Botanero Rotterdam has been voted Best New Cocktail bar of 2020 by men's magazine Esquire. The professional jury of the annual cocktail bar election praises the Mexican-inspired cocktail bar 'that shows what the new Rotterdam cocktail scene stands for: high quality cocktails, but without pretension'. On the afternoon of Wednesday 23 September, the official and festive award ceremony took place in Botanero, followed by a 'coronaproof' social drink.

 

David Trampe, proud owner and spiritual father of Botanero: "It's great that - together with business partners Ron de Jong and Dave Heijnen - you can realize a dream you've had for years and that it has been rewarded with such a beautiful title. Especially in a competitive scene with so many top cocktail bars run by hard-working and respected colleagues. We really make the Dutch cocktail scene together. For us as hospitality entrepreneurs, 2020 poses many challenges and demands the utmost in terms of flexibility and inventiveness. A title like this is much desired and appreciated."

 

Esquire about Botanero: "There was no doubt that Trampe would one day open a mezcal bar. But was the Netherlands ready for that? Walk into Botanero on a weekday and your answer is a resounding yes. This is where the beginning cocktail drinker and the experienced mezcal lover will have a great evening".

 

 

Cocktail and agave expert Trampe has translated his love for Mexican 'agave spirits' mezcal and tequila into Botanero: a swinging mix of a bar, restaurant, cantina and tasting room in one. Botanero opened its doors on the Mariniersweg in early 2019 and has become a popular cocktail and drink destination in the city. Botanero is known for its 'Paloma tap' from which one can get a homemade thirst-quencher based on tequila, grapefruit, rhubarb and jasmine tea. They also serve a 'signature' Espresso Martini for dessert.

 

Website: https://botanerorotterdam.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/botanerorotterdam/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/botanerorotterdam/

 

Location: Botanero

 

SIXT share is a free floating car-sharing service that allows the user to pick up and drop off a car everywhere in the business area of the city. It is the first car-sharing service in The Netherlands that allows you to pick up cars everywhere in Rotterdam, Amsterdam and The Hague, and even use the cars to drive from one city to the other.

 

By using one simple app, you get access to a wide variety of cars, where you decide how long you use the car and where within the business areas of the three big cities – or general SIXT stations – you drop it off again. The app shows the availability of a car around the corner of wherever you are. In the app, you select whether you wish to pay per minute or book either an hourly or daily package for your car.

 

 

What is cool about the fleet, is that it’s 100% electric. In today’s climate, this is a smart solution to lower air pollution by petrol engines. So if you're worried about your carbon footprint, have no fear. In term of choice, SIXT offers a decent variety of electric cars, from the little agile Seat Citigo to the bigger and more luxurious Jaguar I-Pace. 

 

SIXT partnered up with various charging stations, so users can easily recharge the car during or at the end of their journey, and even get bonus driving minutes for doing so.

 

Find out more about by visiting the SIXT share website (in Dutch)  to learn more about it, or download the SIXT app for iOS and Android.

 

 

Ten participants competed for the coveted title on Monday 21 September. They were selected from over thirty applications. To participate, they had to share their signature cocktail on Instagram. The final was organized in cocktail bar 1714 in Schiedam, the gin capital of the Netherlands.

 

The following participants took a shot at the title by shaking and presenting their most special Bobby's cocktail on the spot:

• Ziggy Zygimantas Valiulis of Vandal Rotterdam
• Laura Klimaite from Flying Dutchmen Cocktails in Amsterdam
• Oliver Youngman of Mr Mofongo in Groningen
• Tamas Palanovics from Leonardo Royal Hotel in Amsterdam
• Alex Danger from Mavis in Rotterdam
• Cecile of Flying Dutchmen Cocktails in Amsterdam
• Manolis Anastasiou of The Stockroom in Groningen
• Owen Smith of The Gyros Club in The Hague
• Wouter Saarloos of 1714 in Schiedam
• Bobby Patik of The Five Points Bar in The Hague

 

The competition was won by Alex Danger, bartender at Mavis in Rotterdam. The bartender won with his Bobby's Sly Grin: a sour cocktail with Bobby's Gin, lemon, egg yolk, prosecco, cucumber water and salt and pepper. The three-man professional jury consisted of Erik Beeftink (winner of the national and international competition 2019), Ad van der Lee (master distiller by Herman Jansen) and Timo Jansen (renowned bartender, also known from cocktail bar Flying Dutchmen). Consideration was given to originality, presentation, taste balance and the story behind the cocktail. The jury found Alex Danger to be the right winner because of his strong presentation with a good story. In addition, his cocktail has the perfect taste balance, according to the jury.

 

 

Alex Danger did not go home empty-handed. He won - besides eternal fame - a qualification ticket for the international finals of Bobby's Cocktail Competition. In January, the best bartenders from all over Europe compete against each other. The lucky winner of the international competition will receive a ticket for the bar & spirits trade fair Bar Convent Berlin in Germany. Here he or she can present the winning cocktail to the entire cocktail industry and take part in a special guest shift at one of Berlin's leading cocktail bars; a unique opportunity to meet all global importers. In addition, the winner will be the guest of honour during the Bobby's Family Dinner.

 

"I really didn't expect to win and of course I'm super happy," says Alex Danger (@dangerousdrinks on Instagram). "But frankly, I'm also quite nervous. It's not nothing, that I'm allowed to represent the Netherlands in the international competition. I find it very exciting, but I'm also really looking forward to it!

 

Alex Danger's cocktail was inspired by one of the rules of the competition: the participants were only allowed to use ingredients (besides Bobby's Gin or Jenever) that are available in the supermarket. "I've liked shopping since I was a little boy and for this competition I was able to get creative with it. This rule ensures that everyone can make my cocktail at home and I really like that".

 

His cocktail Bobby's Sly Grin owes its name to Alex's fiancée. "She tastes all my creations at home and when she took a sip of this cocktail, she immediately got a mysterious grin on her face.

 

Bobby's Dry Gin is a high-end Schiedam's gin brand that was founded in 2014 by Sebastiaan van Bokkel. With his gin he keeps alive the family recipe that his Malukan grandfather Jacobus 'Bobby' Alfons once developed. Bobby's Dry Gin is a combination of eight Indonesian herbs and spices, such as cloves, lemongrass, cinnamon and coriander seeds, all distilled separately. Bobby's Dry Gin is distilled by Herman Jansen, the leading distillery in the world's gin capital, Schiedam. Bobby's is now sold in 46 countries.

 

 

If you're looking for something to do this weekend, maybe this is an idea? On the Haringvliet you will find twelve food spots where you can put together a delicious brunch. At Meat Rotterdam you will find a real egg bar for the most delicious dishes, and a sizzling bbq on the sun-drenched terrace. You can slurp oysters at Oesteria, where fresh fish, sashimi and tuna are also served. For vegans/vegetarians, there is also plenty to choose from. You can get your dessert from café De Vrienden Live. They're also in charge of the live music.

 

Information Brunch Festival

To attend the event, you'll need to book your spot and buy tickets.

 

 

 

 

On the Haringvliet in Rotterdam you will find De Vrienden Live. In this restaurant you can enjoy live music and a good dose of cosiness. Between Meat Rotterdam, Oesteria and De Vrienden Live a unique collaboration has arisen this summer: Meat Je Vrienden Live, where the terraces are shared and visitors enjoy snacks and drinks from these three establishments.