Amsterdam really has a thing for spirits, which goes back to the 16th century when genever was THE drink of choice. All those cool, exotic spices flowing in from its prime trading spot totally shaped Dutch spirits.
During the Prohibition era, Amsterdam became a haven for experimenting with cocktails, with hidden bars serving creative concoctions to travelers and locals alike. The post-WWII years were a bit of a lull in cocktail culture, but the early 2000s heralded a revival, with a new focus on mixology and craft. This revival is further driven by local distilleries and global influences that see to it that Amsterdam pulls its weight as one of the world's great cocktail cities.
