hula.
Their Old Fahioned is called the Irmão and consists of Woodford Reserve Bourbon, Pimento, Tamarind Syrup and Cocoa Bitters.
By the way, you can also get delicious tropical streed food here, a great combo.
More info can be found here.