Mood = Blue: How Bols Blue 1575 Reframes a 450-Year-Old Cocktail Icon

Turn the Night Blue with Bols Blue 1575.

With the release of Bols Blue 1575, the world’s oldest distilled spirits brand isn’t just celebrating its 450th anniversary—it’s reintroducing Blue Curaçao as a modern, craft-driven tool for today’s bartenders.

“For me, 450 years is a celebration of centuries of flavor knowledge,” says Ivar DeLange, Bols Global Head of Mixology.

“Bols has been exploring how to extract and balance flavor long before we even had today’s mixology language. Bols Blue 1575 honors that history while feeling completely modern—it shows that the curiosity and craft that started the company are still driving us today.”

Blue Curaçao’s story begins in the 1920s, when Bols introduced Crème de Ciel, or “Cream of the Sky.” At the time, bartenders were looking for more than just citrus flavor —they wanted imagination in a glass. “That bright sky-blue color brought a sense of fantasy to cocktails,” DeLange explains. “It delivered both citrus flavor and visual escapism, which was exactly what bartenders were asking for.”

Bols Blue 1575 builds on that foundation with a refined, technically advanced recipe. Inspired by distilled orange peels and enhanced with subtle botanical spiced rum notes, the new expression is brighter, richer in color, and deliberately balanced for contemporary cocktail programs.

“It’s still rooted in the original idea,” DeLange says, “but far more advanced in terms of complexity and depth of flavor, clarity, color stability, and performance behind the bar.”

Mood = Blue

For decades, blue cocktails lived on the fringes of cocktail culture—eye-catching, yes, but rarely taken seriously. That’s changing.

“Blue Curaçao is shifting from novelty to true craft, and that’s the future,” says DeLange. “Bartenders are using blue in more thoughtful, balanced drinks, and that opens the door for a more elevated expression of the category.”

At Bols, that evolution means ongoing refinement: improving citrus extraction, ensuring consistency across cocktail styles, and supporting bartenders through education that redefines what a blue cocktail can be. “Bols Blue 1575 is just the beginning of that evolution,” DeLange adds.

While Bols may be celebrating 450 years, its approach to innovation hasn’t changed much since the 1800s. “I’ve always loved that Bols worked directly with Amsterdam bartenders to create liqueurs that solved real needs behind the bar,” notes DeLange. “That collaboration is part of our DNA.”

That same philosophy guided the development of Bols Blue 1575. Early prototypes were shared with bartenders around the world, with feedback shaping everything from flavor and viscosity to color intensity.

“We adjusted the liquid based on real-world use. This release doesn’t just celebrate our history—it actively continues it.”

In today’s visually driven cocktail culture, blue feels newly relevant. “Blue instantly creates emotion,” DeLange explains. “It grabs attention and sets a mood before the first sip. Drinkers love the energy and escapism; bartenders love how easily blue transforms a cocktail’s character.”

What’s different now is balance. Modern blue cocktails are citrus-forward, crisp, and refreshing—playful without being cloying. “They’re fun, but they’re also well balanced,” says DeLange. “That aligns perfectly with where cocktail culture is headed.”

Built by Bartenders, for Bartenders

From day one, bartenders were deeply involved in shaping Bols Blue 1575. “A huge one,” DeLange says of their role.

“Bartenders pushed the product at every stage—testing its color in low light, its stability in sours, its performance in frozen machines, even how it poured during rush hours.”

That feedback directly influenced the final liquid. “Bols Blue 1575 wasn’t designed in isolation. It was built side by side with the people who would use it most.”

Modern Blues

So, what does a blue cocktail look like in 2026? “A modern blue cocktail should be bright, citrus-forward, and refreshing,” says DeLange.

“The color should enhance the drink—not overwhelm it. The blue needs to feel intentional, not nostalgic for its own sake.”

Bols Blue 1575 delivers on that vision with a cleaner citrus profile, balanced sweetness, and a vibrant color that holds across techniques—from shaken sours to frozen builds. “It lets bartenders create blue cocktails that look modern and taste modern,” DeLange says.

After 450 years, Bols isn’t just honoring its past—it’s redefining what blue can be, one thoughtfully crafted cocktail at a time.

The post Mood = Blue: How Bols Blue 1575 Reframes a 450-Year-Old Cocktail Icon appeared first on Chilled Magazine.