Damrak Gin Review

Get a Taste for Old-World Dutch Gin in the Flavorful Damrak

By
Colleen Graham
Photo of Colleen Graham
Colleen Graham
Freelance writer and cocktail book author Colleen Graham is a seasoned mixologist who loves sharing her knowledge of spirits and passion for preparing drinks.
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Updated on 09/17/20
Bottle of Damrak gin, with unique botanicals including citrus and honeysuckle

The Spruce / Lucas Bols

Damrak Gin is an interesting gin that has quickly become a favorite. The Lucas Bols recipe dates back to Amsterdam in the 1700s and is one of the oldest known gin recipes.

The name is a tribute to the Damrak, Amsterdam's inner harbor that was instrumental in the Dutch East India Company's trade in the 1500s. The Lucas Bols distillery faces the Damrak, and after opening in 1575, they were producing nearly 250 different spirits using the spices brought into the port from other parts of the world.

Despite its antiquity, Damrak is not what we think of as an old-world Dutch gin such as a genever. It is more of a cross between that and a London dry gin.

It is a spectacular gin for a variety of drinks and is exceptionally smooth and has a robust flavor that comes from its 17 botanicals. This is a great Martini gin, and its complexity is ideal for many of the classic, clean, gin cocktails.

The Review

Damrak Gin is very impressive and worthy of a regular spot in the bar. Its blend of botanicals adds a unique complexity to many drinks. The Martini and Gimlet are just two great examples in which this gin really shines.

The citrus notes also pair nicely with the orange in an Abbey Cocktail or an Eddy and play off the framboise and ginger ale of a Floradora and the bitterness of Campari in a Negroni.

It is in many of the classic, neat cocktails where Damrak shines, but those which are more complex—like the Million Dollar Cocktail, Martinez, Emerson—are not quite as ideal. Those drinks can be too dimensional, almost distracting to the taste buds.

On the other side, Damrak makes a nice duo base. Try it in a Gin & Tonic, Tom Collins, or Gin Buck for a completely new experience.

Tasting Notes

The aroma is strongly citrus with notes of honeysuckle. The robust palate is creamy with a light juniper base and an array of spicy and sweet herbs that sparkle among each other in an ever-changing display. Damrak finishes off with a white pepper snap just to top things off right.

About Damrak Gin

  • Distilled five times with juniper, citrus, honeysuckle, and other botanicals (17 in total).
  • Produced by Lucas Bols in Amsterdam, The Netherlands
  • 41.8% alcohol/volume (83.6 proof)