The Lucas Bols Company named Wine Enthusiast's "Spirit Brand of the Year"

After setting the standard for cocktail culture for the last 450 years,
The Lucas Bols Company recognised with Top Accolade at 2026 Wine Star Awards

AMSTERDAM, Nov. 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Lucas Bols Company is excited to announce that they have been named as Spirit Brand of the Year by Wine Enthusiast's 2026 Wine Star Awards. Considered one of the top honours in the beverage alcohol industry, this recognition is an incredible achievement that supports The Lucas Bols Company's position as an industry pioneer in cocktail culture, flavour innovation and craftsmanship. The honour follows the Amsterdam-based company's 450th anniversary celebration in 2025. Founded in 1575, The Lucas Bols Company continues to build on its heritage through bartender education and an innovative portfolio that reflects how people enjoy cocktails today.

"Being named Spirit Brand of the Year is a proud milestone for everyone at our company," said Frank Cocx, Global CEO, The Lucas Bols Company. "For more than 450 years, we have combined craftsmanship with a constant curiosity for what comes next. This recognition celebrates that enduring spirit and the dedication of the people around the world who bring it to life every day, from our distillers, teams, distributors and partner accounts to the bartenders around the world who inspire and serve our brands. Looking towards the future, we see a great opportunity to continue growing our portfolio through strategic acquisitions and partnerships."

The Lucas Bols Company brings its expertise to a wide range of cocktail occasions, from aperitivo and tropical serves to coffee cocktails, premium tequila drinks, and alcohol-free alternatives. Its portfolio includes the global cocktail brands Bols, Passoã, Galliano, Tequila Partida, and Fluère (non-alcoholic), complemented by Pallini Limoncello, which the company represents in the U.S., as well as Nuvo, Pisang Ambon and other distinctive brands. Together, they offer bartenders and consumers around the world an extensive palette of flavours and endless possibilities for cocktail creativity.

Building upon the grand reopening of the Bols Cocktail Academy and the Bols Cocktail Experience—which welcomed guests back to rave reviews this summer after an exciting renovation—Bols already has several innovations in the pipeline for 2027, including various line extensions on Bols Liqueurs (Pink Grapefruit, for example), a newly designed Bols Liqueurs 1-liter package, a new look for Tequila Partida and the national launch of the Pallini Limoncello Spritz ready-to-drink can following a successful test this summer.

"This recognition particularly reflects the dedication of our North American team and the distributors, bartenders and trade partners who bring our brands to life," said Brett Dunne, Managing Director, North America, The Lucas Bols Company. "Together, we are introducing new audiences to our portfolio and building on a long-standing commitment to cocktail culture. Despite challenging market conditions, several of our brands achieved strong growth momentum in 2025 and continue to perform well in 2026. This progress underscores our company's consistent investment in brand building, market development and the talent that drives its success."

"We selected The Lucas Bols Company as the Spirit Brand of the Year award because of their strong commitment to an ever-changing industry and the veterans who make it great," says Jacqueline Strum, President & Publisher at Wine Enthusiast. "With over 20 brands, The Lucas Bols Company focuses on meeting customers where they are in their cocktails and drinking journey, whether their interest lies in non-alcohol beverages, additive-free tequila, or the spritz."

Wine Enthusiast will officially award Lucas Bols at the 27th Annual Wine Star Awards Gala on January 25, 2027, in San Francisco at the Fairmont Hotel. This award will also appear in the special Wine Enthusiast "Best of Year" December 31 issue.

For more information, please contact [email protected]. 

About The Lucas Bols Company
The Lucas Bols Company is a leading global cocktail and spirits company with a mission to create great cocktail experiences around the world. Active in 110 countries, its portfolio includes five global cocktail brands—Bols, Passoã, Galliano, Tequila Partida and Fluère—and more than 20 international and regional spirits and liqueurs, including Pallini Limoncello (which it represents in the U.S.), Nuvo, Vaccari and Pisang Ambon. With over 450 years of expertise in distilling and blending, Lucas Bols combines heritage with innovation to inspire bartenders, operators, and consumers worldwide through its products, the Bols Cocktail Experience and the Bols Cocktail Academy. For more information, visit www.lucasbols.com.

About Wine Enthusiast
Founded in 1979 by Adam and Sybil Strum and composed of Wine Enthusiast Media and Wine Enthusiast Commerce, Wine Enthusiast Companies is the ultimate source of innovation and information around wine. With custom products reaching millions of consumers globally via direct mail, a thriving e-commerce site and a business-to-business division, Wine Enthusiast Catalog provides everything wine lovers need to enjoy wine to the fullest in their homes. Wine Enthusiast Magazine is an award-winning print publication and online resource that showcases wine and food trends, ecotravel, and over 25,000 ratings and reviews annually. Together, Wine Enthusiast Companies is the indisputable hub for everything wine. To be put simply, our company mission statement is: We Bring Wine to Life.

SOURCE Lucas Bols