Dublin bar makes list of 10 best cocktail menus in the world
Now in its 19th year, the Spirited Awards highlight exceptional creations and creators across the global bar industry, including individuals, establishments, products, media, and leaders who continue to inspire the global cocktail community.
The Northside spot, which opened in 2019 and has since garnered praise for its inventive cocktails, won for its 'We Call This Power', a 28-drink celebration of Irish poitín, Irish drinks, and Irish producers.
It gets its name from the year poitín was banned in Ireland, and has been fighting the good fight in the name of the traditional Irish spirit for years since.
Located on Green St, Rotunda, the menu is presented to guests in a sleek and polished white-covered menu book, with short descriptions of the cocktails, stylish photographs, key tasting notes and some homages to local community heroes such as Joe Duffy of Duffy's Flowers, to whom the non-alcoholic creation Full Bloom is dedicated.
Standouts from the selection include the Belfast Coffee, made with Bán poitín, cold brew coffee, cream, demerara and nutmeg, Parts Unknown, made with Bán poitín, Don Julio tequila, grapefruit, pineapple, mulberry, lime and chilli, and Round Towers, made with Glendalough gin, Micil poitín, aquavit, kiwi, lemon sherbet and celery.
The team have also devised a specialised, small-group 28-course liquid tasting menu, which sees just 10 guests sitting around a shared table, enjoying mini versions of the cocktails and nibbles.
Speaking about the honour, BAR 1661 owner Dave Mulligan said: "We are humbled to say the least. 'We Call This Power' is our statement of intent as a bar, and to see it recognised at this level makes us incredibly proud. This achievement is a huge team effort from all our staff, and a testament to the fantastic work from our design partners Studio FDDP and Photographer Al Higgins. Here's to the spirit of Irish hospitality, bold, rooted, and unapologetically our own."
The win comes at a particularly buoyant time for the team as they were named Innovator of the Year at this year's Irish Restaurant Awards on Monday, 19 May.
On top of that, the team recently unveiled Bar 1661's sister bar, The Sackville, which they say is on a mission to bring a touch of glamour back to O'Connell Street with its statement black interiors and elevated classic cocktails.
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