FIRST JOURNEYS - EUROPEAN EXPEDITION- PIN 33 OF 40
BOBBY'S GIN - The Netherlands
A ROAD TRIP WHERE EVERY STOP HAS A STORY
My next stop takes me to Schiedam, a city that has played a huge role in Dutch spirits history. While Amsterdam may get much of the attention, Schiedam has long been considered the heart of Dutch genever production, with its canals, historic distilleries and famous windmills creating a landscape shaped by centuries of distilling.
It is also the hometown of Bobby’s Gin — a spirit that beautifully brings together two cultures. The gin takes its name from Jacobus Alfons (Bobby) Boomsma, who moved from Indonesia to the Netherlands and missed the flavours of his homeland.
Like many Dutch-Indonesian families, food, spices and traditions remained an important connection to his roots, and he began experimenting by infusing genever with Indonesian-inspired botanicals.
Decades later, his grandson Sebastiaan was inspired to recreate this family recipe after discovering an old bottle and hearing the stories behind it. He approached Herman Jansen Distillery in Schiedam, a family business with a long history of producing spirits, and together they created Bobby’s Gin.
Everything about this gin reflects its heritage. The bottle is a modern interpretation of a traditional genever bottle, decorated with an ikat-inspired pattern — a nod to Indonesian weaving traditions — while the botanicals tell the same story of East meeting West. Juniper is joined by lemongrass, cloves, cubeb pepper, rose hips and other spices, creating a fragrant, warming gin with a beautifully balanced character.
Schiedam also has another fascinating story connected to roses — although this time it comes from one of the city’s most famous historical figures, Saint Lidwina.
Born in Schiedam in the 14th century, Lidwina’s life changed dramatically after a skating accident on the frozen canals left her with serious injuries. Over the years, her health deteriorated and traditional accounts describe her experiencing paralysis, blindness and chronic illness. While some of the stories surrounding her life became embellished over time, she became known as a religious mystic, with people believing she had healing powers and a special connection to suffering and illness.
After her death, her grave became a place of pilgrimage and she was eventually canonised in 1890. Today she is recognised as the patron saint of Schiedam, ice skating and people living with chronic illness.
The connection to roses comes from religious imagery surrounding Lidwina, where she is often depicted receiving roses or a flowering branch from an angel — a beautiful link back to today’s floral theme.
So, with Bobby’s Gin bringing together Indonesian spice, Dutch heritage and Schiedam’s rich history, I wanted a serve that reflected those softer floral notes.
A Dutch gin where East meets West, and a saint leaves a scent of roses behind.
Rose Negroni
50ml Bobby’s Gin
50ml Luxardo Bitter Bianco
25ml Lanique
25ml Knightor Rosé Vermouth
Top with Prosecco
This is a Negroni riff that may not satisfy the purists, but it is absolutely delicious. Splitting the vermouth with Lanique takes the sharp edge off the bitterness, allowing the floral rose notes to come through while the bitter character gently lingers in the background. The result is fragrant, elegant and a perfect match for Bobby’s beautifully spiced profile.
"Show me a bottle and I’ll tell you a story."